Crater Lake Winter Panorama

Digital Illusions

This was taken a few weeks back on my first trip to <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place w:st="on">Crater Lake</st1:place> after getting a 50d. This photo is going to be printed and displayed in the lobby of a local production theater.

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What do you think? Click on the image for a larger version.<o:p></o:p>

4 stitched photos using photoshop CS3; ISO-200, 0.4 sec, f/16, 24-105L

ali79

Crater lake is just so beautiful this time of the year. Nice work I am also planning to drive to crater lake next weekend to take some photographs

scole

Congratulations on getting it printed and publicly displayed!

I like the perspective and the overall flow of the opposite side of the crater rim and the sky colors. What works less for me is some of the cropping. The trees getting cut off on the right just kind of brings my eye to an abrupt halt. I just wished they had a bit of breathing space beyond them.

I don't know why but I don't like the snowy foreground just disappearing for half the width and then re-appearing. Granted, this just may be unavoidable due to the panorama process..

Overall, it's still a very pleasing image and a very peaceful winter morning. Thanks for sharing.

Digital Illusions

ali79 wrote:

Crater lake is just so beautiful this time of the year. Nice work <img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6029383/emoji/clap.gif&quot; border="0" alt="" > I am also planning to drive to crater lake next weekend to take some photographs

thanks for the comments. weather should be great this weekend.

scole wrote:

Congratulations on getting it printed and publicly displayed!

I like the perspective and the overall flow of the opposite side of the crater rim and the sky colors. What works less for me is some of the cropping. The trees getting cut off on the right just kind of brings my eye to an abrupt halt. I just wished they had a bit of breathing space beyond them.

I don't know why but I don't like the snowy foreground just disappearing for half the width and then re-appearing. Granted, this just may be unavoidable due to the panorama process..

Overall, it's still a very pleasing image and a very peaceful winter morning. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for the congrats. Unfortunately, the trees on the right are unavoidable unless completely cropped out. They are part of a small group that continues just off camera to the right. I kept them in the frame as I was trying to balance against <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Watchman</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Peak</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> on the left.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
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The foreground snow actually drops off there near vertical. So that too was unavoidable. <o:p></o:p>
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Thanks for the comments.<o:p></o:p>

schmoo

Hi Brian,

This is a gorgeous place that I've wanted to visit for years! You got the right weather and the right soft light to accentuate it. Congrats on getting it printed and hung with great exposure! Keep 'em coming.

Tao Zero

Crater Lake is a such a great place to visit. We were there a couple years ago in July and there was still snow on the ground. If anyone gets a chance to visit, make sure to climb to the top of the look-out tower. The view is amazing.

Daniel

Digital Illusions

Tao Zero wrote:

Crater Lake is a such a great place to visit. We were there a couple years ago in July and there was still snow on the ground. If anyone gets a chance to visit, make sure to climb to the top of the look-out tower. The view is amazing.

Daniel

Yep snow in June is not uncommon. I actually talked with a park ranger last year and he said "Crater Lake has 2 seasons, Winter and August." it could not be said any better.

the lookout tower is on the top of Watchman Peak, the peak at the far left of the image above.

anwmn1

I was told Crater Lake is closed in the winter. Please let me know if that is not true as I will be in the area in March and would love to see it.

Digital Illusions

anwmn1 wrote:

I was told Crater Lake is closed in the winter. Please let me know if that is not true as I will be in the area in March and would love to see it.

well to answer your question, yes and no...

the park is open with limited services between october and april(ish). the lodge on the rim is closed, some of the smaller buildings, mazama village/campground and the rim drive are all closed in the winter. however, the rim village gift shop / cafeteria, and the visitors center are open all year long. the road to the rim can close without warning if a freak snowstorm hits. but it is usually opened within 48 hours of the storm.

the park it self is always open for people to enjoy. snowshoeing, cross-counrty skiing, sledding and even camping are popular events up there in the winter.

but with snow and ice comes much risk, just last week a person was plucked from the side of the caldera when he slid down the rim while trying to reach a fallen camera. the guy spent 3 or 4 hours perched on the edge of a 700 foot cliff. so, the park has many risks this time of year (or any time of year for that matter.)

for more info about the park and links to park services, you can read my latest newsletter by clicking HERE.

I hope that helps.

oh and about visiting in march. march can be very unpredictable, it can be very windy and very cold and icy, it can be clear and warm, or it can be snowy most of the month. just do your research on the park conditions and the local weather forecast and you will be fine.

Digital Illusions

schmoo wrote:

Hi Brian,

This is a gorgeous place that I've wanted to visit for years! You got the right weather and the right soft light to accentuate it. Congrats on getting it printed and hung with great exposure! Keep 'em coming.

thanks for the comments, i appriciate the positive feedback.

BeachBill

Very nice.

I was there 5 or 6 years ago, in June, on a road trip up the coast from southern California to Portland for a conference. I remember my kids playing in the snow near the lodge and the lookout tower and not being able to gas up your own car anywhere in Oregon, boy was that culture shock!

anwmn1

Digital Illusions wrote:

well to answer your question, yes and no...

the park is open with limited services between october and april(ish). the lodge on the rim is closed, some of the smaller buildings, mazama village/campground and the rim drive are all closed in the winter. however, the rim village gift shop / cafeteria, and the visitors center are open all year long. the road to the rim can close without warning if a freak snowstorm hits. but it is usually opened within 48 hours of the storm.

the park it self is always open for people to enjoy. snowshoeing, cross-counrty skiing, sledding and even camping are popular events up there in the winter.

but with snow and ice comes much risk, just last week a person was plucked from the side of the caldera when he slid down the rim while trying to reach a fallen camera. the guy spent 3 or 4 hours perched on the edge of a 700 foot cliff. so, the park has many risks this time of year (or any time of year for that matter.)

for more info about the park and links to park services, you can read my latest newsletter by clicking HERE.

I hope that helps.

oh and about visiting in march. march can be very unpredictable, it can be very windy and very cold and icy, it can be clear and warm, or it can be snowy most of the month. just do your research on the park conditions and the local weather forecast and you will be fine.

Thanks for the information. I will keep an eye and ear on the weather and try to see this on our trip.

I know March is a coin toss as far as weather goes but I have no control over when my sons spring break is.