Never met a stranger

Image Critiques Weekly Challenge
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Never met a stranger
Never met a stranger1800×1013 667 KB

I’ll probably do a top 10 post like Ola did, but I thought I’d share this one separately because I think it’s the only one I haven’t shared here before.

Why it’s in my top 10 -

Because damn - lickable light. And the composition doesn’t suck. And shadows. Patterns and repetition. The hint of a trail. Perfect powder.

So it started out pretty good, but my skills with processing have also improved and I feel that I can now do justice to this image with Lightroom and Photoshop, using all the standard tools in the drawer, but also new ones. Every great photo has to start as a winner, but editing can make or break one and so this one makes it.

Specific Feedback Requested

Ideas and impressions welcome.

Technical Details

Is this a composite: No
Probably handheld - tripods in snow are a pain, and often not necessary in my opinion, but I sometimes use one.

image

Lightroom for initial RAW work to manage those tonal values, the 16:9 crop, white balance adjustment and a little bit of warming in the highlights. Texture & clarity where needed. Some sharpening. Photoshop to remove a few sticks in that smooth snow.

@the.wire.smith
2 Likes
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Hi Kristen, well I’m a sucker for any kind of snow scene and this is a very appealing capture for the reasons you mention…lines, patterns and the nice side lighting, though I’m not sure what lickable light is :laughing:. And, trails leading off to who knows where are always a great addition to a wooded scene. Mostly, I’d have to say its the simplicity that makes it attractive.

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Thanks @Jim_Lockhart - glad you like snow, too. Heading out in it today before it rains and melts a lot of it tomorrow.

Lickable light is light so good you want to lick it. Delicious light. Luscious light. You know it when you see it and this is it!

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Definitely lickable light – a great term!! And a wonderful composition with the tree shadows showing the undulations in the snow.

I think you could have an alternative version with about half the darker distant woods, or exclude them completely. I don’t want to go back there – I just want to keep playing in the snow!

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Thanks @Diane_Miller - I hadn’t thought about eliminating the trees, but I suppose it could work that way, to emphasize the snow and shadows, not necessarily what’s making them. It’s such an inviting bit of trail. I think I shoot it every time I walk there.