Sublime Winter

"We all start in this medium because of the magic and the challenge is to keep it going."  John Sexton

A week or so ago winter finally made its stand in northwest Iowa with inches and inches of soft wet snow clinging to every branch, porch post and mailbox in the area.  The beginning was marked by huge drifting white flakes gently falling to the ground and finishing overnight with the finest particles sealing the white carpet.  I was thrilled to put on the boots and other winter gear that had found its way to the back of our closet, digging for those favored winter gloves and "sock" hat.  I was excited that finally that brown nondescript residue of autumn was finally covered.  

I week later the same type of snowfall hit us again and just in time as the previous snow was becoming tracked and dirty.  Some of my favorite haunts were covered in a lacework of deer tracks and scuffs that only made the digital editing process more cumbersome when cloning out the intruding marks in the snow.  My response to those of you in awe of such interference with the "real" is, "somebody's got to do it!"

The blog image is of a favorite road with a couple of favorite trees that, unfortunately, don't get recorded in my camera often enough.  Spring is the time for flowers, summer the time with the lakes area, fall requires visits to local forests and glen, but winter is the time to drift among the drifted roads of rural Iowa.  Searching for those rural icons such as barns, windmills and lonesome woody giants is a good way to pass the time between storms and editing behind the computer.

The whiteness of snow becomes the perfect canvas for those long graphic lines of shadows that occur when the sun is low on the horizon leaving only minutes before the canvas is changed to more subtle grays.  Those ancient monarchs of the fence line are even more beautiful as skeletons of their former selves calling to my wonder and attention.  

While in rapture of the glowing light rooster pheasants are calling in a neighboring field, while crows pass overhead looking for their next meal.  With all of this there is still a softness of peace that exists...except for the crunching snow under my feet reminding me that the chill of winter is finally here.

I wish you all a wonderful Christmas...yes, it's Christmas, not "holiday season"...and prosperous new year.  Thank you all for continuing to visit my blog site.

"Sic 'em Bears"

For more views of my work visit;

http://500px.com

Arts On Grand, Spencer, Iowa http://www.artsongrand.org/

Lanesboro Art Center, Lanesboro, Minnesota www.lanesboroarts.org

Summer Wind Gallery, Arnolds Park, Iowa

 

Comments

[Mike Houge]

Nice capture Dan, love the shadows on the snow- thanks for sharing

[Daniel Ruf]

Thanks for the visit, Mike. It's one of those shots where all things come together and even I'm on the right page for a change:)