Storm Passing

A January storm clears the San Francisco Peaks of Northern Arizona

leaving them glowing in a fresh coat of new snow.

The deep darkness of the foreground looms a bit ominous and indicates a problem with the exposure of this high contrast scene. All the same, the background and sky are breath-taking. I'm sure it is nice to see a good snow after last winter's dud.

Thanks Kurt. I shot it that way using an inverted graduated ND filter specifically for the contrast effect . I hope this winter really gets serious real soon.

An inverted GND? It gives a strong feeling that a dark cloud is overhead blocking the sun, which is unusual. What I like about it is that the FG is not important to the composition beyond the framing effect, and it balances the dark blue of the clean, cold sky along the top. I don't think I have seen a deliberate inversion of GND like this before. Thanks.

No problem, i'm always happy to pass on what little knowledge i've gained in the past six decades.

Wonderful! I was so excited to see this image since I recently viewed the peaks in person. The inverted GND technique is something I have never seen or heard of before--- thanks for sharing--very creative effect. Did you also use polarizer? I ask only because of the darker sky along the top, which I like. For this image it is very fitting. As Kurt stated the FG being dark lends the viewer to believe there is a ominous cloud, and the top of the image being darker only enhances that perception. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and your images....Regards...LJ

Thanks Lesa. I'm pleased you like this photo. I have a few more of this series i'll be posting over the next week or so. No polarizer, The variance in sky color is a high altitude phenomenon you get at different times of the day especially in the winter, Something about the atmospheric ions being excited by the warmth of the sun, but I couldn't begin to give you a scientific expanation.

very beautiful capture. I love the dark silhuettes of the tree and the fresh snow, cheers Jana

the mountains look bordered between blacked out foreground and the dark sky

i like the depth of that view