Still traveling down Memory Lane. This is one of my favorite landscapes. Nothing special creativity-wise but, nevertheless, it works for me (it sings to me?). If I were judging, this type of image would almost never ribbon. I believe a special winning image requires more than a beautiful subject - anyone can do that. The winner makes the ordinary extraordinary. Look at all that's "wrong" here - centered horizon, centered subject, lack of color.... and it still works.
That lake is covered with about a foot of ice. The reflection is in a thin layer of surface melt water. The mist was a five minute anomaly in mid-afternoon when the temperature reached a freakish balmy mid-50's F. You were either ready or it was gone. Funny how being ready and being lucky go hand in hand.
Hard to believe but this is a color image. Also, about a mile straight ahead is a mountain ridge - just barely visible near the left edge. Maybe it reminds us of a Japanese painting like this? >>