Today's photographic journey

[Steve Foss]

It was such a pretty clear day after so many cloudy, dingy ones, that I said screw deer hunting and decided to take some pictures instead. Here's some of what I found. You'll notice I've paid homage to the blue sky. It was a good day.

All with the Canon 20D

Daybreak and below zero at a black spruce bog on the Agassa Trail

Canon 17-40L at 17mm, is0400, 1/500 at f4.5, handheld

Squirrel tracks frozen in black

Canon 100-400L IS at 400mm, iso400, 1/320 at f16, handheld

White-footed mice with red fox escort (Or, X marks the spot for a fox's dinner)

Canon 100-400L IS at 135mm, iso400, 1/200 at f13, handheld

Last flight of the evening, raven searches for roost

Canon 100-400L IS at 365mm, iso400, 1/320 at f10, handheld

Ed Shave Lake, looking east after sunset and temperature plummeting. My favorite of the day

Canon 17-40L at 21mm, iso100, 1/10 at f10, Bogen tripod, remote shutter release

[Shawnny B]

*Sigh*

Man Steve you sure bring back the memorys from up there ...

Thanks for posting...

ShawnnyB

[I_Love_Nuge]

Wow, great pics. I love the last one. It looks just like a painting.

[Steve Foss]

Thanks, you two. Here are a couple more from today for good measure. I didn't get a deer, but I don't feel bad. One sale of one image to a good mag and I have all my money back and more.

Portrait of a black spruce bog being boggy in the sun. About half a mile into the Jeanette Lake trail (on the shore of Nigh Lake) off the Echo Trail

Canon 20D, Canon 100-400L IS at 100mm, iso400, 1/400 at f11 handheld

Square frost flakes on black spruce at sunrise with interesting background (yes, all natural background)

Canon 20D, Canon 100-400L IS at 400mm, iso400, 1/250 at f6.3 handheld, Canon EX380 flash

[jonny_redhorse]

All nice shots Steve!....love those "impromptu" scenery shots and the "tracks in the snow".......I 'll be heading "deeper" into the wilds myself this winter as I just ordered a pair of "alaskan" snowshoes(cabellas) to be able to get off the beaten trails for more photo opportuinities for the scenery and wildlife(if we get more snow this year) jonny

[Jim Almquist]

Thank for sharing Steve. I really love the sunset and the tracks in the snow.Unlike most days deer hunting at least you got to shoot something

[WCS]

Steve,

That sunset photo is just plain awesome! That is definitely a winner. Thanks for sharing with us. That made my day.

[Dbl]

I would agree with everyone else on the sunset shot. Just beautiful, great colors.

[Swimmer]

Thanks again Steve...awesome shots.

[PikeBayCommanche]

Winter Sunsets are one of my all time favorites. The purple and pink hues in the winter are amazing.

Thanks for sharing.

[IFallsRon]

Very nice. About a -13 Blue Hue in Photoshop (Hue/Saturarion) will reduce some of the magenta/purple in the blue sky.

[Steve Foss]

Thanks Ron. I assume you're talking about the sunset shot. And you are right, but I don't want that reduction. I wanted it just the way it is. One of the great things about shooting sunsets on the opposite horizon from the sun up here on cold days is that red hue that forms along the eastern horizon, and the red mingled with the blue offers a purple cast.

[caseymcq]

Those are some pretty impressive pics there, Mr. Catfish. I especially like the one of the spruce bog.

[Redstormy]

I absolutely love all of these shots Steve.

I agree on the favorite but I love the raven

in flight as well. I faithfully watch two ravens

who live on top of a building across the street.

Their flight is almost as magestic as an eagle.

[Deitz Dittrich]

STF- your top pict of the trees reminds me of the my most fave pict ever posted on FM, I think you named it Ghost trees.. When I start my art collection, you will get my first purchase with that pict for sure!

[Steve Foss]

Thanks, DD.

And here it is again . . .

"tree ghosts"

[Deitz Dittrich]

Steve- I wish I was better with words.. I know the wife(english teacher)would be able to help me.. I cant even explain why that shot is so cool. Speachless is best I can do! As I said, my fave of every photo on the board. And I will be honest, I have loved a lot!

I am so thankfull to all that share on this part of the boards. Its one thing I wish I were better at(ok, honesty, I wish I were better at a lot of things!) But you guys see things at a different level than the rest of us!

[Steve Foss]

Thanks again DD. I think what might be compelling about this image is the fact that the eye is immediately drawn to the highlights of the frost backlit by the sun just peeking over the crest of the ridge (yes, frost on the Echo Trail in July), but the suggestions of other trees in the shadows are vague and subtle, so there are two main things going on in the image that each complement the other. And I think most of us identify to some degree with those trees stuck in the shadows, barely making their presences known, while the rich and famous stand out in the sun.

Tree Ghosts just seemed like the right title. I'd like to say I planned it that way all along, but it was a bit of an accident. I'd been hauling a$$ to a spot farther up the Echo to get there in time for the sweet morning light when I looked in my rear-view mirror and saw these trees, slammed on the brakes, took two quick compositions and headed out. It wasn't until I got home and looked at them on the computer that I realized I could make a nice fine art print by changing the image to B&W.

Anyway, don't get me started yapping about my own work, or this will run really long.

I wish I were better at a lot of things, too, Deitz, but nobody's good at everything.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Well, all things aside.. thanks again Steve, After looking at your site... the mink is to die for as well..

Give me some time and expect an e-mail and check from me!

[Mr. Pike1]

I like Deitz am a secret admirer of the pictures posted by you, Johnnyredhorse, Buzzsaw and many others. I post a lot in the other fishing forums but generally not here. I just take time to enjoy the images. There are a couple of books by Jim Brendenburg entilted Looking for the summer and Chased by the light. They have some fantastic photograpy in them. Many I have seen on here like the those in the Brendenburg books have simply taken my breath away as they compelling and a true art form.

[knoppers]

stfcatfish

again thanks for some great shots, I got another great wallpaper on the dark, pine woods at twilight.