Ice star/Sun star

Gallery: LandscapePosted March 23, 2016184 views10 comments

With overnight temperatures around 20 degrees F. vernal pools have been developing large ice crystal patterns. Even when daytime temperatures get well above freezing, the ice remains intact in the shade of the forest. I enjoy looking at the patterns, but I had a terrible time finding a focal point for a composition. Then a spot of late afternoon sunlight found it's way through the pines, and made my job easy. The Sun lit up the leaves on the bottom of the pool, making a nice contrast to the reflection of the sky on the thin layer of ice.

Canon 5D3; Canon 24-105mm.
1.3 sec. @ f/16; ISO 320

Comments

10 comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on March 23, 2016 at 9:18 PM

Nicely seen and taken! I wonder how this would look if you rotated it 90% to the left? Neat photo, lots to see in it. Thanks for sharing.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Strong on March 24, 2016 at 8:10 AM

This is really outstanding to me. All the horizontal lines coming from the left get caught by a vertical line on the right - very leading and powerful. The soft tones from the brown leaves underneath are soothing and everything is topped off by a few light bursts. This is a very pretty abstract.

Registered on October 1, 2012, 43 Posts, 302 Comments

Comment posted by Igor Doncov on March 24, 2016 at 9:25 AM

I really like this a lot also, Wayne. We haven't seen one of these type of images in quite a while here. What makes this different and better than most images of this type is the wide range of colors (usually all is blue). Nice range of tones, a good composition, and plenty of sparkle. The suggestion of what's below the ice gives this intrigue and challenges you to explore more. Nice job. I don't feel the sun stars do much for this image.

Registered on November 22, 2014, 189 Posts, 2733 Comments

Comment posted by Roel Wijtmans on March 24, 2016 at 12:50 PM

The leaves certainly add an extra dimension to this. I really like this one! I could also see a vertical crop of the right side working nicely.

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

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on March 24, 2016 at 1:24 PM

Wayne,

I know I can't remember every image posted here, but I can't recall ever seeing a sun-star off a reflection like this. This is AWESOME! Kudos to you for seeing this. and like your title suggests, you literally have two stars here. The lines, angles and crisp shapes in the ice are wonderful enough. The reflected sunstar is a terrific focal point. Add to this the mix of warm and cool tones.... you've got a winner here.

Fabulous image!

Lon

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments

Comment posted by Kathy Barnhart on March 24, 2016 at 3:19 PM

Beautiful ice pattern and the sun stars are perfectly placed. I could also see cropping off a bit from the top so that the light at the top of the image doesn't pull your eye up there. Love the colors, too.

Registered on November 11, 2011, 404 Posts, 1639 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on March 24, 2016 at 5:44 PM

Looks like a jewel within a jewel. Good stuff!!!

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

Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on March 24, 2016 at 7:10 PM

Terrific comp. Might try a BW and see how the tonalities shake out. Nicely extracted abstract devil

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

Comment posted by Daniel Rappaport on March 25, 2016 at 2:15 PM

Wonderful composition. Like the 2 little subordinate suns too.

Registered on September 9, 2009, 294 Posts, 2006 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on March 27, 2016 at 9:45 AM

Great find Wayne. Love the abstract qualities and wonderful light. The sun stars and highlights on the ice add to the overall impact.

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