Spring has arrived at Mills Lake!

On Saturday afternoon I decided to try for a sunset shot of Mills Lake since I had only visited the lake during the day on previous trips. I was pleasantly surprised to find much of the lake melted and therefore an opportunity to capture a reflection. Of course, however, it was windy more often than calm. Just before the light left Longs Peak and the Keyboard of the Winds, a few clouds rolled in just where I wanted them and the lake grew still.

Based on your helpful comments last week - I tried to compose this image much lower than I usually do. The results aren't quite what I hoped but it's my first effort at trying to include an interesting foreground.

Nikon D5100
Tokina 11-16 mm
16 mm
ISO 100
f/11
1/25 sec
hand-held

Good composition! I like the way you placed the foreground rock just below the low point in the mountain skyline, and also like the way you didn't place the camera so low that it blocked part of the reflection of the skyline. I'm surprised at how little snow is left on the western flank of Longs Peak this early in the spring!

Well, your first attempt was quite successful. The rock in the foreground really offers some depth and interest to this scene.
The image may benefit from a bump in contrast. Nice capture, Crystal!

Very good comp and just as good exposure processing. Love the reflection processing, just a tad darker than the sky. Congrats on a winning image Crystal.

I'll echo what Glenn said about your good arranging of the elements in the composition. I wonder what adding a little on top would do, as my sense is that the mountain and sky seem a little cut off, possibly because of the amount of reflection and foreground rock.

Looking good, Crystal. The comp works well; I particularly like seeing some of those rocks under the water's surface. Nice touch of color on the clouds and peaks as well.

Thank you all for the feedback! I greatly appreciate it!