LATE AFTERNOON IN YELLOWSTONE

[gary ellwein]

I agree, this is not one of the iconic landmarks of the park. While watching three completely inert wolves at great distance, my waning patience and frozen feet got the best of me. I began looking about for something else to shoot before the light was gone. The two sage brush stumps and their shadows on unmarked snow caught my eye. The low angle of the late afternoon sun accentuated the granularity of the snow. Post processing was minimal. A few shadows were eliminated and the image was converted to black and white in Nik SEP2.


P.S. No wolf images. The distance was too great. Simply seeing them in the wild is enough for me.

[Dennis Bishop]

This is why we keep talking about the light . . . The opposing diagonals (stumps and their shadows running counter to the lines in the snow), the texture and its variability, the simplicity of the image especially in black & white, all add up to a great image. I'd flip it horizontally, but -- as you can probably tell -- I really like it the way it is.

[Cheryl Slechta]

Gary, just seeing the wolves would have made my day! I love the lighting with the shadows and textures. This could have been in the desert (Except for the wolves!)

[Diane Miller]

Wonderful!! I'd be tempted to remove that one diagonal in the UR.

[WIlliam Maroldo]

Hi Gary. Well done, and a perfect subject for black and white conversion. The detail in the snow is excellent, as well as the composition. I might increase contrast , making the whites a bit whiter (maybe in the 245-250 range) and the darks a bit darker. Also might try the white neutralizer in Color Efex 4. regards~Bill

[Nancy Bell]

I really like the minimalist look of this! The textures and the shadows on the snow are well done.

[Jackie Schuknecht]

Simple, yet effective composition. The quality of the light and the detail in the snow is superb. I would also consider removing the shadow in the URC. Very nice work Gary.

[Anita Bower]

I really like the flowing shape of the stumps and shadows--graceful. The texture of the snow is also nice. The simplicity of this image is what is most appealing. I would clone out the two dark areas: upper right and lower left. Great eye!

[gary ellwein]

Thanks to all for the comments. Redo posted minus shadow. I agree, it looks better.

[Dennis Bishop]

I do, too. But I think it's good you kept the one in the lower left because it probably helps to keep the viewer's eyes from following the long shadows out of the lower right corner.