Dream Lake Today

This weekend I finally finished my thesis and today I finally managed to get back out into the mountains. This was Dream Lake this morning at sunrise. There was a lot of snow on the lake and I found out the hard way that the ice on this end of the lake isn't solid yet. I think it will be a while before we can start taking ice shots up there. I'd be interested in your comments and suggestions on this. Do you think I should remove some of the blue cast? I personally like the way it adds to the sense of cold winter morning, but I've been known to be wrong at least once before.

Great shot! I love the color of the cloud.

Great shot! I would keep the blue cast in for the reasons you stated. I like the foreground that leads you into the image.

I like the blue cast, it adds a ton to the mood of the photo. And was Todd with you? Look at those clouds!

Congrats on finishing the thesis!

Erik! You're back!

This is great. The blue is fine, but it would be fine with a warmer white balance too (which would push the cloud of blowing snow to more of a red-orange I would think).

Glad you didn't learn your lesson about the ice too far out.

Mel-

Well, at least you didn't go over a waterfall !
I vote for the blue. Great shot.

Congrats on the thesis completion.

DO NOT mess with the blue cast! It evokes such a strong feeling in this one, makes me shiver me timbers just looking at it. Great shot all around, ES.

If it ain't broke don't fix it, was my Thesis and I think it applies here!

Awesome Erik!! Definitely don't change the blue cast! Love it that way for sure. And haven't you learned your lesson about photography and water?

Apparently this time he didn't dip the camera, so he must have learned something!

Note to all: lakes are not yet frozen solid, even at 9900'.

I would keep the blue cast, Eric - it evokes just the right mood and complements the warm clouds nicely. If I were to take a second guess at anything, it would be the look of light drop-off on the upper corners.

Wow, wow, and double Wow!! Now youve given me a reason never to go back to Dream Lake again, cause id just be dissapointed i didnt get those conditions (thanks alot, Eric! ) The blue is awesome, but the transition from blue to white looks unusual--is this digital? one exposure?

Thanks for the comments guys! Stan, this is a single exposure with a 3x GND and is very close to what I actually saw.

Canon 5D, F22, 0.6", 25mm (17-40),0.9 GND, tripod, awkward balance on icy rock, one wet leg.

Forget the image (for a moment....) - Congrats on finishing your thesis!!! I'm sure that's a feeling of great accomplishment and the stress is just floating away!

The image is superb. I think the blue is just what I'd expect in these lighting conditions and I agree with Todd that creates a strong sense of "cold", along with the snow piling up on the rocks. Desaturating the blue (or cyan?) channel just a little - or dodging the foreground - might be a worthwhile experiment, but I'd be careful not to eliminate that cold feeling.

Be careful out there my friend. That's no waterfall, and losing a camera would be the least of your problems...

I agree with the consensus. The image is great and the color cast adds to the emotion of the image. Just AWESOME photograph.

Holy Schnikes that's awesome. Wow, that's a portfolio piece.

That sky streaming back towards the viewer really kicks butt! Wouldn't change a thing on this gorgeous shot.

Great capture Erik. The fg blue works really well with the pink clouds. Congrats on finishing your thesis too!!!

John

Snow in shade is supposed to be blue. I like cold winter images.

Don't change a thing ... agreed, indirectly-lit snow under a blue sky should be blue ... a nice "explosion of alpenglow"!

Outstanding image and congrats on the thesis completion!
Glad to have you back. I missed your frequent image posts.