Icicles - Lady Northcotes Canyon
This photo achieved a highly commended status in the 2007 ANZANG: Nature and Landscape Photographer of the Year Award.
Ironically the key factors in this photograph were all negative ones, bad weather, poor light, a pitiful ski season, and a less than ideal time to go.
As a teacher I only have the opportunity to go ski touring in the school holidays which is either side of the best part of the ski season. Usually this means that I have to travel to the Main Range in NSW which is a fair hike from my home in Melbourne to get to any snow. I had spent the previous day skiing out from Thredbo to the ice covered Lake Albina and as this season had not been overly good the cover was quite patchy. The day I took this shot I had planned to ski up Australia’s second and eighth highest summits, Mt Townsend and Alice Rawson Peak but the weather had produced white out conditions on the heights so by default I ended up skiing below the cloud cover in Lady Northcote’s Canyon.
Not too far from my camp I saw these icicles high up a cliff on the Gorge wall. Being alone and so far from assistance should anything go wrong I was in two minds as to whether I should attempt to get to them or not. On three occasions in the most difficult spots I reassessed this decision but the closer I got the better they looked so imprudence won out the day and fortunately nothing went wrong. I don’t know whether it was my presence or the icicles time had come, but after getting two frames off the whole structure collapsed, fortunately the shots came out well. The other element of serendipity was the poor light, in better conditions the icicles would have been dazzlingly bright mitigating any chance of capturing detail in their delicate structure.
I have been back to this same spot on two occasions since then to try and recapture this scene with a tripod and better gear but the trips occurred in better conditions resulting in the entire slope having a good cover of snow and therefore no icicles. The fleeting nature of these sorts of scenes is one of the things I love about photography; you can literally eternalise unrepeatable scenes, be it icicles, a sunset or patterns in the sand, what a gift.
Sold two framed 12”x18” of this a little beauty.
For other shots from this area check out my Kosciuszko gallery.
To check out other mountain photographs see my Mountains gallery.
10% of all profits go to the Wilderness Society
Icicles - Lady Northcotes Canyon belongs to the following groups:
Alpine Australia, Art 4 Charity, Everything Winter, Landscape Photography, New South Wales Photography, Seasonal 'Scapes, Sold! and Travel and Adventure Available for sale asGreeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints, Framed Prints and Posters
KCphoto
A stunning capture!! Beautyful!!!!!!! :)K
midzing
beautifully shot, well done
Robert Mullner
Lots in this photo..the great perspective, the stormy clouds and distant mountains. Great detail…fantastic shot indeed…rgs, Rob.
Jocelyn Hyers
This is a breathtaking capture … Amazing … great job …
antonio
Great photo it is a close and far view of the mother nature….good work.
foxykya1
This is awesome!
Tony Middleton
fantastic photograph,vista and story to go with it ! – it certainly is a gift to experience the wonders of nature…
hilarydougill
I am not surprised it won an award, it is fantastic. wonderful capture.
Jonicool
Such a beautiful scene to capture! Love the story with it!
Nick Johnson
Fantastic image. Really moves the eye around the image.
micmac
So simple and yet so much to look at,fantastic shot.
screamqueen
this gorgeous
Ciska
wow such a fantastic shot, love the story too
Roslyn Slater
Awesome. This really is unique.
Jan Piller
Congratulations on the very deserved acclaim! This is a masterpiece! And I’m so glad you kept your footing!
jlynn
Amazing shot,, glad you are still with us:)
Craig Watson
Great shot and an incredible bit of explanation! Well done ravis.
Globalphotos
Stunning image, what a pleasure to view something so beautiful :D
David Iori
stunning capture!!
Jennifer Vickers
now that is a photo to remember.
greenfrog153
Amazing image Travis.
gaylene
oh I love this one too – no duds in your portfolio!
Dennis Gay
G’day Travis,
A most worthy winner for your ANZANG award mate!!! Difficulty: 20/10!
An awe inspiring scene, well composed and photographed in good light with a great exposure.
Good depth of field, nice sharp focus and the colours and contrasts most pleasing.
Great work that man!
GB
Dennis
joak
just anoyher beauty you have tons o great shots
Tom Gomez
Wow …
Tatiana R
Great capture, so unusual shot for Australian landscape photography
Neil Boucher
I love it!
Sharon Johnstone
Wow what a great shot!
micmac
This photo is a real master piece,you did an amzing choice for Body of work…
Travis Easton replied
Varinia picked the 12 pieces actually, but they are pretty similar to what I would of picked.
Geoff Coleman...
Oh man what a shot – yeah you can never repeat these and they almost always involve an ordeal to get but once you do you know you’ve been visited by a moment of grace that makes you just so grateful to be alive.
Without doubt this is my favourite shot of yours – the composition, unique moment, colours and light just combine to create a masterpiece Travis – congrats on this and being featured in Body of Work (turned out you were on both our lists so it was inevitable lol).
Renee Dawson
This is an amazing photograph Travis!
Mary Campbell
What a fabulous image, and your endurance to capture it shows what a good photographer you are..
Marilyn Harris
Brilliant work Travis!!! Such an amazing scene!!! Love it!! Congrats!!!
Robyn Carter
Really stunning and much deserved Highly Commended too :)
Rosemaree
A stunning shot. Even withall the negative factors this capture is fantastic. congrats
Laurie Puglia
what a fantastic shot here travis!!
Laurie Puglia
i enjoyed reading your story here too… you’re a serious photographer!
invisible
SUPERB !
eaglewatcher
Stunning shot!!!!
DawsonImages
what a unique landscape
Tamara Bobst
Stunning capture
simonesphotos
Stunning shot Travis, must be a great feeling being able to witness such remote sites, I envy you!
Travis Easton replied
I totally love photography but my first and primary love is just getting out in nature and experiencing creation first hand. I am aware of how blessed I am to have the health and experience to do so, thanks for all the encouragement mate. Been a little overwhealmed by your massive amount of posting lately but I’ll get onto them soon, they’re all so stunning I don’t know where to start ;-)
simonesphotos
Yeah I totally agree, that is what I love too. I love the fact that my camera has the power to drag my butt out of bed or off to remote areas to witness something first hand that the rest of the world sleeps through or can’t be bothered with. I wouldn’t have seen as much beauty in the world otherwise that’s for sure. And yeah sorry about the full on uploads, just wanted to get the calendars up and running. Now they are done I can relax and catch up on everyone elses galleries, including yours! =)
Brendan Schoon
WOW, this is WOW, just amazing!! Wonderful composition and this is indeed a very remote place!! Truly one of my favorites!! Very well done. Brendan
Travis Easton replied
Thanks Brendan, appreciated
Michael Matthews
Thanks for making the great effort .. brilliant shot.
Cora Wandel
Travis, excellent writing and image!
Cora Wandel
Your Hosts,
Anne-Marie & Cora
reflector
An Awesome shot ! Excellent composition and clarity. Congrats on the Feature !
Joanne Bradley
Wow, spectacular capture! Congrats on homepage feature!
Joanne Bradley
I am sorry, I meant ImageWriting feature but it deserves homepage!
Cheryl Lunde
Breathtaking Travis. Congratulations on the Feature, well deserved!!! A fave!
kathy s gillen...
stunning capture, congrats
dinghysailor1
brilliant outcome in challenging conditions!!
Béla Török
Fabulous capture Travis!
amarica
Beautiful work Travis!! Congratulations on being featured in the ImageWriting group!!!
LindaR
this is stunning Travis ~ what a great comp ~ love it!! xx
Lyn Evans
You work is amazing, this is fantastic.
Braedene
Whatever the weather – this is fantastic – I love icicle shots – one were you on the back of an eagle – great angle. Liz
Béla Török
Fabulous capture!
Nanagahma
What a great capture. As you know, “timing is everything.” Isn’t it interesting how things just sometimes work out? Congrats on your sells. Well deserved.
Mark Hossack
Wonderful shot!
Sharon Mau
Congratulations on your 2007 ANZANG: Nature and Landscape Photographer of the Year Award with this sensational image. I discovered this featured in the Sold group and when I opened it I actually said out loud “Wow…....... Wow…............ Oh my God” It is truly an amazing image, it is absolutely captivating as you composed this revealing the mountain range in the distance adding great depth and dimension to this beautiful photograph.
Travis Easton replied
Thanks Sharon, took this one way back in 2002 with my first SLR in my negative film days. Kind of one of those turning point images which resulted in me getting a bit more serious. After this trip I began shooting in Velvia. Thanks for the encouragement.
Shoaib .
beautiful
Barbara Brown
Beautiful!! wonderful and capture!!
Jan Glover 3 days ago
A well deserved win in ANZANG, I love this shot.
Travis Easton replied 2 days ago
Thanks Jan, One of life’s privileges to witness such wonders.