Lone Tree at Drove Road

“Clearing”

I like a good minimalist shot, but not too minimal. The snow makes everything better in this regard, but when I first approached this tree, the mist made the scene a bit stark. I placed the tree in different quadrants of the frame but couldn’t find a composition I was happy with. However, as the mist began to thin, the brow of the hill and the windbreak of trees in the background became visible. I found that with the orienting features, it was much easier to create a shot that I am happy with. Unusually, I took this photo handheld. Usually, I am locked down on a tripod, but this scene was so dynamic I needed to be quick on my feet. (Plus, with all the white in the frame, the shutter speed was so high there was little need for a tripod’s stability.)