Snowcapped Starlight

Gallery: LandscapePosted January 24, 2015396 views21 comments

I took a trip up to Glacier at the beginning of the new year to do some ski touring and photographing. While I was there at least two feet of fresh powder fell, obscuring much of the mountain views but making for some excellent skiing.

After not getting much photography in I decided to extend my stay by a couple of days to wait out the storm. I used this time to scout the extensive shoreline along Lake McDonald for interesting comps.

I'm sure glad I decided to wait it out because the skies cleared just before sunset on this particular evening and I was able to make this image of Lake McDonald and the Big Dipper rising above Stanton Peak and Mount Vaught.

Be sure to check out the Larger version.

Techs:
Two exposures, one for the landscape, another for the stars.
The faint glow around the stars was created in-camera, using a new technique that I've been experimenting with.

Comments

21 comments

Comment posted by Dan Kearl on January 24, 2015 at 6:08 PM

Excellent exposure and image quality, Zack and the clouds coming off the peaks are really nice.
Not sure about the stars, the effect looks like movement to me......

Registered on September 2, 2013, 209 Posts, 1514 Comments

Comment posted by Lucy VanSwearingen on January 24, 2015 at 6:23 PM

Killer shot. The stars are a bit too bright for me, too

I would think about darkening or cloning out the white smudged area between the snow drifts at the bottom center.

Registered on May 23, 2009, 800 Posts, 2042 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Cross on January 24, 2015 at 7:19 PM

Gorgeous scene, Zack. Very pretty and creates a nice mood. I, too, like the clouds coming off the mountain. Must be pretty windy there. I like that you have a recognizable constellation in the sky. But I don't like the effect you're working on for the stars. Photogs and astronomers want to see razor sharp stars as indicators of good optics as well as technical settings. The fuzziness does happen with some air conditions but I prefer those winter nights when they sparkle like jewels.

Registered on April 3, 2010, 271 Posts, 1342 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on January 24, 2015 at 7:34 PM

Real nice image. Sweet light on the peak. The star effect works for me.

Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments

Comment posted by Zack Clothier on January 24, 2015 at 8:10 PM

Compression seems to be taking quite the toll on the stars, so here's a 100% crop showing the slight glow around the big dipper, due to the stars being of brighter magnitude. My technique did not have much of an effect on the rest of the stars in the sky.

Lucy: Thanks for pointing that out. The smudge is actually a rock, the small web presentation seems to have darkened the shadows quite a bit, making the rocks difficult to distinguish. I've since opened up the shadows a bit there to show more of the rocks.

Registered on January 28, 2010, 343 Posts, 2257 Comments

Comment posted by gary phillips on January 24, 2015 at 9:39 PM

Real nice, Zack. I like the effect of your technique on the stars. The 100% crop is looks very crisp and clean. I be interested in your in camera technique, if you care to share.

Registered on October 24, 2013, 185 Posts, 4136 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Pelton on January 24, 2015 at 9:43 PM

Gorgeous, Zack. Almost otherworldly for a southerner/Midwesterner.

Registered on November 25, 2003, 380 Posts, 4647 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Lowe on January 24, 2015 at 9:44 PM

Gorgeous image, Zack. The light looks very natural for the night and I like the fact that you included a very recognizable Big Dipper in the comp. Your scouting and patience paid off IMO.

Ed

Registered on February 7, 2004, 414 Posts, 7115 Comments

Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on January 24, 2015 at 9:56 PM

WOW!

Registered on January 24, 2011, 576 Posts, 6942 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on January 25, 2015 at 7:07 AM

I like the cool crispness you captured here Zack. I also like that Big Dipper is clearly recognizable.

Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments

Comment posted by scott lanz on January 25, 2015 at 8:36 AM

Fabulous, Zack.

Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on January 25, 2015 at 10:23 AM

Spectacular view, Zack! The smoothness of the foreground works wonderfully with the cleanness of the rest of the image. The touch of pink on the peaks and the clear view of the Big Dipper add a lot. Can't say that I like the added fuzz around the stars, but it's not a big deal here.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by Roel Wijtmans on January 25, 2015 at 11:51 AM

Amazing clouds and photo! The big dipper is a bit too bright for my taste, given the fact that this was around twilight, but that's a small nit. I think the foreground is really great, it adds a lot.

Registered on September 30, 2012, 116 Posts, 2257 Comments

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on January 25, 2015 at 12:18 PM

Hi Zach

I love this beautiful scene. and love the stunning light and colors

Albert Darmo
Canada

Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on January 25, 2015 at 1:51 PM

I really like the mood this image portrays. Serenity at its' best. Blended exposures work really well.

Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on January 26, 2015 at 1:52 AM

An outstanding mountain image. I like the element of fantasy here.

Registered on September 27, 2006, 636 Posts, 10682 Comments

Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on January 26, 2015 at 6:47 AM

Sweat nice scene Zack. I think this might have worked better as a vertical, maybe you shot it this way? I can see why you chose the horizontal with those nice snow pillows in the FG. With a slight zoom, possibly stacking Focal slices if needed, the mnt,and FG would all be more prominent. Some of the apparent rotation due to the shore line might also be minimized. A crop might work, but I suspect a couple of steps to the right might have been a better comp for a vertical. There is a lot of blank space to the left, and the evergreens to the right without much snow don't have the appeal as trees cloaked in snow. Don't reflect much of the light. These are minor points, but just some personal impressions. Technically a great shot. Curious what your in-camera star technique is. I personally like the traditional pin point stars, but always good to be creative.

Registered on September 17, 2010, 304 Posts, 3507 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on January 26, 2015 at 6:09 PM

Killer dreamy shot dude!!!

If it was mine i'd be tempted to mellow some of the stars a little and level it relatively.

Registered on June 19, 2009, 276 Posts, 6240 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Reid on January 27, 2015 at 7:20 PM

Great shot Zack. Beautiful colors and very nice detail in the fore ground area. Really nice light on the mountains also. Really well done image.

Registered on January 27, 2013, 65 Posts, 2460 Comments

Comment posted by Zack Clothier on January 30, 2015 at 3:02 PM

Thanks everyone.

Harry: I do have some vertical comps of this scene (taken at sunset), but I just couldn't get the FG to line up right and include both peaks in the frame. There was just to much empty space above, which would have been fine for the stars but I wouldn't have been able to get the entire dipper in the scene that way. I suppose I could have gotten closer to the FG but I didn't want to ruin the pristine snow in case I wanted to come back the next day to shoot sunrise

Mark: I took your advice (and some others) and mellowed out the stars in the Big Dipper and leveled in relatively as you suggested, an improvement I think, thanks!

Registered on January 28, 2010, 343 Posts, 2257 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Anderson on February 2, 2015 at 10:19 PM

Zack, a real treat viewing this amazing twilight.

Registered on September 6, 2007, 346 Posts, 2696 Comments