Frozen in Ice

Gallery: LandscapePosted August 13, 201715,162 views23 comments

I made this image about 3 years ago out on Madeline Island in Lake Superior. I posted a picture of it back then that was a tighter composition of this scene. This made me think of seals or sea lions looking out across the frozen sea but is actually some small cedar trees that have been frozen in ice and snow. I just recently had a person that wanted a larger print of this one and wanted it in b&w, so I did a conversion and getting ready to do the print. Thought I would post it here and see what you thought of it. I do like it and looking forward to working on the print.
It was a very cold morning with some blowing snow across the ice and shot just after sunrise.
Larger version included for better look.
Canon 5D3, 70-200 F/4 L lens at 118 mm, ISO 200, F/11 and 1/400.

Comments

23 comments

Comment posted by scott lanz on August 13, 2017 at 8:14 PM

The formations do look like seals or sea lions, Nick. Pretty cool imagery (pun intended), and I like the blowing snow across the ice. Bet in was cold! The frigid conditions are evident in the image. No nits or suggestions from me on the B&W conversion or processing. Looks good to me.

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

Comment posted by Ed Lowe on August 13, 2017 at 10:38 PM

Works for me, Nick. The lighting is gorgeous as are the textures and details in the snow. I particularly like the blowing snow in the BG. I am sure the person will enjoy having this on their wall.

Ed

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

Comment posted by Marylynne Diggs on August 13, 2017 at 11:50 PM

Hi Nick,
I like this a lot. There is so much to attract the eye: the drifts, the cedar shapes, the horizon line with steam or drifting snow. It all makes for a lovely composition front to back and just enough side to side.
ML

Registered on December 14, 2010, 122 Posts, 1034 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Schrayer on August 14, 2017 at 9:50 AM

Nick - this looks great! I like the tonal contrast in the foreground as well as all of the shapes and textures. I definitely see how this reminds you of a group of seals. The one suggestion that I have is to try to get a bit more tonal separation in the sky. If you could brighten the lighter gray tones that would be helpful.

Registered on May 28, 2004, 114 Posts, 2890 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Koepsel on August 14, 2017 at 10:00 AM

Very nice looking B&W with its shapes and range of tones. About 1/4 way in from the left, there is a very tiny darker spot in the water that might be worth cloning out.

Registered on April 1, 2010, 196 Posts, 1592 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Cameron on August 14, 2017 at 10:54 AM

Nick, beautiful that really could be seals, walruses and sealions. Great tones.

Registered on August 6, 2004, 1125 Posts, 3318 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on August 14, 2017 at 11:06 AM

It does look like seals/sea lions along the shore, Nick. The groups are nicely spaced across the frame and the dancing snow out on the lake is a fine extra. This looks great to me.

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

Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on August 14, 2017 at 11:38 AM

This made me think of seals or sea lions looking out across the frozen sea

Nick, it was a vision I got from the scene too. Very wonderful take with the BG fog & or steam lifting there too. Excellent image IMO..... enlightened

Registered on February 25, 2006, 525 Posts, 8448 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Bartz on August 14, 2017 at 1:14 PM

A excellent B&W Nick..

Registered on May 12, 2007, 56 Posts, 92 Comments

Comment posted by Igor Doncov on August 14, 2017 at 1:27 PM

Looks like a very cold place way up north. The fairly dark sky adds a lot to the atmosphere. I would think that this may look pretty good in color as well, in varying shades of blue to emphasize the temperatures.

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

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on August 14, 2017 at 3:09 PM

I thought this was going to be sand from the thumbnail. Regardless, I like the shadows and light you've composed here and the B&W does a nice job abstracting the true nature of the place to some degree.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on August 14, 2017 at 5:09 PM

Thanks to all of you for your comments and suggestions on this!
Brian, I'll give that a try!
Doug, Yes, I see that too and will remove it for the print. Thanks!
Igor, I do like the cool blue tones in the color version as well.
Thanks all, Nick

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Allen Brooks on August 14, 2017 at 6:12 PM

A striking image. Well done. devil

Registered on July 27, 2011, 262 Posts, 2597 Comments

Comment posted by gary phillips on August 14, 2017 at 8:52 PM

Sweet b/w, Nick. Love the background of blowing snow. My only suggestion would be to burn or clone very brightest highlights on the center formations. Very minor, but something that may become a focal point on a large print. Very nice work.

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on August 15, 2017 at 9:11 AM

Gary, Thank you! Got that done on the print file... cool

Nick

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Richter on August 16, 2017 at 11:59 AM

An amazing composition and very fine b&w conversion for me, Nick! This one would work impressively as a metal print in my opinion.

Peter

Registered on November 10, 2010, 218 Posts, 2723 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on August 16, 2017 at 7:08 PM

Hi Peter, Thanks! I agree that this would probably look really nice on metal and I might try one for my studio/gallery. The one I'm doing now will be on fine art paper and will be printing it myself...wish I could do those metal ones too... cool

Nick

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on August 17, 2017 at 3:01 PM

This is a fine image, Nick. The B&W treatment is nicely done. There are two dark spots; one near center, and another just to its right that are distracting to me. Other than that, this works nicely for me.
--P

Registered on November 1, 2003, 471 Posts, 5188 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on August 19, 2017 at 11:19 AM

Fascinating Nick. I totally see the sea lions - unfortunately for them, frozen in time. ;-) I think the highlighted blowing snow off the frozen sea really help tell the story of it being downright COLD! No nits from me, great image to present in B&W.

Lon

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on August 19, 2017 at 7:09 PM

Preston and Lon, Thank you guys! cool

Nick

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Williams on August 26, 2017 at 9:42 PM

If I use my imagination I can see another nice sunny day at the beach here in Southern California Nick, well, maybe not quite...

I really like the shapes and textures and the shadows and the lines. This has so much going for it. Congratulation on the WP!

Registered on December 28, 2010, 636 Posts, 3499 Comments

Comment posted by John Williams on August 27, 2017 at 10:24 AM

Splendid Nick. Congrats on the WP. devil

Registered on September 6, 2007, 221 Posts, 5985 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on August 28, 2017 at 8:00 PM

Ed and John, Thank you!! Nick

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments