Wintering
tackling my least favorite season
A few weeks ago, I finished reading Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times by Katherine May. While the book goes beyond just navigating the winter season, it gave me valuable perspective during this time of year. Instead of forcing myself to treat winter like any warmer season, I’ve embraced slowing down, doing a little less, getting plenty of sleep, indulging a bit more, and practicing some self-care, as they say.
Winter is a tough time for me as I battle Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). One key to managing it is staying outside and being active. However, with temperatures hovering at or below 0ºF recently, braving the cold becomes quite the chore. The good news? As a photographer, I have a reason to get out and work despite the harsh weather.
Getting out there can still be a hassle, especially on days when I’d rather stay warm. But I make it a point to take my camera along. This year, I’m delighted we’re experiencing a true winter, last year was unusually mild with hardly any snow. I always say, if it’s going to be cold, give me snow too! The recent snowfalls have transformed our rural landscape into a stunning winter wonderland, and I’m excited to share some of these beautiful scenes with you.
My goal is to capture fresh snow before it gets messy or the wind clears the trees. Some mornings, I’d see fresh snowfall but had to wait for the right light. By the time I ventured out, the wind often had cleared the snow from the bushes and trees, resulting in less-than-ideal scenery. However, the ongoing snowfall still added a dramatic touch to a few of my shots.
The image I was aiming for is at Ellis Pond. You’ve seen many photos of this spot; I recently discussed it in the Water Newsletter. However, I didn’t have a shot of the area covered in snow. A few days before the snowstorm, I noticed the pond hadn’t frozen over yet, so I was hopeful to capture it snowing with the water still visible, not just a blanket of snow.
So, on the day of the storm, I suited up and headed out. It was cold and snowing heavily, with some snow still on the trees, but the wind was picking up, and I knew time was limited. Ellis Pond is surrounded by farm fields, where the wind tends to be more intense, reducing the chances of snow-covered trees by the minute. The last stretch of the road (I was walking, of course) was miserable, the wind was rushing at me, pelting my face with snow. It stung, but I finally made it.
As you might have guessed, the wind made conditions less than ideal, and the pond was already frozen over. The snow had turned to small flakes but was still falling heavily. On the bright side, the falling snow softened the image, adding a subtle touch. Despite the cover, you can still discern the pond’s location, with the bridges and benches guiding you through the scene. This is the print of the month and is available here.
The morning wasn’t over yet, so I headed into town and captured a few more photos. They turned out a bit messy, but that’s just how the weather plays out.
That was it for the day, but winter was far from over. A few days later, the cold and snow returned. This time, it was later in the day, so I headed out once again to capture the winter wonderland I was hoping for.
This time, I made my way to Antioch College, another location I didn’t have a snowy photo of in my archive. At Antioch, the snow was again making everything softer and messier. The wind was starting to tear down the welcome banner at the front of the main building. I can still feel the cold and wind from where I stood to take this shot.
After that shot, I began making my way back to town and captured this image, showcasing that life continues despite the storm. What I like about this photo is its messiness, the roads, the falling snow, the cold atmosphere. You can see people trying to get places, running errands, whether by car or on foot.
As I headed home, feeling cold and ready to call it a day, I thought I wouldn’t have anything left to photograph. I put my camera away, but then I came across a couple walking into town. I quickly took out my camera and positioned myself behind them to capture this photo.
This is wintering. It gets cold, it snows, and getting around can be a bit challenging, but you adjust and keep going.
Stay warm out there!
As always thanks for reading!
-Karl
Not easy is it! I like winters because I like settling inside at 4pm with fairy lights and not going out again :-) but I dislike the constant rain and wind. And I think we all need sun - maybe bringing back trips to the sun every winter isn’t a bad idea ?