Winter in all its glory

Well, these last days we have been hit by a massive amount of white stuff here in Europe…even Spain had its dose! Here in Switzerland, we got the magic white right down till the plain level, and it was time to run with the camera in hand. As always when trying to take advantage of all the natural joys, timing is everything. As soon as the snow started falling and as everyone was hiding in their homes, we hit the road (and skid it, by the way, in some places) and headed to the Jura mountains. It is always magic to see how the snow can totally transform a place. God created snow for the pure joy of photographers…then skiers tagged along. Snow simplifies the landscape, adds mood, acts as a reflector, covers clutter and transform a banal place into a winter wonderland. However, the gift comes also with some demands. As nice as snow can be, the photographer has a sizeable job in finding interesting compositions, forms and shapes, textures and a good sense of depth in what otherwise would translate into a totally flat blank expanse of white limbo.

While in the Jura region, we visited a turf lake which is in the area. One of the great things of these lakes is the reddish tint of their waters. As the sun rays bounce into the waters, you might think the lake is a giant cauldron with caramel or syrup in it. As winter comes, the waters start freezing, and later on the snow covers the lake. However, in the process, fantastic patterns are created as some areas of water show its colour through the thin layer of ice, and snow totally covers the rest. The contrast between the warm tints of the water and the blue of the ice and snow is fantastic. Add a good composition with an interesting geometrical design in the foreground and a sky mimicking the shapes and textures of the land and you have good chances of getting a great image. This was the case of the image I show today…a sympony of shapes, patterns, balance and winter mood. A serene image which takes us to the quietness of a winter evening. There is even a mysterious touch to the image…whose are those footprints crossing the image?

Thanks for reading, and great winter light to you all,

Note: Click on the image to see it bigger!

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