Mixed Bag of Frozen Landscape

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Mixed Bag of Frozen Landscape
Photo Information
Copyright: Bob Shannon (eqshannon) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1665 W: 156 N: 5708] (17144)
Genre: Landscapes
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-10-19
Categories: Mountain
Camera: Nikkormat FT2, AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-11-28 6:02
Viewed: 482
Points: 40
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
It's all downhill from here. The trees are a mixed bag of fir, pine and tamarack. In between are tons of service berry bushes and some white berry bushes along with a smattering of dried by sun yarrow and a few left over rotten wild strawberries. Notice how the canopy of the trees prevent the snow from falling near the base of the trunk? Even with trees which have no needles but are yet alive... there is a small circle around the tree. This is caused by the warmth of the ground near the natural mulch. It happens with most mountain trees...quite the sight. Now what makes this picture complete is the small dirt accessible road which travels through it. That was my driveway at 3500 feet in altitude....The road starts at the creek and climbs 100 feet in altitude, just around this corner...now actually looking down. hill...in 700 feet length. There is a small clip in one of my videos of my daughter then 16 shoveling it at 5 below zero.

This highly remote landscape area is teeming with all sorts of herbs under the first snow. There is yarrow, mullein, strawberry leaf, lemon grass or sorrel... and one tree horizontal is from windfall. Amazing how the ones with larger girth didn't fall nor did they protect the thinner lighter tree....nature has it's own selection schedule of which we are not aware. There are also some laying which I had cut.

Now if one were to walk straight and into the trees at the top of the picture, you will end up only 2500 feet from a black bears den. Seriously. It rarely bothered us with exception of one lean year when it broke into our trailer 3 nights in a row. The trailer was only 10 feet from the cabin so we could hear when it had broken in and and could also hear as it stood on two rears attempting to get into our cabin, when I awaited it with my rifle if need. be, but thankfully he got tired and decided to leave us alone. Good thing for both of us....I was protecting myself and my children and Jane. The bear may have won should it have succeeded...... I saw him the next spring uphill a mile further. He was easy enough to recognize by markings which made him different than other black bear we had see...does this make you want to walk into the photo and become one with the land and the animals?

This picture was taken on a first day of snow as we ventured up to say goodbye to our old woods, knowing we were leaving the next year for the city...it was eventually our last trip up to the homestead and we have never been back. As I sit and type I can see it, feel it and smell it...and I can hear the creek running... and kids playing up near the cabin. And as I type I know it is now under 3 feet of snow...and it will be 6-8 feet soon...“So May It Be”. Along with the natural elements, in a place not far up from here lay my wife's brother-in-laws ashes...along with my mothers ashes...both were naturalists and loved this land. They are now a part of it.
Silvio2006, haraprasan, PaulH, fartash, Jamesp, nglen, Heaven, gracious, angybone, tiklod, warnzy, EOSF1, pierrefonds, NinaM has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To EOSF1: Becauseeqshannon 1 11-30 20:26
To warnzy: Maybe noteqshannon 1 11-29 18:54
To Argus: Aurgeryeqshannon 1 11-29 07:10
To gracious: Kindeqshannon 1 11-28 19:39
To Jamesp: Yeseqshannon 1 11-28 10:31
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Bob, beautiful composition full of snow, great forest with splendid colors, very well done, ciao Silvio

Namastay Bob,
We are neighbors today. Beautiful patch of snow. Very good composition and nicely framed with a good DOF. Thanks a lot for sharing.
Sincerely,
Haraprasan

Hi Bob!

I read your wonderful notes like a novel and found myself dreaming in my office... instead of working!

:-)

Thanks for this!

Well, your story with the bear is fascinating. Some idiots want to bring it back to Switzerland, too! Imagine that poor animal! Put a tent over switzerland and you have the biggest adventure park of the world... Our place is too small and it's a pleasure to hear that there are spots where bears still can live.

Oh, and if I would answer your question: why not entering that wonderful forest... but only with a good rifle in the hands!

Kind regards

Markus

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 981 W: 17 N: 2563] (9450)
  • [2007-11-28 6:46]

Once again you transport us to another place and time with a combination of great writing and a slice of wilderness to look at as we read...i can imagine the excitment and fear of making yourself ready to fend off such a fierce and hungry animal. I am glad you didn't have to resort to anything fatal. Hats off to you, Mr Shannon.
That track above makes me want to walk into it and just keep going. The sound of a snowy silence resonates here...very well framed for us to peer into.
Paul

hello bob,

i wonder are you a better photgrapher or a better writer, i guess you are both but on top of that you are a good human being and it reflects in your work. you know how to shoot a image which please to the eyes and write such lovely notes which touches the heart, no doubt that you are loved so much here,

once again a wonderul job,

well done ,
tfs & regards
pankaj

Dear Bob
I agree with Pankaj here :o)
Great exposure ,composition and POV,
Welldone.

Good Luck
Fartash

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1223 W: 0 N: 4449] (13290)
  • [2007-11-28 10:28]
  • [+]

Hi Bob

Brr!! Well thought out composition, the use of the vehicle tracks adds movement in contrast to the strong verticals of the trees. I also like the few remaining red leaves or berries in the bottom left of the frame.

James

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1864 W: 2 N: 4738] (18250)
  • [2007-11-28 11:02]

Hi Bob This is a true winter shot of the woods. A good compostion with fine detail. your notes are so interesting there become an evening read like reading the next chapter of a book. with pictures. well done TFS.
Nick..

Hello Bob,
I see your first snow of winter finally arrived!
very good exposure and focus in the shot too!
I enjoyed reading your wonderful notes indeed
all the best, Bob!
Tony

Lovely artistic composition with the curve leading deep into the photo. Wonderful dynamic range - the whites and darks all well exposed. Beautiful shot!!

  • Great 
  • tiklod Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 299 W: 77 N: 891] (3361)
  • [2007-11-28 18:18]

Hello Bob,
A simple but great picture! Excellent details on all parts of this landscape. Traces on snow are an intresting way to present the perspective of this shot!
Best wishes Bob,

Claude

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1687 W: 20 N: 4738] (15476)
  • [2007-11-29 0:29]

Hi Bob,
Wonderful shot and you have illustrated the place and the natural environment so very well. The wheel marking swirls our eyes too. Great lighting and exposure of the snow covered land and I like your chosen POV to portray this scene. Very nicely composed too. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2416 W: 132 N: 6653] (20877)
  • [2007-11-29 6:57]
  • [+]

Hello Bob,
It is not just the effect of winter on this bit of landscape, the trees show the results of other forces in nature. It is a bit of forest that could well be in Sweden if one doesn't examine the botany. The technical aspects are of the high standard that one would expect from a retired pro.
Thanks for posting this and for your kind words on my 300th.
Crystals are forming in my eyes and I am told that cataracts are on the way as well as the threat of glaucoma. Best to use the eyes while we can!
Ivan

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2726 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-11-29 9:26]

Hello Bob

A very inviting path in the snowy woods.
I like the composition and how the serpentine pathway leads beyond the trees leaving our imaginations to do the rest.
The snow covered trees makes a beautiful accent to the forest scene.
Well focused with lovely detail.
The rich greens of the evergreens give a lovely earthy feel to the shot,and the yellows and subtle oranges brighten up the landscape.
TFS

Rob

Hi Bob,

I really like these shots of yours; the ones that make me feel I'm actually there, walking along the track about to walk around a corner. I'm not aware of anyone else who does this, and certainly no-one who can actually make it work photographically.

Kinf regards,

Mike.

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1555 W: 233 N: 5091] (17959)
  • [2007-11-30 1:12]

Hi Bob,
this is what I am waiting for in England: Snow, snow and more SNOW! Sadly it has snowed in most parts of England except my area! We just feel the freezing temperature here. :)
Great capture of this beautiful scene.
Exposing snow correctly is very hard yet you have succeeded in doing so perfectly!
I like how the track leads of round the corner making the viewer wonder about where it's heading.
Good all-round sharpness, detail and clarity.
Well done,
Joe

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1029 W: 1 N: 3939] (13258)
  • [2007-11-30 4:11]

Hello Bob,
Yes I would love to walk into this scene and to have you as my guide and teacher. To photograph a bear in its' den, to taste wild strawberries again and smell the damp leaves and fresh snow all mingled together. I have slept in the bell holes around trees in the winter for makeshift shelter. When I was at Stewart B.C. this year I asked Bob the owner of the campground how thier winter was because I had noticed a great deal of avalanche damage and he said they had 33 feet of snow last winter. I would like to see that someday.
Rick

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1266 W: 103 N: 4311] (19463)
  • [2007-11-30 19:44]
  • [+]

How can you come up with such great notes like this one ? And the picture is just about the same, great ! Thanks for all this Bob !

Mario

Hi Bob,

A nice image of the ground covered with snow and of the trees, the photo has a good composition, DOF and beautiful colors. thanks for sharing.

Pierre

  • Great 
  • NinaM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 544 W: 0 N: 1303] (4365)
  • [2007-12-03 14:22]

Hi Bob, I notice I missed quite a few of your pictures and this note is also so very touching. What a quality in those colours, it reproduces so well a beautiful yet simple place in the woods. Those are the colours we see in the woods and it is difficult to capture in picture. You must feel this place in your skin. thanks for sharing not only the place but your feeling with it.

Francine

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