White River Glory

I visited my favorite 'go-to' spot for post snowstorm beauty--the WHite River Natl Forest--Wed and Thu. Here's a sampler, from the Rifle area and Glenwood Canyon. This is from one of my fav CO subjects, the ice caves near Rifle. Ive been waiting for a good opportunity to try some illuminated shots of the cave; here i used a 30 s exposure (ISO 400) and a flashlight to light up the cave, this was about 30 minutes or so after sunset. I think i was the first one in the caves in at least 5 days based on the lack of prints in the 2 feet+ of powder i had to walk through to get there.

#2 Here's a non-traditional look at Rifle Falls. I couldnt figure out a way (without killing myself) to get around these trees--so figured i might as well go with the flow.

#3 Here's a sunrise shot from Grizzly Creek Canyon, about 2-3 miles upstream. Man, it was just gorgeous with all that fresh snow! Horiz version at ESS.

#4 Another ice cave shot.

#5 The snow was just beautiful at Grizzly Creek.

#6 A little more ice for ya. Ive got a bunch left to process--that's it for now!

It's 3 and 5 for me. The ice shots are unique and different, but I guess I'm too much of a traditionalist. The comps in 3 and 5 are great!

Cool shots, literally!!! I like the last four the most, esp. the depth you've captured in #4. Your sunrise along the creek conveys the c-c-c-coldness perfectly.

My favorites are #1 (intriguing comp and colors, maybe would have liked just a tiny bit more light on the upper right corner, but that's an extremely minor nit) and #5 (I really like the shapes and textures. The B&W treatment seems to work really well).

Love number three, but they are all pretty spectacular.

Nice work Stan. I really like #1, #3 and #6.

John

Really like #5 Stan!

Very nice work. I like #3 and #5 best. All the ice falls shots make me want to pull out the ice tools and go play.

Well done Stan.
and
brrrrrrrrrrrrr

Beautiful!1 & 3 my favs, but 1 is wicked! I think 2 is a little busy with the branches, and the foreground in 5 needs a slight bump in levels.

I think 2 is a little busy with the branches

Just a little?

I'm gonna go with 4 and 6. Maybe a bad idea but what about a blue gel over the light in #1 to match the color outside? The comp is excellent. For my taste I might try a little more contrast in #5, seems to lack a little punch to me.

I like #1 and 6, great icicle shots. Very nice Stan.

Beautiful shots Stan.

Kane

The ice caves are killer! #1 is the most dramatic to me, but I really like the blues in #6. #4 appeals to me a lot too, something about the framing of the scene between the roof and the ice column, and the view out to the canyon walls.

Looks unanimous...the images from the ice caves are beautiful and unique.
I don't find the branches obtrusive in #2 at all. I think they frame the falls nicely, save for the one itty-bitty one that could be cloned out.
And of course, I prefer the hz. version of Griz Creek you posted in ES&S.
Your efforts were well rewarded!

Great shots! Love the blue in the last ice image.

Nice collection Stan.

I like the Black and whites. One more complex and the other very simple. You could crop the right side a bit on the 1st b&w to move the eye more toward the falls. Very nice overall Stan.

Great stuff, Stan. I love the ice cave images. After careful scrutiny, I think #1 is my fav.

I love the ice cave shots! Looks like you had some fun on this trip.

I love the ice cave shots! Looks like you had some fun on this trip.

1 and 4 are my favorites. Great idea using a flashlight on the ice!