Another Sneffels Range image

I'm sure I don't even have to say where this is from. Taken last weekend on the Dallas Divide, around sunset. There have been some nice images from this area posted lately. I hope to see more.

Canon 40D, Contax Vario Sonnar 35-70mm.

Incredible image Paul, the best I've seen from this area this year. Great composition, light, and color!

I like the comp as is but was looking at another option of cropping out the blue sky at the top.

Great shot Paul. I was probably there around the same time.

I really like the color, detail and clarity you captured with your new 40D and the Contax zoom. I have been considering experimenting with some Contax lenses on my next Canon (probably 5D). Everything is manual using a Contax to Canon adapter from what I understand. But I shoot in manual much of the time anyway so that probably wouldn't be a big issue. Are you happy overall with the lens? I am also considering the Distagon primes.

- Derek

Great shot! I love the colors and the clouds add a sense of drama.

Wow! Nice capture Paul. I sure am kicking my self for not going over there last weekend. How do you like that 40D? I was playing with one yesterday at the camera store.
John

Thanks for the comments guys.
To Scott - That bit of blue sky actually bugs me too. I'll try some crops and see how it looks.
To Derek - My Vario Sonnar is razor sharp, from center to edge. I love the lens. I shoot mostly manual too, so the hassles of manual focus and stop down metering don't bother me. It was actually a 5D user who turned me on to this lens. BTW, adapters are much cheaper on e-bay.
To John - I'm loving the 40D so far. I've only had it a fews weeks, so I really haven't explored all the features yet, but the image quality is great. I also LOVE the large screen. Quite an upgrade from my 20D. BTW, RAW files are huge compared to my 20D. It has to do with the 14 bit A/D converter.

Paul – that is a really great image of the Dallas Divide. You must have taken that on Saturday night! I saw the great light and was trying to get to the overlook as fast as possible, but could manage more then about 5 miles an hour trying to get out of a very muddy CO 5.

Beautiful light on this one! I was curious as to what was happening on DD that evening. I was in the canyon south of Ouray photographing the snow/aspens and decided it was too good to risk going someplace that might not be as good. It's very frustrating trying to be a nature photographer without a good clone to rely on.

I like the red oakbrush with snow underneath. Great shot.

Very nice, Paul! Great color with the subdued light. I agree about the crop, I think it will keep the mood of the image consistent.

I love the fall images we're seeing! It's snowing heavily outside my house right now. Guess we better get geared up for winter shots! It's a never-ending cycle, when are we supposed to process images?

I like hearing about the 40D, I'm really interested in that camera as an upgrade for my 20D. Thanks.

I have to say I like it as is with the blue sky cloud combo. It is definately all American (red, white and blue). Although a crop may look good as well.

I was going thru my images of that afternoon and it appears that Kalin and I missed the good light you got here. By the time we got to DD the clouds had rolled in more and only left part of the range exposed.

But the most alarming part to me are the color differences I am seeing, with your shot looking much closer to what I remember the scene actually looking like. Here is one I took that same afternoon from a wider perspective:
http://derek.zenfolio.com/img/v2/p826001441-4.jpg

Of course I think I still had a polarizer on which probably wasn't helping. But I can't get over how much detail and excellent color that the Contax is producing here. Thanks for the tip on it. I will definately check it out.

- Derek

Beautiful shot, Paul! That light blanket of snow really makes the ground cover pop. Very nice.

Hey Paul,
I really like this shot, and I think the blue sky adds a lot to it!

I'm also diggin this shot as presented. The blue sky gives the feeling of a clearing storm and helps tell the story. The yellow glow in the clouds is very cool too as is the reflection onto the snow on the peaks.

There was light like this on Pikes Peak this morning and I was kicking myself for not throwing the camera in the car on the way to work.

Mel-

Paul, this image ROCKS!!! You really have a winner here, with that terrific warm inner glow of the clouds and mtns in the upper left with the color cooling as you travel down to lower right. I love the clarity here too, you nailed the post on this one or the new lens really is leagues better than Canon lenses.

Only one nit, and its very small. About 1/3 in from the right side; the mtn and scrub oak division seem odd with more haze right at the division like a mask isn't quite right in this area. If it's not a masking issue, maybe just a little darkening here will tone it down to get rid of it.

This is the best image I have seen from this fall, excellent all around,
Craig

Wow! That's money right there. The light is incredible, but the light snow cover in the foreground takes this up a big notch. One of the things that's never thrilled me about this scene is that the brownish ground and dark red oak can be difficult to separate; the snow does the job better than any PS magic could. This is extraordinary!

Thanks for the comments everyone. Much appreciated. Had it not been raining so hard earlier in the day, I would have been off on some back road nearby, but I've experienced the muddy roads down there enough to know that my little car would not have made it.
Craig, thanks for pointing out that hazy spot.