Icicle Abstract

We have a large group of icicles hanging over our back deck this week. Overnight they merged into one wide icicle. We had a rosy sunrise through the trees this morning and the resulting light was too good to pass up (even at 5 degrees). This is two images stitched together.

D300, Sigma 180 macro, 15 sec @ f/32, tripod, remote release.

Chuck, I really like this a lot. The colors have a fire and ice type of feel - overall very cold, yet warmed up by the reflected rosy early morning light. I'm not sure I like the vertical pano crop here, it seems to skinny. I think you can crop some off the top and bottom and still keep the bulk of the pinks. I'm also wondering why you stopped down so far? Don't you have issues with lens diffraction by stopping down that far on a crop camera?
In any event, I like the overall abstract and glad you braved the cold to take advantage of the light.

Hi Brian,

Thanks for the comments. Normally, I would shoot a range of apertures and choose what worked best, but the rapidly changing light cut my shooting time short. I stopped down to f/32 to gain as much DOF as possible through the ice. I didn't have a background to worry about and the subject was stationary. I haven't noticed an issue with lens diffraction on the Sigma 180. At the same time, I wouldn't stop down this much with my 18-70 lens.

Nice catch, Chuck! The early morning light coming through the ice makes this one for me.

Sweet abstract, Chuck. I really like the mix of pastel-like colors.

I really like te colors in this one. You inspired me to go out and try and find some Ice on a -25 degree day.

The light certainly does make the shot. Very nice, I'm glad you were paying attention and captured it!