SRunningM
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Contest Finalist in Exploring The Wilderness Photo Contest
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MaryAnne306
February 12, 2016
Wonderful winter scene with all the gray and white. Congratulations on being a finalist!
LoorH
February 19, 2016
wow beautiful picture. I hope one day I will be able to take shots like this one. Looking at your photo gives me such a paceful feeling. thanks for sharing!
SRunningM
February 19, 2016
Thank you very much. I am very pleased that this piece speaks to you. This is a very special place to me.
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
I took this photo on a cross country skiing trek on the Buffalo River in Island Park, Idaho. It was a perfect ski day with a fresh blanket of powder which muffled the sound and was visibly magical.Time
After waking early and travelling to the trailhead. We started up the river at about 9:00 a.m. I came across this stretch of the river about a half hour into the trek. The swans were trumpeting a short distance away. The scene was very moving and I stopped for quite awhile just to take in the moment. I only carried my Samsung 5 cell phone. With frozen hands I managed to capture this beautiful sene.Lighting
Although it was overcast, the lighting seemed to add to the tranquility of the moment. It provided a flat light and monochromatic effect. Despite the flat light, the snow offered a natural reflective surface providing a very good light level.Equipment
As I mentioned earlier, I had only my cell phone with no tripod. I was also standing on skis in deep powder. It was and interesting challenge to remain steady in these conditions, and so worth the try! I was not sure how well I captured the scene until I returned home to view the images.Inspiration
This ski trip was breathtaking at every turn. I wanted to share a glimpse of this beauty with those that do not have an opportunity to travel the backcountry during the heart of winter.Editing
I used basic adjustments using Lighthouse editing software to adjust exposure, sharpen and pop the color.In my camera bag
I normally carry a Nikon D7100 with a Nikor 70-200 f.2.8 lense. With the challenge of the trail, I chose to leave my main camera behind to ensure a manageable pack weight and to carry essential back country safety gear needed for emergencies.Feedback
Any camera can capture a great shot if one keeps some basics in mind. With the overcast sky, I tried to minimize the amount of sky captured in the image and yet the reflective surface of the snow increased the lighting conditions. In this case the flat light worked to my advantage as it provided a naturally monochromatic effect. I tried to take advantage of the tonal variation between the white snow and flat black water. The calm surface provided a bonus reflection to finish the shot.