# Keeping Their Heads above the Snow

**URL:** <https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/keeping-their-heads-above-the-snow/49282>\
**Category:** Image Critiques\
**Tags:** weekly-challenge\
**Created:** [January 4, 2026, 11:34pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/keeping-their-heads-above-the-snow/49282 "2026-01-04T23:34:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Dennis\_Plank](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/dennis_plank/32/27033_2.png) [@Dennis\_Plank](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Dennis_Plank)\
**Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 11:34pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/keeping-their-heads-above-the-snow/49282/1 "2026-01-04T23:34:55Z")

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### Image(s)

 ![-20190211-5DIM7178-untitled-DxO_DeepPRIME 3-Edit.jpg](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/3/4/3451f6bd97c2c30107b98c9fefc561d2715a70f7.jpeg)

### 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.

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**Author:** ![Connie\_McClaran](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/connie_mcclaran/32/46482_2.png) [@Connie\_McClaran](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Connie_McClaran)\
**Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 1:54am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/keeping-their-heads-above-the-snow/49282/2 "2026-01-05T01:54:42Z")

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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.

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**Author:** ![Bill\_Fach](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/bill_fach/32/78290_2.png) [@Bill\_Fach](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Bill_Fach)\
**Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 1:44pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/keeping-their-heads-above-the-snow/49282/3 "2026-01-05T13:44:07Z")

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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. \>=))\>

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**Author:** ![Mark\_Seaver](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/mark_seaver/32/231_2.png) [@Mark\_Seaver](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Mark_Seaver)\
**Post date:** [January 6, 2026, 2:52pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/keeping-their-heads-above-the-snow/49282/4 "2026-01-06T14:52:14Z")

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