Wind-Sculpted Snow

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Nikon digital camera. 35-mm equivalent settings 38-115 @ 76 mm. 1:8.2, 1/532 sec. Handheld. Converted to greyscale.

-- Garry Schaefer (schaefer@pangea.ca), January 14, 1999

Answers

Nice shot, a tough one in terms of exposure. I think it might be more powerful with more contrast, black shadows and whiter snow.

-- Andrew Y. Kim (andy_roo@mit.edu), January 14, 1999.

Yep, I was thinking the same thing (more contrast). Otherwise, nice composition.

-- sheldon hambrick (shambric@us.oracle.com), January 14, 1999.

Thank you for your input. As I worked with the image I was aware that more contrast would likely enhance the image. This may be a case in which the somewhat limited dynamic range if my digital camera may add to the difficulty of exposure. I assume that certain film/print combinations would have a similar problem. Is this a case where a film-based photographer would choose a film capable of handling a high contrast situation and printing paper that would bring out the contrast. In my case, post processing using a couple of digital filters can produce a very high contrast result with tones ranging from black in the shadows to full white for the directly lighted snow. I have posted a high-contrast variant of the image at http://www.pangea.ca/~schaefer/Sculpted_Snow-6.jpg.

I'd be interested in any views as to whether it is an improvment.

-- Garry Schaefer (schaefer@pangea.ca), January 15, 1999.


Garry, IMHO the composition would be improved by cropping the lower 10% about at the top of the little triangle on the lower right. This triangle and the dark stipe at the very bottom left distract from the lowest curve. The curves are what make the shot to me and the very bottom does not need to be there. Keep up the good work.

-- Micheal F. Kelly (Kellys@alaska.net), January 15, 1999.

P.S. I think the snow-6 has too much contrast. It is almost a b&w line drawing.

-- Micheal F. Kelly (kellys@alaska.net), January 15, 1999.


Image taken down from web site. Thanks again for the comments.

-- Garry Schaefer (schaefer@pangea.ca), March 29, 1999.

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