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Window to Winter - WC667
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Window to Winter - WC667

by John Launstein

Gallery: Weekly ChallengePosted January 5, 2015135 views10 comments
Well, my best laid plans for an outing in search of snowy owls for this New Year's Day challenge had to be postponed a day (and we still ended up in a good old-fashioned prairie blizzard when we went the next day!). My wife and I decided to head down to Waterton Lakes National Park to bring in the New Year instead and I did my best to find a few subjects to frame up as we enjoyed the winter wonderland there.

I love the weathered wooden siding on this tiny storefront in the village, but never had taken the camera out until these icicles grabbed my attention.

I have to admit I planned for this to be a B&W image, but after uploading it the blues were too intriguing to leave behind with monochrome.

This is full-frame, but is a narrow aspect ratio thanks to my glove switching the live view mode on my camera over to video as I held it above my head to try and correct the parallax as much as possible.

Happy New Year from wintery Alberta! :rolleyes:

Nikon D600
Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8G
ISO 800
1/80sec @ f/6.3
+0.3EV
handheld above head using live view
100% Full Frame

Comments

10 comments
Comment posted by Patricia Brundage on January 5, 2015 at 8:00 AM
In addition to the icicles and weathered wood, the reflection in the window brings a sense of place to the image.

Happy New Year to you and good luck on your new endeavor.
Registered on March 23, 2006, 1111 Posts, 6531 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Seaver on January 5, 2015 at 9:52 AM
Neat view, John. From the thumb, I was thinking that you'd made a composite with icicles and a computer, the reality is much better. The blues in the wood are a fine asset here and they're set off very well by the stark white of the window frame and the snow on the ledge. The details in the wood and the icicles show up much better in the larger version.
Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments
Comment posted by Karen Kane on January 5, 2015 at 12:43 PM
I love looking at this kind of image John, but never seem to either think about it or see it when out with my camera - nice job of finding it

I'm glad you left it as a colour version - the blues making it almost monochromatic, except for that piece of peeled window trim - agree with you that it is more interesting than pure B&W.

Happy New Year!!! :toast:
Registered on August 4, 2012, 66 Posts, 726 Comments
Comment posted by Jeff Martyka on January 5, 2015 at 8:28 PM
Those blues are fantastic on the siding and trim! Glad you left it in color. The icicles finish it off nicely.

Now if you could get a moose or bear in the reflection walking down the street... :)
Registered on June 20, 2014, 30 Posts, 155 Comments
Comment posted by Ian Wolfenden on January 10, 2015 at 4:51 AM
Great to have seen this ! Fine composition and lovely textures arising from the interaction between the icicles and the timber. As Patricia has said, there's a nice sense of place. I love all the shades of blue - except for the frame, which I feel obtrudes upon the scene ( but that's a view that does not reflect upon the quality of the image itself )
Registered on May 18, 2007, 1108 Posts, 7647 Comments
Comment posted by Doug Koepsel on January 10, 2015 at 2:07 PM
The blue tones of the wood seem to enhance the cold mood of the icicles. I too have accidentally switched to video aspect on my D600 also, and wish the detente was firmer. I wonder how selectively blurring the house in the window reflection would look.
Registered on April 1, 2010, 196 Posts, 1592 Comments
Comment posted by Lorna Taylor on January 11, 2015 at 12:58 PM
Fantastic, love the tones and colours !
Registered on November 12, 2010, 254 Posts, 3083 Comments
Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on January 17, 2015 at 6:24 PM
Love it! Congrats for the Pick, John!
Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments
Comment posted by Jenaya Launstein on January 19, 2015 at 12:35 AM
Congrats on the Weekly Pick! You know how much I love this one. The icicles are so awesome.
Registered on February 8, 2011, 254 Posts, 1302 Comments
Comment posted by Jerry Austin on February 25, 2015 at 10:12 AM
Nice find and nice image. Well done.
Registered on January 6, 2012, 651 Posts, 3448 Comments