This museum grade fine art photograph is available in a fine art limited edition of 200, signed and numbered with a signed Certificate of Authenticity (COA) provided for additional provenance.
Icefield - Ice at Latourell Falls in the Winter, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon
Latourell Falls, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon
Ice Covers Latourell Creek and the Base of Latourell Falls in the Winter, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon
Balls of ice cover the base of Latourell Falls in the winter, as the waterfall cascades 224 feet over the columnar basalt cliffs of the Columbia River Gorge towards the frozen winter wonderland below. Latourell Creek and the pool of water at the base of the waterfall are mostly frozen over on the surface, with the lower sections of the columnar basalt cliffs standing covered in ice as the gorge freezes over during a 2 week cold spell which kept temperatures around 10 degrees Fahrenheit (-12 degrees Celsius) for 2 weeks. It was a very different scene on the other side of Latourell Creek further down, where the ice covered base of the falls lay further in the distance as the creek flowed past the snow covered rocks and snow covered landscape towards the Columbia River, as seen in my photo Frozen Wonderland. I've always loved how changing angles and compositions at a location can completely change the feel and look of the scene.
The balls of ice, also known as ice eggs, are a relatively rare phenomenon requiring specific conditions. They are formed when supercooled water freezes around nuclei such as ice fragments in the turbulent water at the base of the waterfall. The churning motion of the waterfall keeps the ice fragments moving constantly, and when small fragments of ice break off they act as ice seeds for the balls of ice to grow around. As the fragments of ice rotate in the supercooled water, new layers of ice form around them. The continuous tumbling and rubbing motion causes water and ice fragments to rub against each other, creating the distinctive rounded ice formations visible here.
The lichen covering the upper reaches of the columnar basalt cliffs is a stark contrast against the dark basalt rocks and the cool, white winter wonderland below. I've been visiting Latourell Falls for over 40 years, having first visited it with my Dad before I can remember. In the 4 decades since, it's always been one of my favorite waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge and its world famous waterfall corridor. The columnar basalt here is absolutely fantastic, and I especially love how it's undercut and sunk in more compared to the basalt covered in bright yellow lichen higher up. I've come here in all seasons and almost any condition I can think of, but seeing the pool of water at base of the waterfall mostly frozen over as the surrounding landscape lay covered in ice balls was a truly unique experience.
I had to put ice spikes on and use winter trekking poles to get down here, as the trail down was too slick to make it otherwise, and I replaced my tripod feet with spikes for the same reason. All bundled up and geared out like I was headed to Mount Hood in the winter made this journey much easier, and the results were worth it. I've been visiting this place most of my life, but witnessing the beauty of the Columbia River Gorge transform into a winter wonderland worthy of Yosemite in the winter is something I'll never forget.
This image is available as a luxury museum-grade limited edition fine art print, part of James Mead's fine art documentation of the Columbia River Gorge.
Technical Specifications
- Camera: Canon EOS T3i
- Lens: Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM
- Settings: 10mm (16mm Full Frame Equivalent) | f/10 | 2.5 Seconds | ISO 100 (Base Exposure)
- Process: 3-Image 32-Bit Floating Point HDR Raw Reconstruction | Manual Exposure Bracketing | Bespoke Multi-Layer Noise Management
Technical Note - Preserving Museum Grade Details with an APS-C Sensor in the Winter
Captured using a manually bracketed exposure sequence and created via a true 32-bit floating-point RAW workflow in ProPhoto RGB color space, this work reflects the dedication to data integrity championed by the "Mead Method." Developed over 15 years of professional fine art experience, this approach maintains an uncompressed, continuous color spectrum preserving the full linear light data of the original scene with virtually infinite tonal precision, capturing genuine structural detail entirely from the original field conditions. This advanced approach successfully overcomes the higher noise floor inherent in APS-C sensors, ensuring that fine details and subtle color gradations are preserved with museum-grade clarity.
Note on Provenance - Ice Balls at Latourell Falls in Winter in the Columbia River Gorge
Converted to 16-bit Adobe RGB for the master print file and sRGB for the web, this work was captured using the "Mead Method" developed over 15 years of professional fine art experience. This photograph stands as a true, authentic moment in time executed completely without the use of digital composites, sky swaps, or generative AI. A single, historic moment completely preserved.
Photo © copyright by James Mead.
Chromaluxe® Metal Prints | Gallery Float Ready to Hang
Vibrant. Modern. Impactful.
My Chromaluxe® Metal Fine Art Prints offer a sleek, modern presentation that’s both bold and beautiful. Using a high-heat dye sublimation process, each image is infused directly into a specially coated aluminum panel resulting in vibrant colors, ultra-sharp detail, and a striking glossy finish. The dye sublimation process infuses the image directly into the metal, creating a scratch resistant surface while helping provide permanent protection.
These prints feature:
• Vivid, color-rich surfaces ideal for modern spaces
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• Float mount backing for a frameless, floating display. Ready to hang out of the box
• Signed and Numbered Limited Editions of 200
• Signed Certificate of Authenticity (COA) provided for additional provenance
• Hand Crafted in the USA by our master printmakers
Please contact me for Alaska, Hawaii, and international shipping rates. Please allow 3-4 weeks for production and delivery.
These metal prints are ideal for collectors seeking a contemporary look with museum-quality output. Resistant to scratch, moisture and UV fading, they work beautifully in both home and office settings.
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Lumachrome TruLife® Acrylic HD Fine Art Prints | Gallery Float Ready to Hang
Museum-Grade Brilliance. Gallery-Worthy Depth.
Bring home the brilliance of nature with the industry’s finest print medium. My Lumachrome TruLife® Acrylic HD Fine Art Prints are crafted using a state-of-the-art process that infuses archival pigments into a transparency layer, backed by a clear acrylic backer and mounted under crystal-clear TruLife® acrylic. This creates a luminous, almost 3D effect. Colors appear to glow from within.
These gallery-grade prints feature:
• Incredible depth and clarity, fine details leap off the wall
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• UV Resistant: TruLife® acrylic blocks up to 99% of UV rays
• 1/8" clear acrylic backer mounted using an archival adhesive layer
• 1.25” Roma wooden rear float mount frame inset 2” from the edge for a clean, frameless display that is ready to hang
• Signed and Numbered Limited Editions of 200
• Signed Certificate of Authenticity (COA) provided for additional provenance
• Hand Crafted in the USA by our master printmakers
• Ready to hang out of the box: no glass or framing required
Please contact me for Alaska, Hawaii, and international shipping rates. Please allow 3-4 weeks for production and delivery.
Whether you're designing a luxury interior or curating a personal gallery, these prints are built to impress and designed to last a lifetime.
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Roma Framed Lumachrome TruLife® Acrylic HD Fine Art Prints | Museum-Quality Ready to Hang
Timeless elegance. Unrivaled depth. A true centerpiece.
My Roma Framed Lumachrome TruLife® Acrylic HD Fine Art Prints represent the pinnacle of archival display. These statement pieces combine the award-winning brilliance of Lumachrome HD with the craftsmanship of custom Roma wood mouldings, transforming your chosen image into an heirloom-worthy work of art.
Each piece is handcrafted by master printmakers and framers in the USA using museum-grade materials. The print itself is infused with archival pigments into a transparency layer, mounted to an archival acrylic backer and face-mounted and sealed under a 1/8" layer of crystal-clear TruLife® acrylic: a premium optically-coated surface that eliminates reflections and enhances depth, vibrance, and clarity.
Surrounding this luminous presentation is your choice of genuine Roma Moulding, hand-built with a choice of 3.5" or 4" Italian made wooden Roma frame with a 3" black linen liner for a refined, framed, museum grade appearance. This adds approximately 13 to 14 inches to both the height and width of the final piece. This level of finish is rarely seen outside of luxury interiors and gallery exhibitions.
After placing your order, I’ll reach out personally to confirm your ideal frame and liner pairing from my curated Roma collection. If you’d prefer to finalize your framing choice in advance, feel free to reach out any time for a custom recommendation.
These museum grade works of art feature:
• Gallery-grade presentation with luminous depth and 3D effect
• TruLife® acrylic: anti-reflective, scratch-resistant, and blocks 99% of UV
• Archival quality construction with pH-neutral adhesive and backer
• Available in your choice of 3.5" or 4" Roma wood mouldings with a black linen liner for a framed, museum-grade appearance
• Museum-grade 3" black linen liner for added depth and visual separation
• Signed and Numbered Limited Editions of 200
• Signed Certificate of Authenticity (COA) provided for additional provenance
• Hand Crafted in the USA by our master printmakers
• Ready to hang out of the box: no glass or framing required
Please contact me for Alaska, Hawaii, and international shipping rates. Please allow 4-5 weeks for production and delivery.
Whether displayed in a luxury residence, corporate lobby, or fine art collection, these framed prints command attention and offer a sense of permanence few art mediums can match.
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These are investment-grade art pieces designed to last generations. If you have any questions, need any mock-ups or if you need anything else before purchase, please reach out and I will be in contact shortly.