Photographing in the Snow

I live in a country with seasons and I enjoy that.  Places take on a different look with each change of season, providing fresh scenes to photograph.  Right now we're in the middle of winter, a time of year I quite like.  The light is different -  softer, less harsh, and the colour palette works for me.  But it can also be bleak with many days that are simply grey and uninviting. This winter has been a harsh one, with cold temperatures and bigger snowfalls than usual.  And while that makes it difficult to get around it does offer up some interesting photography.

With all the snow we've had this year I bought some snowshoes which gave me access to places I'd never be able to get to without them.  I've now spent a lot of time In the woods, among the trees and grasses, where the snow remains pristine, enjoying the spaces and creating photographs.

Winter trees at the edge of the lake

Grasses along the edge of the dunes

Lake Huron dunes in winter

Shadows in the snow

And in winter the birds are hungry and looking for food.  Travelling with some seed and investing lots of time and patience gave me some images I like.  The birds are small, beautiful, and very fast.  Capturing them on camera isn't easy.  I'm very much a novice at this type of photography but plan on doing more.

Rose-breasted nuthatch

Red-bellied woodpecker

Sarnia experienced a rare weather event a month ago.  A combination of high winds, bitter cold, and a recently thawed river threw vast amounts of water from the St. Clair River up onto the shore where it immediately froze.  The resulting ice sculptures were both eerie and beautiful.

Dressed in Ice

Summer vacation towns and other urban areas present differently in the winter.  Bare trees, ice on the water, reflections, and so much more.  There's lots to photograph.

Ice along the river in Grand Bend

Great Lakes freighters in dock for winter maintenance in Goderich

It's now been raining for two days and the snow has disappeared.  Yes, it's milder out there but nowhere near as lovely to look at.  But it is only the middle of February and winter isn't over.  There's bound to be more snow and when that happens my snowshoes and camera will be ready for action.

Seeking Inspiration

From October through to the end of January I took no photographs.  I was uninspired and had no motivation.   Life was full, there were other things going on, but little creativity.   I believe we need to create to feel alive and present in the world, and that was missing for me.  Early this month I felt that shift, partly through effort, but partly - I think - because life sometimes just ebbs and flows, moving to its own rhythm.  Whatever the reason I'm back out with my camera.  

The Pinery

A day in The Pinery, a provincial park close by.  It's early February and there's no snow.  The day was warm, the birds happy to be fed, and the colours more like fall than winter. 

Thin Ice on the River

Leaning Over

I'm Not Listening….

Fungus and Oak Leaves

Storm Damaged Trees

Deer in the Cemetery

A family of deer in an old cemetery.  They live both there and in the ravine below.  They are beautiful.  It's peaceful just to be around them.  They're not always visible but when they are it's a real gift.

Winter Beauty

I'm drawn to the colours of winter.  And the wonderful soft light.  I find it magical.  These images were taken just before sunset two days ago at Kettle Point. 

Frozen in Ice, Bathed in Light

Trees Along the Shore in Winter

Gazebo at Kettle Point

It's good to be back outside, seeing the beauty in the land around me, and getting lost in the making of photographs.  It feeds my spirit.  I hope you enjoy the images as much as I enjoyed taking them.

Migrating Tundra Swans

Tundra Swans in Western Ontario is a sure sign of Spring.  Each year thousands of these large, magnificent swans make the 4,000 mile journey from Chesapeake Bay to their summer home in the Arctic.   They stop twice to feed and rest on their northern migration - in Western Ontario and then in the north of Manitoba and Saskatchewan.  The migration occurs over three to four weeks in late winter and early spring.   The journey is hard and according to the National Geographic only the strong will survive.

Tundra Swan in Flight

Resting After after a Long Journey

These swans are large, with a wing span of more than six feet.  They are also known as whistling swans for the sounds they make.  They can be heard long before they're seen.

The swans with brown colouring on their heads and neck are last year's young. They remain with their parents for the first full year of their life and one complete migration cycle.  

A family of four tundra swans.  The parents are at the front and rear and the two born last summer are in the middle.