Keeping Their Heads above the Snow

Image Critiques Weekly Challenge
1

Image(s)

-20190211-5DIM7178-untitled-DxO_DeepPRIME 3-Edit.jpg
-20190211-5DIM7178-untitled-DxO_DeepPRIME 3-Edit.jpg2048×1397 824 KB

Image Description

We don’t get too much snow in the Pacific Northwest without heading for the mountains, but back on February 11th, 2019 we got quite a bit. I spent a good share of the day in my bird blind photographing them, but I also grabbed some backyard shots including this one of some snow-capped seed heads almost buried.

Feedback Requests

To get any kind of detail in the snow, I used Topaz Studio 2 and in the Details section, selected Highlights and slid both the main slider and the boost most of the way to the right. Does the detail look too strong?

Pertinent Technical Details

Canon 5D3, EF 70-200 f/4 L @160 mm, hand held, f/11, 1/3200, iso 2500 (for no good reason except that’s probably where it was set last). Cropped to 4306 x 2937. Other than that almost no processing except the detail adjustment mentioned above, a small white balance warming, and pulling the highlights down just a trifle in LR to avoid blowing a few small areas.

2

I think what’s so magical about making snowscapes, is the lack of detail. The minimalism. You’ve done that here, with just the hint of detail, IMHO. I really enjoy your composition.

3

Dennis: This reminds me of some the minimalist snow work done by Kris Smith. Please take that as the high compliment intended. For me the snow detail is just right. I can almost hear the silence and appreciate these little guys poking up for the light. Nicely done. >=))>

4

Dennis, this is nicely minimalist and artistic. The “hints” of texture in the snow are a good touch.