PHOTOGRAPHER'S JOURNAL: Nobody needs a reminder that this winter won't let go. Another storm is due in today. They've been running almost one a week since the pattern began months ago. Each storm has been different, like a succession of theatrical events, with effects often localized. This picture was taken in Smithfield, NY, on March 8th. In Connecticut the passing storm was of wimpy, wet snow that wouldn't stick and was quickly road slop. Had a friend on the other side of Sharon Mountain not put out the word, I never would have known of the magnificent crisis occurring just over the NY/CT border. My friend had been there in the morning, and several of us joined him for a late afternoon shoot.
Smithfield Road which is set high and has some moderate views was closed. Limbs down everywhere and electric crews were struggling to un-snag wires. Though officially closed, cars were permitted to dodge debris. In one area a row of old, white pines on the hillside all had broken tops and gaping wounds where the weight of the ice had snapped them.
The good news is that though snow is coming, I saw maple sap running into buckets over a week ago, and this week the crimson skunk cabbage knobs were punching through hard, wet mud at White Memorial, and nearby I saw a turtle swimming at the edge of a pond. Winter may not want to let go, but there are things wiggling in the mud that won't be put off. It's all happening.
9 comments:
Oh my, it's hard to believe you have still winter.
We get winter once a week with breaks of springish in between. It has been a most unusual year. Thanks for stopping by.
I'd to hear your commentary as below on how you managed to get the depth of field in this shot.
I didn't do anything special when shooting except to use a pretty wide angle lens (18-200mm zoomed to 22mm) and a small lens opening (f18). Afterward I did my processing in Photoshop and used unsharp mask on just the foreground stalks including background between the stalks back to where the shadow starts. After sharpening I used Topaz Adjust 4 plug in for Photoshop to help pop out the bright light in the background stalks. I find Topaz Adjust to be one of the most useful plug=ins on the market.
Great shot! But it almost feels like a Narnian Winter. :)
Definitely some other world, Tim. Thanks.
what a spectacular image Emery ... it has a very alienesque feel .. the processing is fabulous in enhancing the detail and light.
Hope all is well and you are fully recovered, or at least well on the way to being so.
As a matter of fact, Ed, this is the first photo posted to the blog taken post bypass. All is well. Thanks for your comment. "Alienesque"! What a wonderful word. Is it a bit like when Shakespeare has Richard II describes what kings do as, "monarchize."
Fabulous!!
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