A forest of cork oaks during a sporadic snowfall, creates an unusual image of the Mediterranean  mountain.

I gave it a long exposure time to achieve a ghostly atmosphere, with the  snow  accentuating the  texture  of  the trees and the sought-after effect  of  the  movement  of the branches and leaves, contrasted by the stillness of the twisted trunks and branches, as if it were an artistic painting with touches of Van Gogh.

Processed in Camera raw, with s/ight improvements of lights and shadows. Edited in  Photoshop,  since the application  of a gradient is impossible by the composition (its mark wou/d be noticeab/e  in  the trunks ), a delicate, laborious and smooth selection of the sky between the branches had to be applied, in order to darken ita  Jittle.

SIERRA DE  LA CONTRAVIESA

Full/ frame, 24-70mm a 24mm, F:16, 25 s, 31 ISO

 scene that inspired in me a mixture of solitude, melancholy, peace and depth, as well as a panoramic portrait due to the balanced location of the trees, creating a fine, elongated area of interest across the width. The snow and fog minimize the whole, while the traces of the falling snowflakes dynamize the composition.

Processed in batches in Lightroom, with some modifications of lights and shadows, app/ying a slight gradient in the sky, where the sensor has been unable to distinguish between the sky and earth. Edited in Photoshop, creating a single file using «photomerge’ reviving the green colors under the trees with the «se/ective correction»   too/.

HOYA DE GUADIX

Panorámica de 4 fotos, Full/ frame, 48 mm, f:16, 1/20 s, 100 ISO, paraguas

An unusual winter landscape of a strikingly beautiful Andalusian pastureland. Snow and fog are essential to create depth in the image (separating the planes from each other) and give a minimalist character to the composition. Strokes of falling snow add dynamism to the scene. In the composition I tried to eliminate the overlap between the elements as far as possible.

Processed in Camera raw, with first adjustments of lights and shadows, using a slight gradient in the sky, where the sensor has been unab/e to distinguish between the earth and the sky. Edited in Photoshop, refining the color with the «selective correction» too/.

HOYA DE GUADIX
Full/ frame, 24 mm, f:16, 1/20 s, 100 ISO

An image with an atmosphere of longing for what until recently was one of the most beautiful and photogenic pasturelands in the south, until the owner decided to surround it with fences and turn its calm lands into an  almond orchard. Here the snow and fog were essential to eliminate unnecessary details in the background as on the ground and create a beautiful minimalist image with a touch of melancholy.

Processed in Camera raw, with slight adjustments of lights and shadows, applying a slight gradient in  the sky,  where  the sensor has been unab/e to distinguish between the sky and the soil. Edited in Photoshop, reviving the dampened green under the tree with «se/ective color».

HOYA DE GUADIX

Full/ frame, 70 mm F:16, 1/20 s, 160 ISO

30

A compilation of three images of mountains and clouds, where finally no matter how big, enveloping or black the clouds are, their character is fleeting and the mountain stays. The clouds are a reflection of our problems or concerns and the mountain represents our inner strength and firmness. Nature gives interesting metaphors, valid for each person’s life, available for those who are capable of halting and contemplating.

Processed in Camera raw, with slight adjustments of lights and shadows. Edited in Photoshop, with a slight color correction and cropping, eliminating a part of the sky above the mountain, which detracted sorne of its majesty and  grandeur.

SIERRA NEVADA

Ful/ frame, 150 mm, F:16, 1/4 s, 100 ISO, polarizer

A portrait of a Mountain Gall Oak (Quercus faginea subsp. alpestris), a survivor of setbacks, marked by the harshness of the extreme  climate  on  this  plateau,  reminding  one of the face of an elderly person. The quintessential fog separates the tree from its background to create depth and a ghostly atmosphere.

Slide scanned with Joss of  quality. «Processed» in Lightroom to create  a base file from  which  to  refine settings,  trying  to  balance  the  loss  of detail  caused  by  the  Jow  dynamic  range  of  the  original.  Edited in Photoshop, with a s/ight correction of  its  tones,  applying  a  focus and at the same time trying to remove «noise» using the «dust and scratches»  too/  and  a slight  «Gaussian  blur» in a se/ected zone.

SIERRA DE LAS NIEVES

Analogue Camera, 80 mm, F:11 slide 50 ASA, 1/8 s

ICE STUCCOES

The cold of the night created these ice figures with such striking shapes that they seem to have been made in a mould for decorative purposes. In reality, their unique appearance  is because the water under the ice has evaporated, creating these beautiful icy, almost floating textures. It is the photographer’s job to give the final touches to the work  of art, creating  the right frame to  highlight  the  forms.

Processed in Camera raw, with s/ight adjustments of lights and shadows. Edited in Photoshop, applying the last color corrections, removal of much of the dominant b/ue hues and cropping of the superfluous details.

SIERRA DE CASTRIL

Full frame, 70mm, F:16, 100 ISO, 1/20 s, polarizer

A waterfall that turns everything it touches into ice with the magic of its freezing waters. To keep it in harmony with its surroundings and the icy elements it has created, I chose an intermediate speed, giving more volume to the water, at the same time  maintaining  its texture.

Processed in Camera raw, with s/ight adjustments of lights and shadows. Edited in Photoshop, applying the remaining color adjustments vía the «se/ective correction» too/ (of co/ors) and moderate cropping to remove superfluous  details.

SIERRA SUR DE  JAÉN

Full frame, 26 mm, F:11, 400 ISO, 1/20 s, polarizer