Timpanogos - Utah Spring Photo

Photographer’s Note

Springtime in Utah is often a mix of winter and summer. One minute it is hot and sunny and the next, snow falls. We actually got a real spring this year after a record winter. Some of my friends were still snow skiing on July 1st this year.

I had already taken some color images from this location, the foothills looked very green, but I thought it was more dramatic as a black and white rendering.

I clamped on a Wratten #25 filter, and watched the histogram. My exposure was based to keep textural detail in the clouds and bright areas. I didn't care if the darker areas were lost.

In post processing I removed the color, cropped and added a little contrast through the level conrtol.

I was orignally going to make this a seleium valued black and white, but I liked the neutral values in this image better.

I sometimes wonder what a 6mp sensor would look-like as a purely b&w sensor without the bayer interpretation.

singuanti has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

cgrindahl (6109) 2005-07-11 3:33

Boy, does your work call out for a larger format. I can tell this is a magnificent photo but it simply doesn't read well at this size. I'm amazed, however, that 27 people before me opened this file and didn't comment. You are one fine photographer Dana.

I appreciate your care in tending the white snow and clouds. The subtle shifts from white to a multitude of grays is wonderful. That, of course, is what I want to see in a larger rendering. This is wonderful and your note is very informative as always. I wonder whether you have the option of selecting black and white with your camera. I note that the Canon 20D offers that option. I haven't tried it as yet but will likely check it out. I am finding the additional two megapixels useful, as I switch from a 6 to an 8 megapixel camera. The 20D is a very fine camera.

Thanks for sharing your beautiful work with us Dana.

singuanti (15240) 2005-07-11 21:30

Hi Dana, excellent b/w. I like what you were going for here with the snow and indeed it is some of the most wonderfully rendered snow I've ever seen. But for me personally I would do less contrast and lighten the shadows. Well done Dana.

faraujo (1318) 2005-07-13 19:14

Hi Dana
Just a perfect balance with the whites of the mountain and the clouds.
great compo and POV.
thanks
Filipe

dbyoungster (41) 2005-08-10 0:36 [Comment]

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jocasta007 (0) 2005-09-25 16:13

stunning i can't understand why the low points. this is as good as any pro could do.

stefi (1147) 2006-07-17 16:04

Hi Dana, I agree with other comments, I wonder why this shot has been viewed so many times and has so few points.
It is a great image, with a PERFECT BW conversion.
Simply great.
Thank you for sharing your experience,
Stefano