Seasonal Feature
Winter Challenge 2010-2011
Love it or hate it, winter means different things to different people. But even if you'd rather be basking in the summer sun, you've got to admit that winter offers some unique photographic opportunities that can look absolutely stunning hanging on a wall! Snow covered landscapes, nature's own ice sculptures, city streets brought to a standstill, the fog from one's breath on a crisp winter morning...these images stir-up warm and cozy memories of winter...regardless what the mercury says!
* Our 2010-11 Winter Challenge is now closed *
(If you have a seasonal picture to submit, please consider our current Photo Challenge)
Submission by Joseph Colatriano, St. Leonard, Quebec, Canada
 Ste. Saveur, Quebec, Canada © 2010, Joseph Colatriano Nikon D80; f/6.7, 1/180, ISO 100, 35mm Focal Length |
Joseph from Quebec submitted this photo that just seems to scream "Canada in the winter"! Putting aside any false stereotypical notion that Canada is all about snow and igloos, the photo really is a gem and we're glad to post this as the first of what we hope will be many excellent Winter photos in this new seasonal challenge online gallery! Note the natural frame created by the V-shaped pine tree bows weighted down with the white stuff and the canopy-like saplings in the background. This natural frame invites the viewer into the photo, as if to look through the opening and walk right through! The hint of blue sky is a gorgeous reminder of the fact that a snow-covered scene need not be overcast and dreary. Another positive about Joseph's submission is the fact that he got the exposure dead-on. Snow can be very difficult to expose properly - often being either horribly overexposed or lifelessly underexposed. The snow in this case has both texture and tone - wonderful! Congratulations Joseph; this is a great start to our Winter Challenge! |
Submissions by Inbal Tur-Shalom, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
 © 2011, Inbal Tur-Shalom Nikon D40x, 20mm focal length; f/4.5, 1/125, ISO 100 Inbal tells us that she captured these beautiful winter images while staying at a chalet near Amsterdam. You can almost feel the stillness in the air as you gaze at the pristine snow. These postcard-like shots are well composed, with framing that's perfect. The image above takes advantage of the horizontal aspect of the row of trees, but cuts the 'horizon' at a very low perspective which allows the snow-coated trees to seem that much more imposing and majestic.
The image to the right is equally thoughtful and artistically arranged. Note how the gently sloping tree line moves your eye around the picture? In both of these images, Inbal got a perfect exposure; not an easy challenge when the white stuff is all around! While she presently lives in Amsterdam, Inbal lived previously in Israel and, in fact, received her formal art training at the Tel Aviv museum of Art and with the painter Avinoam Kosowsky. She enjoys traveling and has visited |
 © 2011, Inbal Tur-Shalom Nikon D40x, 20mm focal length; f/4.5, 1/5, ISO 100 |
over 30 different countries (we're guessing that she has done her fair share of taking photos in all of those difference places!). She has an eye for beauty in the everyday and the photos above serve as testament to that! You can see more of Inbal's photo work at her own site. We are glad that Inbal sent us her creative images. Accolades and salutations to another fine photographer!
Submissions by Mike DiRenzo, Coram, New York
 © 2011, Mike DiRenzo Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 28mm focal length; f/8, 1/30, ISO 200 |
 © 2011, Mike DiRenzo Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 35mm focal length; f/8, 1/125, ISO 200. |
Mike DiRenzo is no stranger to FreePhotoCourse.com! Some of his spectacular New York City images were previously selected to be part of our popular "NYC Exposed" online exhibit. This time around, Mike sent us some pictures from some of his winter photo exploration, and are we ever glad that he allowed us to share these magnificent images with our visitors from around the world! One thing that both of these images share is the haunting solitude that is almost palpable. There is certainly a beauty in the serenity that is a winter country scene. But there is also something a bit unnerving about these fantastic images.
It's not just the graveyard site, although that certainly sets the scene. There's something else and it has to do with the lack of people, and the "lost" backgrounds that appear to be fading away before our eyes. Of course, it's the snow in the atmosphere that's obscuring the background, but the effect is a backdrop that's happens to be surreal, serene and even a bit frightening...depending on your mood and interpretation.
The composition is expert level on both of these images. The tracks in the snow in the graveyard image at the top left help give the picture some motion and entice the eyes to "enter" the scene. The lone tree in the image at the top right is asymmetrical; providing a slightly off-balance feel and giving way, gently, to the almost completely faded trees off to the right.
Mike has created some awesome winter photographs and should be recognized as a true photo artist! Kudos again Mike DiRenzo!
It's not just the graveyard site, although that certainly sets the scene. There's something else and it has to do with the lack of people, and the "lost" backgrounds that appear to be fading away before our eyes. Of course, it's the snow in the atmosphere that's obscuring the background, but the effect is a backdrop that's happens to be surreal, serene and even a bit frightening...depending on your mood and interpretation.
The composition is expert level on both of these images. The tracks in the snow in the graveyard image at the top left help give the picture some motion and entice the eyes to "enter" the scene. The lone tree in the image at the top right is asymmetrical; providing a slightly off-balance feel and giving way, gently, to the almost completely faded trees off to the right.
Mike has created some awesome winter photographs and should be recognized as a true photo artist! Kudos again Mike DiRenzo!
Submission by Marcie Bowman, Chicago, IL
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In Marcie's own words:
"We had all of our windows replaced with those low energy models a few years ago except for one window in our bedroom that is a sort of antique. We've been having some really cold mornings here in Chicago lately and that old single-pane window was no match for the humidifier that had been running all night long! When we awoke in the morning, we were treated to this amazing window frost - no, make that ice! I love how you can get the feel of the color of brick in the houses across the street without seeing any of their detail and how the ice designs seem so strangely random!" Wow Marcie! You sure did find an amazing winter photo subject here. We couldn't agree more that this is definitely unique and worthy of exhibition in this seasonal gallery. It's interesting how the main vertical "trunk" of ice seems to have segments, as if it were picture of a palm tree. Our submissions review team was wondering if it was caused by the condensing vapor from your humidifier dripping and freezing in segments. Whatever created this, it's great that you noticed the photo opportunity. Nice exposure, focus and framing. Since we didn't see all of the window, we're assuming that you cropped in for a more appealing balance. Congratulations fellow shutterbug! |
 Amazing Window Frost © 2011, Marcie Bowman Nikon D300; f/6.3, 1/160, ISO 200, 55mm Focal Length |
Submission by Jess Johnson, Minnesota
 Glassy Icicle © 2011, Jessica Johnson Nikon D7000; f/5, 1/125, ISO 100, 135mm Focal Length |
Isn't this really the essence of a cold winter? Jessica Johnson told us that she snapped this image of an icicle on a cold February morning.
She said, "I had just sat down to sip my coffee and read the morning paper, when a glint of sunlight danced across the page. Instinctively, I looked-up to see what made the light and I was awestruck by the beauty of a huge icicle hanging in front of my kitchen window. Forget the coffee and paper! I got my new Nikon D7000 and began shooting!" We're glad Jess got her camera out because she created a beautifully artistic picture of what would otherwise be a very common winter site. We like the fact that she didn't fall into the trap of thinking that she had to capture the entire length of the icicle. Had she done that, she would have lost the magical, randomly-placed details in the huge chunk of ice. The air bubbles, big and tiny, created very interesting shapes and patterns that become the star of the show. Jess also shot with a wide aperture (f/5) and a gentle zom (135mm), which created a pleasing bokeh (blurred background) from the short depth of field. The diagonal line separating light from dark in the background serves an important purpose from a contrast point of view, allowing the lower part of the icicle to reveal far more detail than the upper part that has less contrast because of its bright background which is very similar in shade to the icicle itself. The composition is ideal - not centered and on a very slight diagonal. It is stunning by its simplicity. In this, Jess reminds us of a very important photographic rule; less is often more. Congratulations Jess and enjoy kudos that come with the personalized certificate we sent you for being selected as part of FreePhotoCourse.com's 2010-2011 Winter Challenge! |
Send us your "best of the best" and if it's good enough, we'll post it for the world to see!
If our Submissions Team decides to post your image it means something special is going on with your photography. You have the pride of knowing that your photography is at a higher level. Best of all, you can show your posted work to friends and family - you can also put-up a link to this page up on your Facebook, Flickr or other sharing site!
SHOW OFF YOUR KUDOS TO YOUR FRIENDS! Contributors with a photographic work that is accepted and posted in any of our Challenges, Themes or regular Contributor's Gallery will receive a special certificate by e-mail. In a way, it's a bit like winning a photo contest where your work can be seen by the world!
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