Frozen Alberta Falls, a photo from Colorado, West

Photographer's Note

Frozen Alberta Falls

Alberta Falls - Rocky Mountain National Park

A couple posts from my old digicam ..

Alberta falls is a powerful fall and one of the most popular destinations in Rocky Mountain National Park. It was really striking this day. It had not been frozen for too long. You could hear the water rushing under the ice. You could see the flow under the central bluer ice.

To reach Alberta Falls take the Bear Lake Road to the Glacier Gorge Trailhead. The falls are about 0.8 miles up the trail. They used to be 0.5 miles up the trail but they reworked the Glacier Gorge trailhead and added some distance. It is an easy (in summer anyway) paved trail. Due to the short hike Alberta Falls is often crowded. There were a half dozen people here with Andrew and I this snow filled November afternoon.

This is a special place for me. I proposed to my wife (Rachel) here .. on a summer morning .. sixteen years ago ... I am thinking of her tonight .. Rachel's a violinist .. she has been in Los Angeles (1500 miles away) 3 days a week since September .. she will be home tomorrow .. Spring will arrive.

JPlumb, Buin, jhm, fulvio52, Silke, NellyD, Emiel_Skyfreak, gunbud, danos, ollie59 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

trinko (2950) 2007-02-24 22:32

nice composition but the fact the falls are in shadow detracts from the photos impact.

JPlumb (3159) 2007-02-24 22:34

Hi John, you could have called this "Looking Forward to Spring". It's a beautiful spot and you've captured it well. At first I thought maybe it was a little dark, but judging from the tree up front, I think you've got it right and we're looking at some deep shadow in the ravine.

Thanks, John

Buin (42580) 2007-02-25 2:46

Hallo John!
Another most impressive winter shot! It has a wonderful "pattern" out of snow and rocks and it gives very well the impresion of cold to the viewer. But as one can see sun nearly is reaching the frozen fall and sometime it will make the waters flow again ...
Here this winter waters didn't stop flowing ...;-)
Greetings from rainy Germany!
Frank

jhm (201739) 2007-02-25 3:44

Hi John,

You play excellent with light and dark, the dark big stones against the white snow care for a good contrast, lovely composition in combination with soft colours for this winter picture. Very well done.

Regards,
John.

fulvio52 (8314) 2007-02-25 7:21

Hi John,
Beautiful winter shot with lovely soft colors.
I particularly appreciate the fine balance you've been able to create between light and dark, and that aspen right upfront on the left is the icing on the cake. My compliments!
Oh, while I'm here : let me just thank you for giving me the chance to get acquainted with John Fielder's and Jesse Speer's artwork! Those guys are amazing (and I haven't seen everything yet)!
Thanks a lot, my friend!
Warm regards,
Fulvio.

danyy (0) 2007-02-25 8:27

Bonjour John,
une belle prise en contre plongée qui donne toute la dimension à cette inclisnaison assez abrupte qui a des fois des dficultés à retenir les neiges.
J'espère que tu nous montreras cette chute en été.
Une neige un rien bleutée.
Regards from Belgium.
Daniel.

batalay (41261) 2007-02-25 8:56

Hello John,

Here is a beautifully composed shot of snow covered hills where all kinds of bears and deer may be hybernating, or perhaps not! As I look at the photograph, I cannot but help wondering whether you are not a neighbor of Bev Doolittle, the exceedingly talented wildlife artist who most certainly dwells in you world. As a matter of fact, there is one work of hers,
Doubled Back, (make sure to click on enlarge). that more than any other reminds me of your photo.

Warm regards,

Bulent

Gustaw (21670) 2007-02-25 9:16

Hi, my friend!
Very oryginal photo. I like your snow. Today in Poland is spring. Snow is finished. I like your composition and conception. Goos colours and interesting light.
Marek

Silke (3027) 2007-02-25 10:04

Your notes (no pun intended) are very moving, John, and the image itself is wonderful. I do hope that we will be able to see this in the summer as well.
Fabulous composition, with superbly sharp details throughout
Your notes remind me of a Shaespearean piece:

O mistress mine, where are you roaming?
O, stay and hear! your true love’s coming,
That can sing both high and low:
Trip no further, pretty sweeting;
Journeys end in lovers meeting,
Every wise man’s son doth know.

TFS
silke

NellyD (1874) 2007-02-25 10:47

Hi John,

What a very beautiful view to see, this snowy wintershot. Lovely colours, I like this point of view and your notes are very interesting.
It must be a very nice experience to hear the water rushing under the ice.
It's a great shot, thanks for sharing!

Greetings, Nel

dsidwell (9783) 2007-02-25 15:14

Hello John! I like how the trees frame this scene so nicely. As Trinko mentioned, you might want to dodge the falls themselves to bring for focus to them. I think the photos works pretty well as-is, too. I hope you and your wife will be reunited soon!

Emiel_Skyfreak (3002) 2007-02-27 18:37

Hi john,

Nice photo showing this frozen waterfall. Quality and sharpness are quite okay, considering it's not your Olympus. I like the nice light on the trees. What I find hard in this photo, is to estimate the real depth in it. Are the trees up the hill far away..or are they quite close and is it a steep climb.
You've nicely framed the photo by placing the tree on the left. Nice one anyway!

gunbud (34066) 2007-02-28 19:06

Hi John,
Beautiful winter landscape of the frozen water fall surrounded by snow covered boulders that lead to a lovely well lit opening to this steep climb. Very nice note.
Regards, Tom

danos (110395) 2007-03-04 7:47

Hi John,
nice composition with superbly sharp details throughout and an excellent capture.Beautiful winter photo with lovely soft colors and light.Very informative note.Well done.
Regards,Danos

Enidlareg (2317) 2007-03-06 12:57

Hello John,
the area where you live is superb and you offers splendid photographs to us!
It will be necessary that I go one day in my life in Colorado in this national park!
You had chosen a beautiful good place 16 years ago for saying beautiful things to Rachel.

Regards
Geraldine

ollie59 (796) 2007-03-07 18:42

hi john ,i like this for a few reasons ,your notes for one are an interesting read .but given the situation i think you did well taking this as im sure it must have been cold .But i do like the colours and the light .the foreground tree though is a bit annoying
well done
ps hope rachel got home safe and sound
ollie

Photo Information

Copyright: John McLaird (jmcl) (14535)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-11-20
Categories: Nature
Camera: Vivitar ViviCam 3746
Exposure: f/5.0, 1/69 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Winter, Waterfalls, Glacier Gorge Trail, Rocky Mountain National Park [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-02-24 20:11