Nikon CP900 digital camera. 35-mm equivalent settings 38-115 @ 115 mm. 1:9.9, 1/203 sec. Handheld.

-- Garry Schaefer (schaefer@pangea.ca), February 09, 1999

Answers

Sorry...

-- Garry Schaefer (schaefer@pangea.ca), February 09, 1999.

What a beautifully appropriate title! I almost wish there were more "surroundings"... I get the feeling this little guy is all alone, and think it would be even more powerful if there were more white all around him.

Great shot... and great concept!

-- Collin Houseal (collin@discipledesign.com), February 09, 1999.

I have just finished viewing several of John Shaw's nature photography tapes. If he included this image in his tapes and claimed it as his own I would not doubt it for a second. It is simple, yet sends a clear message. Nice job.

-- Paul DiBiase (paulcanada@hotmail.com), February 09, 1999.

Indeed, a beautiful, classically proportioned image, to my eye distinctly Oriental in it's sentiment about nature.

Frank

-- Frank Kolwicz (bb389@lafn.org), February 09, 1999.

The composition is great, but the snow looks very blue next to true white. The leaves and branches look pretty close to a real (original) color, but sharpness is lacking. Leads me to believe that color correction is off, and that digital cameras don't work too well for this situation...

-- Paul Martinez (photozs@msn.com), February 10, 1999.

What a captivating image to look at. The stark white of the snow draws you into the contrast of the dried leaves. Thank you for taking the time to share this image.

-- Paul Sedillo (dio@5150.net), February 10, 1999.

Hi Garry,

Well, If I'd had the time to respond to this image when I first looked at it, I would have responded as favorably as everyone else. After coming back to it I realize that something is bothering me...the plant itself looks very crowded. The leaves and stems are all merged together so that the plant's form is distracting to me. I do like the light...actually the whole idea behind the image is truely wonderful.

Regards, Jim

-- Jim Harrison (hphoto@earthlink.net), February 10, 1999.

I should learn how to spell, truly I should.

-- Jim (hphoto@earthlink.net), February 10, 1999.

Thank you all for your comments. I'm gratified that the composition evoked the response that it did, given that I did hesitate for a while before posting it. PM's technical comments are well taken. I have since determined that reducing the blue channel by 2% using PSP corrects the white balance on the snow. As to the lack of sharpness on the leaves, I recall that a breeze, which inevitably arises when taking close up shots, may have caused some motion. As was noted, superior equipment would have offered a higher shutter speed.

Thanks again.

-- Garry Schaefer (schaefer@pangea.ca), February 11, 1999.

Very nice as is, but it seems like it's missing something. I'm not sure what. For one thing, the tree is reaching to the right, but the extra space is to the top of the frame. I'd crop off the top and add extra space to the right. But it would be even better if there were something of interest to the right, implied of actual. Like a light beam or a shadow, or a lone leaf or something with a just splash of green color. This is of course only the perspective of one simple amateur.

-- Larry Korhnak (lvk@gnv.ifas.ufl.edu), February 15, 1999.