Mountainside Detail & Snow Panorama

Mountainside Detail & Snow is somewhat of a signature Jon Paul image. While many of my photographs have a "wow factor", my reputation has been built upon the subtlety and detail that is reinforced with my large format technique. This image epitomizes that practicality.
I visited Emerald Bay, here in Lake Tahoe, on the morning of a light snowstorm. While my first look was to the iconic bay itself, my attention turned to the textures and detail on the steep mountainside that towers above. I chose to eliminate the sky and dramatic peaks from the composition by adapting my 8x10 inch film camera to use a 4x10 inch panoramic sheet of film. I made the forms of granite, pine trees and willow bushes the main subject matter. Their shapes and textures accentuated by the contrasting layer of fresh snow. While the image was monotone as a color scene, I envisioned the stronger contrast and starkness of a true black and white image. The detail afforded by that huge piece of film makes the print quality extraordinary.