WOW Mike..

[Shari]

This is fabulous. We had the same storm here but I did not get such wonderful shots.
http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/gallery/view_img.php?id=16734
Shari

[AngelicKim]

I just saw this in the gallery, it is beautiful isn't it.

[karen donnybrook]

Wow Mike, how did you get that shot - and don't say with a camera :D

Karen

[billz]

Mike - The January morning out the back door is great too! Thanks for posting it.

Bill

[Wendy]

Hi Mike ...

What great shots ... !! :)

Wendy

[mel]

Wow Mike, how did you get that shot - and don't say with a camera :D

Karen

Karen :D :D :D

Excellent photo Mike!!!!!

[Robyn]

What a FANTASTIC image. Great work!

[lindajay]

Brrrr, Mike. I can feel the cold! Nice work.

[kimi_boo]

I agree with Linda... bbbrrrrrrrr.

Great shot. Tell the truth? You were in the car with the heater running? :D

[Kathy]

Mike,

A beautiful photograph ......... :)

Kathy

[nkeevers]

Great work! With the snow blowing around and all, it sure makes me cold! Great capture!

[NMarti]

Mike
What a fantastic shot! Great job capturing the snow blowing. Thanks for sharing it.

[mrod]

How did I get the shot? Here are two versions. Pick your favorite: :D

Story 1:

The newly-risen sun just peeking over the foothills glistened brightly on the new snow as the storm's fury began to abate ever so slightly. The blowing snow obscured my watch crystal, preventing an accurate reading, but judging from the position of the still-visible moon, wind-chill factor, and wild elk feeding just out of camera range I could tell it was about 4:37 a.m., give or take 5. Crouched low with my tripod-mounted D200 at the ready, I snapped several hundered shots over the course of an hour, capturing several different light and snow patterns as the snow whirled around me, threatening frost-bite and hypothermia any second.

Story 2:

While driving to Spokane to visit family for Christmas, traffic stopped while some poor fellow had his car pulled out of a snowbank. We happened to stop in front of this little shack around mid-day, with the harshest, worst-time-to-photograph light imaginable. I grabbed the point-and-shoot Canon S70, asked my lovely and patient wife to roll down the window (she hates being cold), and fired off a shot just before we started to move again.

Thanks, everyone! I apprecaite the kind words!

Mike

[karen donnybrook]

Mike,

I'll go for version 2 - although version 1 is a great story, I don't think you are that dedicated :D

Karen

[BillandCat]

A great shot. In this world we sometimes luck out being there and ready. We have all been there but very seldom ready and seeing the oppurtunity. As a New Englander it looks you have some God awful country in the winter on the western end of this land of ours. Again, congrats on being alert and seeing the oppurtunity . BillandCat

[mrod]

Thanks, Bill. Yes, I'm often the being in the right place at the right time every now and then.

That shot does paint a bit a of a bleak picture, but the mountains about 40 miles west of that location are absolutely stunning this time of year. On a clear day, there's nothing like it. But yes, as you get into Eastern Washington, the land changes a bit. Some like it, others, not so much.

Mike

[mrod]

[sigh]. You got me, Karen. How did you know? ;)

The first one was a lot more fun to write, that's for sure!

Mike

[irishnh]

Not only the snow shot ... but most of your gallery shots are inspiring. Thanks for sharing them. With the temperature below zero here right now I hope that you don't mind that admire the beach shots ... it make me feel a little warmer.

[Ashac]

Mike love the photo, the area looks so desolate! But your story brought a real chuckle at the end of a long week. Thanks so much for both!!

Karen

[NRiceDesigns]

Thanks for sharing the wonderful photo Mike.

[billz]

Mike - Wow .... you saw wild elk feeding!!:D

Bill