Posted by Todd Caudle on December 12, 2007 at 3:43 PM
Shots from this morning north of Westcliffe. I broke out of the fog before ever reaching Wetmore, but decided to press on to the west. Then I got to thinking about this old barn. I've wanted fresh snow scenes with it for the last few years, and as I approached it, the Earth shadoiw was one of the most vivid I've ever seen. After taking this first shot, I spent an hour of futility trying to dig myself out of two feet of snow along Hwy-69, missing the sweet sunrise light. A local was nice enough to drag me back onto the road.
Posted by Todd Caudle on December 12, 2007 at 3:44 PM
There wasn't any fog around Westcliffe, in the low part of the valley, but there was a weird, surreal thin layer of ground fog north of town, and rime ice coating the trees. Here's one along Verdemont Road.
Posted by Todd Caudle on December 12, 2007 at 3:45 PM
And one last one near Deweese Reservoir/skating rink.
Posted by Jody Grigg on December 12, 2007 at 3:51 PM
Dude, you make me sick lately with all your good shots! See what happens when your not watching NASCAR.
Posted by Jesse Speer on December 12, 2007 at 3:55 PM
Wow!!! #3 is incredible. I'm speechless. Just wow. One of your finest. That will make an incredible print too.
Edit: I seriously want to trade prints. :)
Posted by Paul Beiser on December 12, 2007 at 3:57 PM
Agree with Jesse, #3 is out-of-this-world. The peak/cloud on the left is a great addition, the scene feels balanced.
#1 reminds me either of Jackson or Steamboat. Both places I would rather be now that sitting in my damn chair.
Posted by Laurie Wendt on December 12, 2007 at 4:01 PM
Todd,
More fantastic images. But #3 is just stunning. Their are no words to say how much I like it.
Posted by Neil Corman on December 12, 2007 at 4:13 PM
Agree with others on #3, Wow!
Posted by Scott Bacon on December 12, 2007 at 4:26 PM
Ya, #3 - WOW-WEE!!
Posted by Derek Sedillo on December 12, 2007 at 4:47 PM
Geat job Todd!!! I agree with Jodie. You have been on a roll lately. These are excellent winter theme shots. I guess we don't have to go all the way to the San Juans for great winter shots after all. But it doesn't hurt either.
James E. and I were in the Garden this morning before work and it was also pretty cool looking, but nothing like this. I guess next time after a heavy storm I need to explore out in the Westcliffe area.
That looks really cold also. The Garden was in the teens in the early AM I believe.
Posted by Erik Stensland on December 12, 2007 at 4:49 PM
Absolutely stunning!!!!!!!!!! Wow!
Posted by John Mumaw on December 12, 2007 at 4:58 PM
#3 is astonishingly beautiful!
Posted by Don Grall on December 12, 2007 at 5:01 PM
#3 is eye-popping gorgeous!! and the pink sky of #1 is a beautiful counter balance to the cold blue and white colors of winter.
Posted by Joseph Finn on December 12, 2007 at 5:19 PM
holy schmoly incredible, #3 is just plain awesome good stuff...............
Posted by Joshua Hardin on December 12, 2007 at 5:24 PM
I agree #3 is the pick of these, but the other two sure aren't bad either. Incredible stuff here. You ARE on a roll.
Posted by Mel Ladewig on December 12, 2007 at 5:34 PM
Good stuff.
Why don't we get days like this on the weekend? Oh wait.
Posted by Grant Collier on December 12, 2007 at 5:47 PM
You suck! Shouldn't you be busy shipping books this time of year?
Posted by Paul Wegemann on December 12, 2007 at 6:11 PM
Holy cow! These are all great, but as the others have said, #3!!!!
Ok Todd,
I looked at shot #3 and went HOLY CRAP that's gorgeous. Thought I'd send you a little note telling you how stunning (and I think that includes unique perspective) a shot it is. So I scrolled down to to just that. . .and scrolled down. ..and scrolled down. ..and scrolled down. Apparently just a couple of others already did that. So I thought "should I" he's already heard it a gazillion times. In the end, yes. Shots like that deserve all the kudos when appropriate. GREAT JOB!!
Posted by Michael Renner on December 12, 2007 at 7:56 PM
damn.... I may as well put the camera away this winter. Nothing is gonna top that #3 shot. Should I start the 'Congrats on the EP' thread now? I think this baby could contend for year end honors...
Posted by Scott Borger on December 12, 2007 at 8:01 PM
#3 is excellent, great depth of field.
Posted by Roger Rouch on December 12, 2007 at 8:13 PM
Wow, what a trio! Of course #3 is a stunner, but I'm a sucker for a nice old barn photo any day and love #1.
Posted by Jeff Hackett on December 12, 2007 at 8:14 PM
#1 is very good... #2 was even better... then #3 made my eye balls explode! Now I have to finish cleaning off my computer screen! Damn that's good!
Posted by Dan Walters on December 12, 2007 at 9:17 PM
#3 is outstanding!!
Posted by Marc Adamus on December 12, 2007 at 9:28 PM
I don't believe I've ever seen conditions as nice as these and you all know how much time I spend out in Winter. To have a valley full of rime ice and huge background peaks laden with fresh snow is an extrodiary combination that absolutely begs a photographer to go out shooting. The blue skies after the storm and ground fog add to the scenes even further. I think you really hit it perfectly with the last one, Todd. Probably your most effective image overall IMO, which is really saying something.
Posted by Bob Dent on December 12, 2007 at 10:17 PM
Not much more I can add. Both inspiring and lovely.
Posted by James H Egbert on December 12, 2007 at 10:31 PM
I'm just Gha Gha over the last one! Wow what a treasure!
Posted by Guy Schmickle on December 12, 2007 at 11:15 PM
Oh yeah! Awesome conditions culminating with that last shot. What a beauty!
Posted by Dan Gerth on December 13, 2007 at 10:42 AM
Wow, just wow. Very nice work Todd - perfect exposure & composition.
Posted by Bert Fukuda on December 13, 2007 at 12:48 PM
Can't say much that hasn't aready been said... Wait.. yes I can. I hate you and your perfect pictures javascript: x() that's the jealously talking... sorry...
Dude! I'm so blown away by these shots (especially numero tres) that I can't come up with the right combination of expletives and compliments to do them justice!
Posted by Art Escobado on December 13, 2007 at 10:32 PM
WOW!
Posted by Kalin Wilson on December 13, 2007 at 11:46 PM
HOLY SHEEP $&!^, Todd! Those are great! I agree, #3 is killer.
Wow, that last one is un-frickin-believable. They are all really good but #3 is something else entirely.
Posted by Paul Gana on December 14, 2007 at 8:36 PM
oh my heavens to Betsy, I bet no one has said that yet. Awesome shots
Posted by Craig Schultz on December 14, 2007 at 11:10 PM
Todd, you have GOT to be KIDDING ME! You really know how to find great images after storms. My hat's off to you on #1 and #3; gorgeous.
Craig
Posted by Stan Rose on December 15, 2007 at 12:40 PM
Yep, #3 is an EP for sure, and a total classic. Mind sharing the specs on the shot--havent seen them here or at ESS?
Posted by Todd Caudle on December 15, 2007 at 6:32 PM
Sure thing! EOS 5D w/70-200mm f4 @200mm
1/40th-sec. @ f11, 100 ISO (f8 is the sharpest aperture on this lens, but it vignettes slightly in the corners at that f-stop or larger. f11 seems to get rid of it.)
I cropped a little bit all the way around, probably not even 10% of the entire frame, so this is fairly close to full frame. I also PS'd the tips of some barbed wire fence posts and a little bit of wire that were poking up over the grasses. I composed fairly low to hide it all in the grass, but a few bits were visible, so they were killed.
Posted by Stan Rose on December 16, 2007 at 11:27 AM
Thanks, i was guessing somewhere in that 200mm range--that's what i wanted to know! Having shot in Westcliffe quite often, i can appreciate the perils of barbed wire--even have some ripped pants
Posted by John Zinn on December 17, 2007 at 11:00 AM
I thought I had already chimed in, but I guess I didn't. Killer shots Todd. The after effects of fog are cool too!!!!
Discussion
42 repliesEdit: I seriously want to trade prints. :)
#1 reminds me either of Jackson or Steamboat. Both places I would rather be now that sitting in my damn chair.
More fantastic images. But #3 is just stunning. Their are no words to say how much I like it.
James E. and I were in the Garden this morning before work and it was also pretty cool looking, but nothing like this. I guess next time after a heavy storm I need to explore out in the Westcliffe area.
That looks really cold also. The Garden was in the teens in the early AM I believe.
Why don't we get days like this on the weekend? Oh wait.
I looked at shot #3 and went HOLY CRAP that's gorgeous. Thought I'd send you a little note telling you how stunning (and I think that includes unique perspective) a shot it is. So I scrolled down to to just that. . .and scrolled down. ..and scrolled down. ..and scrolled down. Apparently just a couple of others already did that. So I thought "should I" he's already heard it a gazillion times. In the end, yes. Shots like that deserve all the kudos when appropriate. GREAT JOB!!
Craig
1/40th-sec. @ f11, 100 ISO (f8 is the sharpest aperture on this lens, but it vignettes slightly in the corners at that f-stop or larger. f11 seems to get rid of it.)
I cropped a little bit all the way around, probably not even 10% of the entire frame, so this is fairly close to full frame. I also PS'd the tips of some barbed wire fence posts and a little bit of wire that were poking up over the grasses. I composed fairly low to hide it all in the grass, but a few bits were visible, so they were killed.
John