Above: Minerva Springs abstract, Yellowstone National Park.
Opposite: Black oak in Yosemite Valley.
Winter is the season when nature
photographers freeze their fingers off to
capture images of frozen water on the
landscape. Don’t rush into the snowbank
with your finger on the trigger. Re-think
your approach. You might be surprised
at the new look a little forethought could
bring to your images. Consider isolating
elements within the grand, snowy land-
scape to give your images that “different
feel” and make them stand out.
Wandering Yosemite Valley in Janu-
ary, I was surrounded by vast landscapes.
But what caught my eye was a large oak
tree isolated from other trees. It was strik-
ing with its snow-covered, dark branches.
I used a medium telephoto lens to isolate
the tree and reduce the depth of field.
The tree became the prominent element,
producing a different feel to the scene.
Grand landscapes are great, but take the
time to search for strong elements that
stand on their own and add new perspec-
tive to your winter portfolio.
The quality of light is critical to suc-
cessful landscape photography, espe-
cially in winter when dull, dark light
often bathes the scene. Don’t give up.
Re-think your situation. When I was in
Yellowstone one winter, the light was
never right for grand vistas around Min-
erva Springs. The springs are made up
of layers of mineral deposits that form
amazing abstract shapes. So, re-thinking
my grand landscape plan, I isolated a sec-
tion of the springs, maybe 5 feet long, in
even, soft light. Using as much depth of
field as possible, I aligned my wide-angle
lens parallel to the formation. Low light
and large depth of field required a tripod,
mirror lock-up and a cable release. The
extra time needed was worth it to capture
a truly abstract interpretation.
When faced with less-than-ideal light,
don’t stay in your tent. Discard your
pre-conceived grand landscapes and let
your mind wander. Look for intimate
scenes or abstract impressions you can
isolate to create entirely different images.
You won’t be disappointed, and you may
find new ways to see the land.
If you have great light, by all means,
capture those gorgeous winter land-
scapes. With spectacular light and clear-
ing storms, you can create images of
iconic locations like Gates of the Valleyoutdoorphotographer.com December 2019 49