Winter
"It is the life of the crystal, the architect of the flake, the fire of the frost, the soul of the sunbeam. This crisp winter air is full of it. "
John Burroughs, American naturalist, and nature essayist
Winter Photography
Winter brings to mind gray skies, long nights, snow, and cold. You might think I’d put my camera away until spring. But for many, winter is a wonderful season for photography.
A landscape is often visually “busy.” In our three-dimensional world, there are so many elements that capture our attention. Our eyes tend to wander around the scene, enjoying everything.
A photograph is limited to two dimensions. And a busy image just doesn’t work. To capture the viewer’s attention and create visual flow on a flat surface, a photograph has to be simple, with a clear path to the subject.
Snow simplifies the landscape beautifully. It covers distracting elements in a soothing blanket of white allowing our eye to focus on the subject.
The Shot
Last winter I visited the Morton Arboretum with fellow photographer Scott Fuller. We had a wonderful time hiking the loop around one section of the grounds in the freshly fallen snow.
Early on, this tree attracted my attention. It never seemed photogenic in other seasons because it was surrounded by ground clutter. But in a snowy landscape, it seemed to stand out and call to me.
Happy Holidays
I wish all of you Season’s Greetings and a Happy New Year. I’ll be taking next week off and the next Friday Photo will go out on New Year's Eve.
Thanks for looking,
Chuck Derus