cold 4F and about 20 mph winds

Good printing is very much a hairsplitting affair. This one looks pretty good, but be sure to tap in some density on the right edge. It's 5 F and 40mph here today.

I'm trying to learn how to split grade print, that is some of the problem I'm sure.

The Tallgrass Prairie National Park is located in the Flint Hills of eastern Kansas and is a sight to behold. The Rockies no, but a beautiful location to spend the day.

Once you go split grade you never go back. I agree about burning the right side, you have the makings of a fine print. Best. Shawn

The major trouble I'm having is the bottom half of the print. As best my watery eyes can remember the tree and ridge line were very dark, along with the little ravine coming in from the left.

The bottom half wasn't nearly so sharp in contrast, like light brown grasses sticking up through the snow, much softer.

Mike

Mike, I think you have some potential with this image. If you want a softer foreground, split grade print it and give less grade 5 exposure in the foreground and more grade 0 until it looks right. Don't give up. If it was my negative, I'd probably leave the main contrast as it is, and I would add more grade 0 burn towards the bottom, more to the left than the right. And I'd burn in the right hand side as already suggested, just to balance out the frame.
I particularly like the sheen in the sky and the silhouette of the tree and horizon.
- Thomas