Parc national des Monts-Valin

I posted this photo last February as part of a series taken when Paulette and I went snowshoeing in this Quebec park just east of Lac St. Jean. I also submitted it to a Photo News contest called Snow Days. It's been viewed by many people but most exciting was a comment from Michel Roy, "wow, super". I consider this high praise coming from an extremely talented professional photographer.

Check out Michel Roy's flickr site. Stunning images!

Parc national des MONTS-VALIN

Last week Paulette and I explored this out-of-the-way Quebec park with a small group of snowshoeing friends. Clement temperatures, mostly calm winds and changeable light made for a special visit and captivating photo opportunities. Parc des Monts-Valin is known for its snow encrusted "phantom" trees. The overcast sky and snow-bound trees blend together creating a peaceful, monochromatic scene. Pentax K10D, 27 mm zoom setting, f13, 1/250 sec, ISO 200, WB set at 'cloudy'.

Up out of a warm sleeping bag at 6 am. At 6:25 am, snowshoes on and climbing 1 km towards Pic Dubuc (980m). Camera on tripod by 7 am. This atmospheric, warm-cool composition reminds me of Bryce Canyon in Utah, where sedimentary stone hoodoos substitute for snow sculpted trees. A fairyland!
Pentax K10D, 27 mm zoom setting, f11, 1/6 sec, ISO 100, shot in RAW with WB later adjusted to 7500K.

Check out des Monts-Valin for more.