Snow in the Woods

Gallery: LandscapePosted January 28, 201815,729 views26 comments

We haven't had much snow this winter so far but early this morning it was snowing pretty good. I decided it would be a wonderful morning for a hike through some of the river bottoms to see if I could get a picture or two. It was also quite enjoyable just hiking through these woods with the peace and quiet of the river bottoms. It seemed harder than usual for me to come up with a comp I liked and maybe because I haven't been out shooting much so far this winter. Hopefully that will change and we will start getting more snow. I am thinking about a northern WI. and U.P. trip in February so we'll see how that works out.
Thanks for any thoughts on this.
Canon 5DMk4, 70-300L @ 200, ISO 100, F/11 and 0.4 sec.

Comments

26 comments

Comment posted by Igor Doncov on January 28, 2018 at 3:04 PM

This is a very nice composition with good structure and yet enough variety to keep it interesting. It looks like you added a bit of clarity to the dominant tree and that does sort of pull you out of the dreamy state that is pervasive in the rest of the image. It's a nice contrast to have. I find the larger version to be particularly helpful here. Perhaps a bit more contrast would be helpful here but can't tell without seeing it. Good work.

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on January 28, 2018 at 3:12 PM

Thanks Igor! I did add a little clarity and bit more sharpening on that tree. I wasn't sure about it but thought it might work. I actually lowered the contrast a little for this and liked it better that way. There is something about these river bottoms that seem to draw me into them. I like the challenge of finding a composition in the cluttered and somewhat messy look that goes along with them and then making an image I like. They do have a mysterious feel that I quite enjoy I guess.

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

Comment posted by Ed Lowe on January 28, 2018 at 7:07 PM

Really nice work on this, Nick. The lower contrast has imparted a delicate and gentle mood to this woodland scene and the falling snow only reinforces that feeling. The horizontal format works nicely with the vertical lines of the tree trunks. Good luck on your upcoming trip to the UP. I am hoping we get some snow here so I can head out to Swallow Falls SP western MD.

Ed

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

Comment posted by Dave Dillemuth on January 28, 2018 at 9:07 PM

This is wonderful, Nick. I love these forest snow scenes. Your composition works well as framed, as does the B&W rendering. I might experiment with darkening the exposure slightly to add a bit more to the mood. Did you try any at a faster SS?

Registered on December 10, 2015, 104 Posts, 1112 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on January 28, 2018 at 10:55 PM

I'm loving this, Nick. I love the mood set by the lower contrast and the brighter spot in the central BG. That brighter spot seems to lead your eye through the image from the FG to infinity; it adds a lot of depth to the image overall. This seems to capture a scene so quiet it's almost in a vacuum. Was that the case or is that just in my mind? Either way, this is a true beauty.

Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on January 29, 2018 at 9:38 AM

Thanks for the comments guys! Always good getting your thoughts and suggestions.
Dave, I did have a shot with faster shutter speed but it just didn't have the overall appeal that this one had for me. I still have a couple to process so I'll see how they look.
Bill, It was very, very quiet with a lonely and mysterious feel that I often get deep in the river bottoms. Lots of area to explore in here and you are always alone it seems. I enjoy that I guess.
Thanks guys! Nick

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

Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on January 29, 2018 at 10:38 AM

Nick, excellent all around IMO. No nits or ideas for change, just enjoying this winter scene as it was captured and presented here. laugh

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

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on January 29, 2018 at 11:34 AM

This is wonderful, Nick. The soft light and contrast really work well here. Beautifully composed and processed.
--P

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

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on January 30, 2018 at 1:07 PM

This is a wonderful b&w winter scene. I think you did an excellent job on the processing to capture and enhance the mood and quiet you experienced. I also like the contrast as presented. Very subtle, but the hints of falling/blowing snow are there and really help set the mood and experience.

The only comment which I'm not sure I would call a nit, but perhaps just my observation... is that the main tree up front is slightly dominant. But you've also processed in a way that it fits just right with the remaining background scene. Not sure if there's a suggestion in there either..

Excellent work.

Lon

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

Comment posted by David Schoen on January 30, 2018 at 2:34 PM

Really well composed with superb levels of soft contrast create a really pleasant mood. Nice shapes and textures. I enjoy looking at this image especially in the larger version.

Registered on November 6, 2006, 1213 Posts, 4587 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Wolfenden on January 31, 2018 at 10:24 AM

The delicate feel of the light grey tonality is very beautiful, Nick. The clash of the trunks, especially the white ( snow covered ? ) ones against the dark makes for a neat counterpoint to the strong near central trunk. Like it !!

Registered on May 18, 2007, 1108 Posts, 7647 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on January 31, 2018 at 12:40 PM

Thanks so much to all of you for your comments and thoughts on this! Very much appreciated. Nick
Ian, Yes, snow. Thanks!

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

Comment posted by Craig Moreau on January 31, 2018 at 1:32 PM

Nick, this is really nice. You've isolated a nice bunch of trees with a few diagonals here and there to break up all the verticals. B&W looks like a great choice here. If you could tone down that bright angled tree on the left, I think that would benefit the image.

Registered on April 21, 2015, 64 Posts, 584 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Richter on January 31, 2018 at 6:07 PM

Nick, there is an amazing feel to this image for me. Your subtle processing really does it justice in my opinion.

Peter

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

Comment posted by John Williams on January 31, 2018 at 9:59 PM

The textures added by the fog and snow are very eye-catching.

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on February 1, 2018 at 9:48 AM

Craig, Peter and John, Thanks guys! Really appreciate your comments. Nick
Craig, Thanks, I'll give that a try!

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

Comment posted by Marylynne Diggs on February 1, 2018 at 10:51 AM

I like this a lot, Nick. I too thought initially that the first tree was too dominant, but I think it adds that three dimensional element mentioned above, so I applaud your creativity in framing the scene this way. I can also see the possibility of more contrast, but I think that would reduce the dreaminess. The only thing I might suggest is boosting the highlights a tish for a slightly more high key look.

Something else you said struck me: just getting out and walking is inspiration. I have not done much shooting lately either, but for me the problem is going out TO shoot and not feeling inspired. However, if I go out to enjoy nature, inspiration finds me.

ML

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on February 1, 2018 at 12:01 PM

Marylynne, Thank you so much for that nice comment. I agree just getting out in nature to enjoy it can be a real inspiration for photography as well...that seems to work for me. I might try that with the highlights and see what I think. Thank you! Nick

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

Comment posted by Stephen Stanton on February 1, 2018 at 10:47 PM

I like the image and you selected a good location to stop for your photo. The composition of the tree columns provide is very strong You have certainly presented the peace and quiet of the hike. While I don't usually stop for a BW (gray and white?), this seems a perfect choice. My only nit is I would rather a little more foreground before I bump into that first dominant tree. Very nice work.

Registered on March 1, 2015, 54 Posts, 453 Comments

Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on February 2, 2018 at 9:34 AM

Like the foggy feel of a fresh snow you captured here. The diagonal snow covered trees mix things up and add a little tension to the quiet scene. The feel that the trees are emerging from the brush creates a nice base to support the rest of the image. No suggestions to improve, like as is.

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

Comment posted by Anil Rao on February 2, 2018 at 10:23 PM

Love the composition and the airy feel of this image. The lower contrast and the soft light also offer a quiet drama that says so much about this place. I want to step into the frame and explore for myself. I love it when a photograph makes me want to do that.

You work has always been an inspriration for me and I can't wait to see more.

Regards,

Registered on November 15, 2003, 234 Posts, 4923 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on February 3, 2018 at 12:15 PM

Stephen and Harry, Thanks guys! Very much appreciate your comments!
Anil, That means a lot to me. Thank you! Nick

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

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on February 8, 2018 at 6:47 PM

Oh my, stunning work. I looked hard for signs of active snowing but didn't see any, yet I can feel that it is falling diagonally towards the left corner.

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on February 9, 2018 at 8:34 AM

Hi Kah, Thank you!! Yes, you are right about the snow direction. Cheers, Nick

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

Comment posted by Genny K. on February 9, 2018 at 8:05 PM

I love this, Nick. Excellent!
I see you got some suggestions to increase the contrast/clarity sort of thing. Nope, it doesn't need it as far as I am concerned. I love images like this, and spend a fair amount of time wandering thru trees trying to find them.
I really like the balance in this, and how it softly fades off into the BG. Well done!!

Registered on June 5, 2006, 132 Posts, 2001 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on February 10, 2018 at 9:02 AM

Hi Genny, Thanks so much! I'm so glad you like the picture and it sounds like you feel the same way I do about it. Nick

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