The Gods Have Spoken + color theory!

I just named my ESS post that, and i was too lazy to come up with another title
I still have a couple shots left to process from the 120+ i took yesterday morning, but heres a representative sampler. Ive been waiting all winter for an opportuntity to shoot the Gods after a clearing snowstorm; not as much snow as i wanted but at least it enabled me to get to the parking lot in time for sunrise! I really thought id find Todd had beaten me there, but fortunately the Cloud gods detoured TC to the Wet Mountains, so i had his park all to myself!
EDIT: See some science of color mixing below!

#1: The TC inspired shot (vertical at ESS)

#2 Amazing sun pillar to the east!

#3 A bit of alpenglow up north

#4 Pikes Peak revealed!

#5 Interesting snow further along the ridge...

#6 Spent an hour or so shooting the main area--not a soul around!

#7 The pink/purple glow on the snow, from a mix of blue sky and red rock, was incredible!

#8 Nothing beats the Garden after a snowfall. Period. End o Story.

That first one is a killer! Congrats on a great shoot.

#1!!

I like #4 the best!

#1 does it for me.
Joe Rogers

Nice work Stan. My faves are 1, 4 and 6. The light in 7 is particularly sweet.

Great shots - #1 and 4 stand out to me...

Great work, Stan. #1 is a classic. I'm also really impressed with #7.

What a beautiful (and productive!) morning you had!
The image at ES&S and #4 are my favorites but, honestly, every single one of these is superlative.
On a side note, I've seen more sun pillars this winter than any other. Always at the wrong place and wrong time, though.

Stan.... man you had awesome time or what!! Sun pillar shot is unbelievable! 1st and 3rd are freak n' awesome!!! Very very well seen...

That's a fantastic and DIVERSE collection Stanman! That little wispy cloud in the first one adds so much.

Just noticed you could stand to lose the power poles in #3.

FANTASTIC!! Well done.

I definitely like #1&4, but #7 also stands out to me for its interesting reflected light and lavender colors on the snowy plants in the foreground.

Nice sun pillar is right. Very nicely done on capturing that one in #2. And the dark, wet sandstone is really sweet against the top of pikes peak in #4. #7 does have a wonderful peak glow. Good use of reflected light. Nice stuff here all around.

Exquisite collection, Stan. #7 is incredible to me.

Hey! These aren't the Stan Dunes ya know Kidding aside, You were where I wanted to be.. durn day job! Very nice series but #1 is awesome!

diggin #7. but something is throwing me off about the rocks. maybe too much red, saturation, brightness? the pastels in the snow are exquisite.

i might be curious to see #8 in b&w with some increased exposure and contrast.

well done stan.

#3 is very nice. I agree that the reds seem a little overdone.

Great series of shots. I like #1 & #5 best. #3 is nice too if you lose the power poles.

I like #7 alot. Certainly a nice series all around, but #7 is unique and striking.

Very nice series Stan. Could not pick a single favorite as each has its own unique qualities.

Bill Brennan

One of your better sets posted here Stan. Especially love #7 and #4. #4 is so well balanced.

Love'em Stand...especially 1, 5 and 7

I noticed the white mountain range when I drove down there on Tuesday morning. I figured it was a good sunrise. Great collection.

Thanks folks! I just finished processing my two favs and will post them probably on ESS, same stuff just different comps.

About the poles, i can understand the suggestion, but it goes beyond my bounds of 'manipulation' and besides i think those poles are a part of the landscape there, just like the incline i wish they werent there but they are and removing them wouldnt gel with me (although a chain saw late at night might work...)

I dont think the reds are overdone--i definitely boosted the sat but no more than for any image, i think its pretty hard to oversaturate the reds/orange of the rocks there at sunrise, they're pretty much the epitome of saturation in the natural world!

I was so intrigued by the pink-purple light in #7 that i sampled the sky and rocks (from another com) and overlayed them on a white bg at 50% opacity--not surprisingly the resulting color closely matches the color in the snow!

Very nice portfolio, errrrrr collection here, Stan! 1, 4 and 7 stand out. And I agree about the poles in a place so well known - they're minor compared to the stunning landscape and it's an urban wilderness of sorts.

Stan I really like #7 for the unique light and intimate subject. I also like the hint of color in #3, and #1 and #4 are both great takes on the classic GOG view. I can't wait to see your 2nd post on ESS!!

John