Michal is fascinated by the way simple subjects such as light, snow and trees can create myriad forms, patterns and scenes, and he's always experimenting with unusual compositions. He went to the Beskidy Mountains in southern Poland to photograph the winter landscapes there. Shivering after standing for several hours at dawn in temperatures below -15°C (5°F), his attention was caught by a sliver of golden sunlight crossing the snow. 'I focused on the backlit silhouette of the tree,' he says. 'The empty space at the bottom emphasizes the simplicity. It reminds me of a stained-glass window.'
Nikon D80 + 80-200mm f2.8 lens; 1/30 sec at f11; ISO 100; Manfrotto tripod.
Beskidy Mountains, Poland