It Ain't Over Til...

Well, I certainly like it. Great image to start with your new lens. And that's only the first part of your new system. Obviously, I like the snow and the fact it is still clinging to all the little branches. The misty wall of the canyon adds some mystery and helps soften the image. A nice range of tones and a bit of restrained chaos from all the branches. One lonely conifer adds another element to take in. So, all in all, this works very nicely for me.

Happy Birthday Chris! I have really been enjoying your winter images of Yosemite. Beautiful work! Just so you know, camera doesn't matter. Your work is fantastic even though it wasn't taken with a D800. You were there when the light was at its best and you were there to take advantage of it in your own way. Light quality and how you use it is what matters most IMO.

We sure got almost a whole season's worth of snow this last week! But we're still at barely 52% of normal.
Glad you got to Yosemite - this is a nice snow scene, and the B&W works well.
Sandy

Is it me or have you been really stepping up to bat these days?!!!

Mark M, It ain't you Bro, it ain't you!!!!!!!!!

Thanks!

Subtle and spectacular, Chris. That soft light is so nice and the deep dark tones of the trees make such a wonderful pattern set against the clouds and rock. Then the snow. Incredible mood. Glad you were able to get up to the Valley for the snow.

Excellent B&W Conversion

Very clean and well composed image Chris. I really wanted to get up there this past weekend but just couldn't do it. Glad you were able to, and congrats on the new toy!

gorgeous - no nits from me. conditions worth waiting for as well!

Glad you got some good shooting conditions this winter, Chris. You made great use of it with this image...Very nice! I like it alot and wonderful comp as well. Looks like you are going to enjoy that new lens too! Happy Birthday this month!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

Wonderful image, Chris. Very much in your style. No nits from me. I hope you're enjoying your new lens!

simply amazing

Love the soft light quality and the mist. Beautiful B&W conversion.

I love the tree in this one Chris. Their bold and graphic appearance are so strong, they provide great focal points. The contrast with the snow is amazing and the distant peaks provide great depth and scale. No nits here, this is wonderful!

Nice, Chris. Really like the comp and the way the background peeks through the atmosphere.

A beautiful, classical-looking B&W. Love the detail in the large version.

Real pretty, Chris. Beautifully composed and converted. Happy birthday too.

Glad you were able to make a few images this winter Chris, it's always nice to see your images from Yosemite, well done as usual.

Great graphic quality to this Chris! Love the range of silvery tones as well.

Nice looking shot Chris!
Enjoy that lens, it's a sharp one.

24-70?? What a waste of money!! Hah, just kidding!! When you get that D800 you're gonna be really dangerous!

This looks great. Beautiful composition and superior B&W conversion. Sweet, and super sharp. The foggy BG really draws attention to those gorgeous trees.

Happy birthday Chris. Looking at this I think you and your new lens are going to be getting along nicely.

Gary.

The hec with Ansel Adams. What a gorgeous B&W Chris. Love all the detail the trees provide. Excellent processing. Shots like this deserve more attention on NPN rather than those shots dripping with color.

Chris,

There is just that special combination of large landscapes and Black and White, this image definitely fits into that pantheon. Comparisons to Ansel Adams are inevitable especially when the subject is Yosemite, some pundits feel he owns the place to the exclusion of others. Adams would have laughed at the overblown preposterous pretension of those words. If mother nature could give birthday presents (dusting Yosemite with snow) I couldn't think of a better one for you, regardless of new lenses. We all want to be not just Photographers but Artists, Ansel did ( I think he was successful ) I would say "This is art." . Don't rest on your laurels Chris, I would like to see more Yosemite images, in snow if Mother nature would be so kind, if not Dogwoods and spring would have to do.

Paul

Hey Paul, thanks. Where you been?

I would tend to agree that Ansel does own the place. But that is where I draw the line. To the exclusion of others is a crock. There are always going to be trail blazers and pioneers for the rest of us to follow in their footsteps. While some might call a few of my images Anselesque???? They are still my vision of the place, even if the same scene. I think we are inspired by the likes of Ansel Adams and others so much so that we tend to imitate their work. Not in an attempt to copy, but rather to try and be as good, in our own way.

As far as another trip with more snow this season goes????? But Dogwoods and spring reflecting pools will definately be on the menu here before too long. I already looked at the campsite availability though. There are no sites available for more than a night from May on.

Chris

Chris,

Thanks for asking I been kinda laying low, but I have returned in full verbosity.....We had some stormy weather today so I got out and went to the beach ( It was a bit of a bust, waves weren't big enough and the wind was blowin' pretty stiff), if I had gotten out earlier I may have tried for the mountains. There was probably some epic conditions in the Sierra too for the real stout of heart.
On an Ansel note, he was my early inspiration,wore out my Dad's coffee table copy of Yosemite and the Range of Light. Since he is the icon of Black and white landscape photography comparison in essence is a great compliment. As a great teacher Adams would encourage and mentor those with artistic vision, I know you won't use those words to describe your work, but I believe your peers would. I will.

Paul

"I'm back in full verbosity" That's funny, Paul. I've been accussed of that myself a time or two!

Chris