IN THE FIELD: Sunset Snow
Yesterday evening I was closing the curtains for the night to help keep the warmth inside. And to cover the big black holes that form at every window opening when it’s dark outside.
As I looked out one of the windows on the western side of the house, I caught a glimpse of yet another vibrant sunset. The sky was brightly colored with yellow, orange, pink, lavender, and purple. As a bonus, the snow in our side yard was glistening from the light of the setting sun. I grabbed my camera and was able to take a few photos before the color began to fade.
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cloudy WB
IN THE FIELD: Winter Wonderland
This certainly has been quite a winter for some folks. It may not be the snowiest as in years past, but the storms sure have been frequent. Another storm blew through this past Sunday night thru Monday afternoon and deposited nine more inches of snow. Last night was a night of freezing rain and snow…and guess what? There is more winter weather predicted for this weekend. The area around here is beginning to look like the Great White North.
I’m not complaining because I really enjoy the winter season…I just need a break from the outdoor gym (shoveling).
Yesterday I ventured down to a nearby small creek for some scenic winter photos. I was surprised to see the water flowing at such a high rate. I thought the water would have been frozen solid since the temperature has been below freezing since…well, I can’t remember when it wasn’t.
Here is a shot I took looking upstream. It was late afternoon and there wasn’t much sunlight at this location because of the hillside on the left was blocking the setting sun.
After viewing the image, I decided to de-saturate it to see how it would look. I like the color version because the brown leaves add some interest. I also like the monotone rendition for the really cold feeling in conveys. I think I’ll keep both.
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IN THE FIELD: Time Warp
This morning I was walking through the family room and couldn’t help notice the pink glow beaming through the transom window over the front door. I quickly grabbed the camera to get a shot of this beautiful sunrise. I took the first photo at 7:15 this morning from the front porch of our house. The second photo was taken four hours later at 11:15 this morning from the same spot. What a difference a few hours can make!
IN THE FIELD: Nap time
Another winter storm passed through the region yesterday and last night. With it came fluffy powdery snow, very cold temperatures and bitter wind chills of -17.
“Ya know…it’s hard to play and very tiring with ten inches of snow on the ground. We sure are glad our humans shoveled the snow in the back yard. Bet they are ready for a nap too!”
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IN THE FIELD: Winter’s Icy Grip
This morning we, as did most folks in this part of the country, woke up to a bitterly cold morning. I’m sure it is not as cold here as it has been in other parts of the world, but it sure is chilly. I really feel for you folks that have a much colder climate.
I did find it interesting to see the outside temperature hovering at 0. We don’t usually get to see that number on the thermometer. Even the inside temperature is on the chilly side. As a fellow blogger noted, it is odd dressing in layers while inside. I agree.
You can see yesterday’s outside high temperature had made it up to 44 degrees. And then the cold front came through. The wind started howling around noon yesterday and continued through the night. It’s still blowing relentlessly, bringing the wind chill to somewhere around -22…give or take a few degrees. I think I’ll look through the archive for some summertime photos.
IN THE FIELD: Bear Fever
There is a small town near our home where I can be found snooping around in search of new and interesting subjects to learn about and to photograph.
It is filled with architecture from the early part of the century and some buildings even date back further. Most of the older homes have stained glass windows and intricate scroll work on the window frames. In addition to all the interesting building designs is another charming characteristic of this town. It’s the town mascot. The Bears.
I have managed to photograph a handful of the bears that are situated throughout town, but I have a long way to go. Reportedly there are 61 bears of various themes waiting for me to discover. Good thing I have a map!
IN THE FIELD: Autumn And Winter Atmospheres
During the autumn and winter seasons, conditions are often favorable for brilliant and colorful sunrises and sunsets.
Ever wonder why the sunrises and sunsets are often very vibrant during the autumn and winter months? Well, it’s partly due to the light from the sun at sunrise and sunset must pass through more of the earth’s atmosphere before it reaches our eyes. That’s mostly due to the angle or tilt of the earth in relation to the sun. Because of this, the light comes in contact with more molecules in the air. Much of the blue light gets scattered or diffused away leaving behind the pinks, reds, oranges and yellows which become more pronounced. Another factor is the clear dry air that is present this time of year compared to the more humid air of spring and summer.
For sunset photos, be sure to stick around for 15 -20 minutes or so after the sun dips below the horizon. That’s when the color can really be intense. For sunrises, get in position about a 1/2 hour before the sun peeks over the horizon and you may just have some of the most beautiful color of the day.
If you would like to reward yourself with some fantastic images that are taken in the cooler seasons, grab some gloves, boots, a warm coat and hat, pick up your camera and tripod and go out and feast your eyes. Just remember…there is no such thing as bad weather…it’s bad clothing.
f6.7
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cloudy WB
ISO 200
Shot in RAW
INSPIRATION: Gift Ribbons
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ISO 100
White Balance cloudy
Natural Light
David Heilman 
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