Snow Shadows

Treeline on the Reed Farm

This winter has been long.  And I love winter. I love the snow, the crispness on my face, the cleanness of the white, the quiet of the season. As Ruth Stout put it:
There is a privacy about it which no other season gives you.... In spring, summer and fall people sort of have an open season on each other; only in the winter, in the country, can you have longer, quiet stretches when you can savor belonging to yourself.  

But  this year winter has hung on, digging it's claws into the change of season and not letting go.  I've never quite seen a drawn out winter like this-consistent snow and temperatures, not the usual warm up melt, then snow and well.... repeat.  Last year I was riding motorcycles and bikes on dirt and about to mow the lawn.  Nature will have it's way and this year winter has endured.

It's not all bad, this extra taste of snow and cold.   March brings longer days, starting very early, and for me, an opportunity to reengage my photography eyes. Looking back over the years, there always seems to be that one day during the season changeover, when my camera is out, snowshoes on and a dog along, shooting images of shadows on white.  It seems that that one day is a day I can "see" pictures.  Maybe just in my eye and maybe no one else will care or like them, but they are shot for me at that moment.  I think Stout expressed so well some of the things I feel when quietly making my way across snow covered fields and threading between dark tree trunks on the woods.  They are all "quiet stretches" to savor.  

I have a thousand pictures of Queen Annes Lace from all seasons-it's everywhere in my part of the world.  In the cold of winter, it's stands silent and delicate and in the dawn of the day casts threads of shadows on the sparkling snow.  I have yet to tire of making those pictures of them. An unimpressive treeline, grounded in fieldstone, now becomes a better subject with layers of grey hills backing it up and limbs of black branches holding still.

A day of enduring wind created acres of farm field drifts and a mosaic of patterns. Almost overwhelming, I had to caution myself not to shoot a thousand frames of these forms.  The lab followed closely behind me struggling in the deep snow until reaching the firmness of the windblown pack.  The way the morning light played off the snow reminded me of water waves gently washing up to a smooth beach leaving behind very similar shapes in the sand.  Others, like waves about to crash, but now frozen still.  Tucked away at a quieter place at the edge of a frog pond, isolated tracks were evidence that life was still tucked in here. Nearby stems of a cattail seemed to be reaching up like fingers freeing themselves from the snow, casting long thin strands in a minimalist, almost zen quality.  At another time I might have walked past, but this day, there was something there-at least for myself.  Perhaps just a simple composition belonging to just me and like in the quote something to savor.

Queen Annes Lace

The Drift Breakline

Snow Waves

Delicate Footfalls

Strands in the Snow

 

The Musical

Like the fall Homecoming parade and the yearly roller skating class in PE, the 5th grade musical seems to always make it into one of my blogs.  Maybe part of the reason I like to shoot it is that I was never involved in plays or musicals at all in school for I am not a stage type person.  I rather enjoy just staying behind the scenes, recording what others are doing, in this case-performing.

It's interesting to see these students in a different light (so to speak) -I have all of them in  my art class as well.  I get to witness a different side of them-singing talent that I never knew about and their acting ability-well, I do have some idea of that!  The cool thing about it all is witnessing them out of their typical element, and there are always some surprises, which are welcome to see.

Some kids have strong personalities or are leaders in their respective classes.  Even though they are still young, as a teacher, you have a pretty good feeling that they will be successful their entire life.

Other students may only get this one chance to be in front of an audience and perform and it'll probably be something they'll remember forever.  Quiet shy kids that honestly stunned me with how they could sing.    Even more so that they were brave enough to be singled out from their peers at the edge of the stage.

An image like this will sure to come back during their senior year to the sounds of giggles and laughter at what once was during an earlier time.  There will be plenty of changes in the ensuing years, but some will still be these kids on the inside.

Will the same personalities be there in later years?  Most likely not-not to be a bummer, but having taught enough years, kids that seemed one way while young do change, and not always for the better.  Thankfully there are always others who are what you saw when they were in 5th grade and always carry that youthful innocent optimism and joy somewhere inside.  Thank goodness.

Snow Day

Snow days.  Some people, teachers, students...hate 'em or love 'em.  For me, well, the first thing I usually do when the official word comes through is head out the door to do anything.  Since there is snow, that anything would have to involve it in some way.  Usually I'll be out grooming ski or fatbike trails as soon as possible, do some snowshoeing or even the dreaded shoveling or plowing the endless driveway.

All that said, fresh snow is also an exciting time to get the camera out.  The outside world is now wiped clean with a untouched layer of white making everything new again and seemingly giving me fresh eyes to see.  It's a favorite time to be out and the change in the scenery breathes a clearer vision it seems into my camera.

The Driveway & Molly

Cliff's Field with Queen Annes Lace

Legacy White Oak

Cliff's Corner in Black & White

Field Edge with Molly Tracks

 Oak in Black on White

Ash Standing Tall and Proud

Swirls Grounded

Bent in Submission

Nature's Towering Cathedral