Standing Alone

What a beautiful graphic image. Your composition is excellent but this image goes a step beyond. Can't quite put my finger on it, but there's something very moving about the scene. This is the type of image I'll print as large as possible to hang on my living room wall.

Hi Frank,

I think this image has a very ethereal quality to it. There is a sensation that this scene isn't quite grounded on earth, probably due to the high key whites. Yet I know that it is because of the rocks and tree.....very graphic and powerful image in my eyes.

Very beautiful. It looks more like a drawing than a photograph. If you had managed to get color in the sky and texture in the snow it wouldn't be as powerful as it is.

- Dan.

Frank I have personally experienced scenes just like this in RMNP. This is a wonderfully graphic image. An ND Grad positioned on the sky would have given you more range and IMO helped this stark image. Well done and I look forward to seeing more images from you.

Wayne
Basehor, KS

This is definitely a cool image, but I have to admit that the apparent overexposure is bothersome to me. Did your scanner blow out the highlights, or is the original overexposed (intentional or otherwise)?

BTW, please don't forget to state basic technicals when posting. Thank you.

The image is very graphic but I am slightly bothered by the loss of detail in the whites. Partly it must be the bland light but I can't help wondering if a bit less exposure would have degraded the mood or not.

Thanks for all the great comments. I had some misgivings about how this shot would be received. It's an unusual image.

To answer a few questions:

Using a filter to enhance the sky was not possible in this situation because the sky is not visible in this photo. What looks like sky above the tree is the snow-covered slope of a mountain in the background.

The washed out snow is a function of the light at the time. It was overcast with very weak light filtering through the clouds. This is how the scene looked to my eye and in the original transparency. This is very close to the original image, which has absolutely no detail in the snow.

I apologize for not including the technical data. I tend to focus more on the final product than the equipment used. I've added the technical data for those that like know that information.

Wonderful high-key scene. I'd reduce black point a bit to bring contrast.

Frank, Sorry about mistakenly thinking that was the horizon behind the tree. I know this tree at Emerald Lake and now know your shooting position. This is definitely a cold and harsh location in winter! And the effort to get there at first light, bravo!

Wayne
Basehor, KS