Winter to Spring

"WINTER AWAKENING"

"WIND SWEPT"

"WINTER DUNE CLIMB"

Winter, it is a word that is truly loaded. When most think of it, words like cold, freezing, relentless, dangerous tend to come to mind. I would be lying if I said I did not share in this outlook from time to time. However, winter can represent a lot more.

Winter is rest. It is a time for the world to slow a bit, a time for the natural world to recover from its high energy life that is filled with colorful splendor from spring to fall. I see winter as the world conserving energy so it can put on another inspirational display of beauty and wonder.

Winter can seem bleak while in the midst of it, but splendor can be found even during the coldest stretches of snowy torment. I made a point this winter to suffer the bitter temperatures as often as possible in search of moments when the world decided to wake for a moment and show the rest of us what sort of energy it is ready to unleash during the warmer parts of the year.

I was out countless mornings and evening in temperatures that exceeded -30 degrees, on occasions that did not include the painful wind chill factor. I can say that I was paid in full for my effort. I was presented opportunities that exceeded my wildest expectations.

I am featuring three photographs I was fortunate enough to have captured during these rare moments when the world awakes from its slumber and puts on an epic show of color, one that will place those watching in a state of awe. In each photograph I implemented a technique known as the ‘sun star.’ I used this technique to bring attention to the sun. Even on frigged days, the sun can break through the cloud cover and bring a feeling of warmth into the soul.

With winter nearly behind us and all of the suffering nearly over, it is hard not to feel a bit sad that winter is ending. I experienced the best winter had to offer and now that I look back on it I wish I had been out there even more. Spring is around the corner now, we can all look forward to the warming weather and something we have not seen in many months, the color green………

Technical details:
“Winter Awakening” – Canon 6D, Nikon 14-24 f/2.8G ED lens (@14mm), Novoflex Canon EOS to Nikon G adapter, ISO 200, Two photographs were taken, one at F/11 and 1/250th of a second for the foreground exposure and general sharpness, one at F/22 and 1/60th of a second for the sky exposure and the sun star effect, hand blended in PS.

“Wind Swept” – Canon 6D, Nikon 14-24 f/2.8G ED lens (@20mm), Novoflex Canon EOS to Nikon G adapter, ISO 200, Two photographs were taken, one at F/11 and 1/30th of a second for the foreground and general sharpness, one at F/22 and 1/15th of a second for the sky exposure and the sun star effect, hand blended in PS.

“Winter Dune Climb” – Canon 6D, Nikon 14-24 f/2.8G ED lens at (20mm), Novoflex Canon EOS to Nikon G adapter, ISO 100, Four photographs were taken, One at F/11 and 1/400th of a second for foreground exposure and general sharpness, three at F/22 at 1/100th, 1/200th, and 1/400th for sky exposure and sun star effect, hand blended in PS.