The long and winding roads Photo

Photographer’s Note

For a second winter in a row, an exceptional meteorogical phenomenon is occuring in much of Western Europe, when at night it abruptly freezes right after a very foggy day. The fog freezes on the tree branches, forming myriads of needle-shaped ice crystals. As a result, all the trees become completely white and if the next day is clear, there can be no excuse for staying at home, one simply MUST go taking photos, no matter the cost. My cost was not that high, just a couple of hours of my working day ;))

About the title: of course the Beatles had it in singular, but here we see two roads, don't we?:)

rey316, Buin, snunney, ChrisJ, feather, Porteplume, PixelTerror, Floydian, al-Farrob, josepmarin, MayaG, AiresSantos, cherryripe, carper, avene, fulvio52, gneufeld, luisafonso trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

devimeuxbe (56248) 2009-01-11 1:58

Hi Aleksander
very beautifull winter landscape. Excellent light and sharpness on the snow. The choise of the vertical framing is also good
Well done
Bertrand

rgarrigus (0) 2009-01-11 2:03

Hi Alexander,

Great hoar frost. I love the way the shrouded branches look against that blue sky. Your composition is absolutely impeccable here and including the person walking adds the coup de grace. This might be a good spot to do a seasonal collection - photographing this same scene in Spring, Summer and Autumn.

Cheers!

Bob G.

rey316 (1902) 2009-01-11 2:05

Hi Alexander
Wonderful winter picture. Very good work and colours
Well done
Andrey

Buin (38136) 2009-01-11 2:10

Good morning Aleksander!
What a view! That's really winter at its best. The composition here creates a wonderful depth - nearly 3D. the "blue" person fits very well into the scenery ;-) A photo to marvel at ...
Greetings from also cold Germany (-16°C this morning)
Frank

dip (12792) 2009-01-11 2:22

Beautiful composition,I like the curves of the road,the river and the shadow on the frozen water ,the contrast between the white trees and the deep blue sky looks amazing!
tfs,
dimitris.

pauloog (6811) 2009-01-11 2:24

Hello Alexander,
A beautiful view with this winding canal and path and of course the white crystal clear colours against a magnificent sky. Good depth too.
regards,
Paul

snunney (35350) 2009-01-11 2:38

Hello Alexander,
A perfect winter landscape with beautiful colours and wonderful clarity. I like the perspective offered by the winding road and the well placed figure.

jurek1951 (26072) 2009-01-11 3:38

Hi Alexander,
Beautiful winter scene with a magnifique bleu sky.Very nice colours and details.Well done my friend.
Georg

feather (50040) 2009-01-11 3:58

Nature at its most beautiful (pity about the temperatures to go with it) Superb composition with the 'winding roads' drawing the eye right into the scene. Excellent idea to include the person walking. It shows how unusually tall those trees are.
Kath

Porteplume (3257) 2009-01-11 3:58

Bonjour Alexander,
Very sharp and crisp image in a well balanced composition. Yes! Holland can give us some great presents at this time of the year.
Let me wish you...

★ Vrede, Gezondheid & Geluk voor 2009! ★

Amicalement - Viviane

jurgen (1994) 2009-01-11 4:02

Hello Alexander:
I've seen this phenomenon myself. The branches get even whiter if this process happens many days in a row. But just a few degrees above 0°C and it all melts down and disappears.
I like this combination of bright colours: just whites and blues. The circular polarizer helps a lot to increase the contrast between the white branches and the sky. The position of that person on the road is a very good addition to the picture, and he/she is even dressed in light blue, being in good combination with the surroundings.
Unfortunately this foggy process has not being happening in Munich these days, so I can't go out and take the pictures.
Greetings,
Jürgen

PixelTerror (86663) 2009-01-11 4:20

Hi Alexander,
Perspective and curves plus thelonely person would be a photo worth any season but here with all this winter highlights it really rocks !
Have a nice sunday JY

Floydian (30970) 2009-01-11 5:07

Hallo Alexander,

Kijk eens aan, dit weer hadden wij dus niet hier in het noorden. Winter is hier trouwens toch al minder sterk dan verdrop naar het zuiden. Dit weer levert schitterende composities op met een krachtig beeld in eht ultieme winter gevoel. Een menselijk aspect toevoegen werkt ook prima hier, mooi rustiek beeld wat bij mij toch wel enige jaloezie opwekt..

Fijne dag,

Henk

al-Farrob (683) 2009-01-11 6:34

Very, very beautiful scene and excellent composition.
Thanks for sharing

nwoehnl (120) 2009-01-11 7:32

Happy new year, Alexander. Beautiful winter impression with an apt choice for the vertical format, allowing to fit the double S-shape into the frame in the best way. Fine details and a very natural color impression. Good inclusion of the single walking person in the middle.

dta (5879) 2009-01-11 8:22

Hello Alexander ,
A splendid shot ! The frozen landscape is beautiful , of course . But the composition is very well balanced , with the curving road , the curving river , the wonderful white trees . The human presence is a good thing , too .
Congratulations
Denis

josepmarin (34011) 2009-01-11 11:25

Hi Alexander,
A perfect title for this image, the sinuous effect of the path parallel to the frozen canal is very attractive at sight and gives a magnificent depth and a great perspective.
But the most interesting thing graphically is the frozen fog in the branches of the trees, which has a spectacular effect.
A superb composition.
Best regards,
Josep

MarcT (21103) 2009-01-11 11:56

Hi Alexander,
Beautiful landscape. Excellent use of the curve in the street to lead us through the picture.
Cheers
Marc

Rafer (4500) 2009-01-11 12:33

Excelente trabajo de composición y luz...saludos

npecanhuk (14492) 2009-01-11 12:35

Hello Alexander!
Very good winter picture!
Very good choice for the vertical format!
Outstanding composition!
Excellent exposure and sharpness!
I really like it!
TFS - Congratulations!
Warmest regards,
Neyvan

MayaG (2393) 2009-01-11 13:42

Privet Aleksander,

so good to hear from you, I was wondering if you are still here...I'm glad you are, even though less regularly (I am the same)..
Such a candy for the eyes, this one! I love it...great curves of the road(s) with that nice figure (luckily, wearing blue ;)). Seems that all Europe has been foggy this winter, even here in the South...well, it's photogenic :)

All the best in this New Year, Aleks!
warm regards
Marija

p.s. as for the Beatles, not sure why but looking at your photo, "Norwegian Wood" also came to mind...actually, I don't care why, it's always nice to have Beatles in mind anyway :)

gilou530 (35568) 2009-01-11 14:10

salut alexander
un paysage absolument magnifique avec le gel et la sensation de froid bien retransmise dans cette photo perspective superbe
amitiés
gilbert

AiresSantos (42750) 2009-01-12 1:01

Hi Alexander
Wonderful colours and details. Excellent POV, sharpness and light management.
I like how you framed it with the trees and road with curves on right side. Lovely.
Have a nice week
Aires

jonathan_hart (22595) 2009-01-12 8:57

nice winter scenery with a good looking curved path to lead the eye
jc

cherryripe (19151) 2009-01-12 10:14

Hi Alexander
Superb composition with the tree tops in the upper right corner and the curve of the grass in the bottom left. The path creates so much depth especially having the person so well placed in the background. Excellent sharpness
Regards
Nikki

carper (65448) 2009-01-12 10:15

mooi Alexander,
prachtige winterscene, goede compositie, uitstekende diepte en die persoon doet het perfect in de foto goed fotowerk. prettige avond.
groet jaap

brevbrev14 (372) 2009-01-12 13:08

Hi Alex, beautiful picture!
i love the blue subjetc so little in the compo
great image!
have a wonderful 2009!
ciao
Valeria

avene (11084) 2009-01-12 15:57

great shot, Alexander, the winding road and the little canal that mirrors it work really well to lead the eye through this Winter Wonderland. everything looks like fragile lace and crystal clear, and I also like a lot that you have included a person in the frame, for me it adds to the fairy tale mood. superb work, my compliments.

regards,
Kristine

Angshu (33995) 2009-01-13 1:35

Hello Alexander
Superb perspective & lead-in with the winding road, with the frost creating a lovely contrast with the clear blue polarised sky. With the lone man out there in perfect place, we get an idea of the height of the trees. Excellent work!
Regards
Angshu

ChrisJ (70419) 2009-01-13 1:52

Hi Alexander

I like the curving, 's' shaped path way through the snow. The blue & white colours look great together, & the sharpness is impeccable. Tfs!

fulvio52 (8314) 2009-01-13 4:06

Hi, Alexander.
It's been a while since I've been here, on the Dutch side of TrekEarth... I'll be back for sure later on this Spring, when I run out of USA shots and those vintage, magnificent skies start to appear once again above Holland.
Wonderful landscape, perfect light management, and a most inviting angle in this one. A composition that does great justice to its title and it's a real pleasure to look at, TFS!
I appreciate your recent visit, have a good day my friend. I'll be seeing you.
Fulvio.

janneman (1228) 2009-01-13 10:01

De laatste dagen zijn er in Nederland duizenden van dit soort foto's gemaakt
Wat ik aan deze erg mooi vind is de slingerende weg rechts, die in de voorgrond gedeeltelijk buiten het beeld valt. Dat geeft een goede spanning. Daanaast ligt de beek die net iets anders slingert. Een mooi beeldelement.
De wandelende persoon en de prachtig blauwe lucht maken het beeld helemaal compleet!
TFS!!

gneufeld (15233) 2009-01-13 18:43

Hi alexander,
Wow, what a gorgeous shot with the heavy hoar frost on the trees set against the deep blue sky. The curvatures add alot of eye appeal.
Gorgeous, and what a place to go for a walk on a clear day. Well done and TFS. Gerald

Cricri (43560) 2009-01-14 2:32

Hi Alexander
Quel beauté ce paysage tout blanc que le ciel bleu et la lumiére top du moment fait resplendir, excellent aussi le cadrage avec les courbes du chemin et de la riviére gelée, superbe
Good day for you
cricri

marietom (32060) 2009-01-14 12:22

hello Aleksander,

Magnifique ce paysage sous la neige. Les couleurs sont très belles, quel bleu dans ce ciel !
Bonne soirée
marie

jorgi (3800) 2009-01-16 0:50

Hi Alexander,

superb winter scene...cold but crispy clear and sharp as a needle.
Wonderful fragile tree tops in deep blue sky creating magnificent scenery illuminated by sharp winter light.
Absolutely wonderful!

regards,
jeri

aadilj (17950) 2009-01-16 1:39

Hi Alexsanser, I can actually just be lost in your gallery for a long time. its exquisite., This is beautifully captured

danyy (69319) 2009-01-18 0:17

Bonjour Alexander,
il y a pas mal de manières de rendre ce genre de scène, la tienne est sans doute la plus séduisante.
Les arbres sont givrés au maximum et le bleu profond du ciel profond, leur permet de bien se détacher.
Des lumières fantastiques et une netteté impeccable.
Excellent dimanche.
Daniel.

MarianneS (14360) 2009-01-18 8:21

Hello Alexander,
Superb composition with a great perspective and above all the beautiful details of the frozen trees, they look like lace!
The clarity of your shot is excelellent, full of light and sharpness.
Well done!
Regards,
Marianne

luisafonso (858) 2009-01-26 4:07

Incredible output from your camera Alexander. Both in terms of technical quality and of aesthetic beauty. The composition is top notch with that "S" shaped path and frozen canal. And that person in the middle of all that snow, giving scale and humanity to the shot is priceless. I love the blue gradient in the sky. It goes so well with the white trees. It really looks crystalline! Very beautiful.

delkoo (34588) 2009-01-27 13:53

hi alexander
very beautiful winter scenery, the vertical framing works well here, excellent colors and contrast of the frozen branchs counter the saturated sky.

best regards
didier

zanzi (4682) 2009-02-01 9:36

Hi Alexander
Great frozen capture. The light is just outstanding.
Bravo
Chris

Wandering_Dan (3275) 2009-10-31 8:46

Hi, Alex -

Beautifully crafted, so crisp I get a chill just looking at it! Excellent light, and the position of the person is perfect for a sense of scale and isolation.

Best,
Dan

crhieatt (5145) 2009-11-06 16:02

Alexander,

Beautiful, crisp looking scene. Even the modern housing on the left adds a certain, welcome, feel to the scene of this semi-urban landscape.

Cheers
Colin