A Goldilocks Snow Storm

What constitutes a good snow storm?  Well, if you are a photographer, it has to be the right kind of snow.  It can’t be too wet, it can’t be too dry, it has to be just right so that the snow builds heavily on tree branches and transforms the landscape into a real Winter Wonderland. I tried to be prepared for this shoot but there’s always something I forget in my excited state.  My “Breakin’ Bad” shovel wasn’t in my car ! I should have brought Kitty Litter but I don’t have a Kitty.  Scarf, hat, gloves?  Nope!  Water even?  Oh well, at least I had a camera body, one lens, batteries and memory cards.

I entered a scene that took my breath away.  The trail looked like a grand White Castle, or Cathedral.  This was indeed a Goldilocks Snow Storm!  Branches arched almost to the ground by the weight of the snow.

There were no footprints on the pristine path and it was very quiet except for the occasional crack of snow-laden branches which sometimes were very close, but I had no concern, except to get some photographs.

 

I discovered after 10 minutes of excited shooting, that I hadn’t set my camera properly!  That was a bit disappointing but at least I had removed the lens cap!  I trudged on.  You know how photographers have to see what’s around the next corner and the next. I tried to incorporate the yellowish/orange (or dead) leaves into my shot to give it a touch of color and to look for dark, thin tree trunks that would contrast nicely against the white snow.

Around almost every curve of the trail was a fallen branch or curved branches that resembled an entrance to another beautiful white room, and even one with a bench nestled near its perimeter.

I finally came to an open area where some Canada Geese were navigating along an icy river, and it seemed like a good place to turn back.  When I reached my car, I realized that it took me 2 hours to go 1 mile round trip and that I was utterly frozen!  It was quite an emotional experience.  And now that I’ve posted this blog, I think I can finally move on and embrace Spring!

All images were processed with Topaz Simplify to enhance textures and color.