This winter image from Bishop, called A Sliver of Winter, captures a fleeting moment in January. It’s been a tough month for me in 2025—I had a bunch of medical issues, but thankfully, they turned out to be false alarms. Still, it was a stressful time.
This scene brings back memories. We had just a little bit of snow overnight, and I’ve looked at this image for years and years. It takes me back almost 30 years to a day with Galen Rowell—maybe 1997? I remember stopping the car, feeling drawn to the moment. Galen said no, but I said yes. I made an exposure then, but this version is so much stronger.
The difference? Experience. Time. My latest digital camera helps, but more than that, my ideas about what makes an image powerful have evolved. They aren’t always visible to my eye—they’re inside me. Now, when I get excited by a subject, I don’t just pull out my camera right away. I use my vision card, like Ansel Adams always emphasized, knowing that moving the camera can change everything. I walk back and forth, up and down, fine-tuning the composition. Only when it feels right do I make an exposure.
And after almost 20 years of working with Lightroom, I see the image not just as it is but as it can be. Every choice I make in the field is influenced by what I know I can bring to life later.
This is, without a doubt, the best version of this image I’ve ever made. But I’m already thinking about what’s next—an autumn version is quietly taking shape in the back of my mind.
I hope you enjoy it.
