Wednesday, February 10, 2010

From the Ridge in Snow

PHOTOGRAPHER'S JOURNAL: The snow continued well into the afternoon sometimes heavy, sometimes light, sometimes windblown and sometimes falling gently. The day was more variety show than high drama, but this scene out on the open part of the ridge is pure opera.

The view is back toward the same farmstead. To the left you can see the ancient farmhouse among the trees and, further to the left, the spot on the road where I stood to capture yesterday's image. Zoom in and look around.

I've been out here many times and at many different seasons. Because sky and fields provided a continuous background of white, the two trees are able to command the stage and sing their duet as never before.

5 comments:

Grandma said...

Stone walls have artistry that many don't see or appreciate. I remember reviewing old photos with a farmer who identified the property by the signature stone walls. There is a skill and identifiable technique that farmers appreciated. "Walls by Raul and friends" read the sign as they rebuilt these stone walls. I drove by daily to view their progress, and admire their skill. This was a huge job that was completed by a crew of 6 men over two summer months.

Emery Roth said...

I'd forgotten you saw them working too. I was amazed at how quickly they finished and how perfectly they fit the pieces. I didn't know about signature styles, but I'm not surprised.

As a kid we had to have some work done on the stone wall next to the Brook at my parents' house, and I was endlessly fascinated by the process as they set certain stones aside like we used to when we did jigsaw puzzles. There was even collaboration in selecting and setting pieces as the wall got built.

Raul and gang did the best job possible. The photographer in my misses the old, rougher wall where all the surfaces showed that they'd been exposed to the weather for decades, maybe centuries.

Trotter said...

It burns my eyes...

Emery Roth said...

You'll be the only one in sun glasses.

Trotter said...

I've seen the glasses of my daughter, who is skiing in Gstaad... ;))