Waiting for the ice

[absalom1951]

Here in central Iowa winter is just beginning. I'm waiting for the ice to thicken up so I can venture out on it. Shooting from the frozen water in towards the bank offers a different perspective . Also, the ice gives me accessibility to areas that are very difficult to get to during other times of the year . What better way to experience a bright wintry day than greeting a wind from the northwest dropping the wind chill to minus degrees ? Must be careful of hunters, so I always make sure I have plenty of orange.

Any others waiting for the ice ?

 

[Bob Carnie]

Yes each night as I sit down for my drink

 

[Theo Sulphate]

... the ice gives me accessibility to areas that are very difficult to get to during other times of the year ...

That's an interesting perspective. Whereas others may view harsh or difficult winter conditions as hampering their photographic opportunities, for you it enables you to make photos you'd otherwise not be able to get.

Looking forward to your photos.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

30 years ago I waded into partially frozen stream, set up a tripod and medium format film camera to get this. I think I'm done waiting or wading again, though.


Icy Branch by Alan Klein, on Flickr

 

[Vaughn]

Very little ice here -- but the rains have arrived!

Edited to add -- but there is a dusting of snow on the coastal mountains that we can see inland from town.

 

[Pioneer]

We do have a bit of ice and snow, the higher you go the more there is. However, it is still a tad early so I think I'll not trust this early freeze too far.

 

[Sirius Glass]

One winter I decided I wanted to photograph waterfall in the Finger Lakes [NY] area with snow and icicles. I quickly discovered that most of the falls were covered with so much ice and snow that they looked like snow covered hills. I did much better on the rare clear days at Niagara Falls. That said ...

Pray for snow!​

 

[BMbikerider]

I don't like winter. The daylight is too short. Where I live, usable light is from 9am to 3 pm. It get's cold. Heating and lighting bills rocket. Snow blocks roads. If it isn't snowing or frosty, it rains enough for me to think about building an ark! Thank goodness I live 600 feet above sea level, so little or no risk of flooding.

I much prefer Spring or Autumn, with brighter days and evenings and new growth or colours as the leaves change from green to multi colours. Then there is mist that hangs in trees and in the valleys. That too is a different aspect.

 

[absalom1951]

Icy Branch - a great shot -love it ! I need to figure out my scanner while I'm waiting for the ice. I'll probably have to find the instructions to even turn it on.

 

[Mackinaw]

We've had ice on our lakes for about a month now in Northern Michigan. I'm already waiting for May, when it melts.

Jim B.

 

[mpirie]

We have snow on the hilltops now, but i'm looking forward to it reaching lower levels and to significant depth.

The appeal is how the snow blanket isolates subjects and allows a more abstract approach to landscapes.

Of course, the other part of the appeal is getting home to an open fire and a good whisky

Mike

 

[guangong]

I go out only when I see people set up for ice fishing, because three or for guys standing around a hole in the ice indicate a thickness safe enough for cameras.

 

[removed account4]

can't wait for snow to arrive. i'd rather be shovelling snow than anything else

 

[DonJ]

Here in central Iowa winter is just beginning. I'm waiting for the ice to thicken up so I can venture out on it. Shooting from the frozen water in towards the bank offers a different perspective . Also, the ice gives me accessibility to areas that are very difficult to get to during other times of the year . What better way to experience a bright wintry day than greeting a wind from the northwest dropping the wind chill to minus degrees ? Must be careful of hunters, so I always make sure I have plenty of orange.

Any others waiting for the ice ?

It rarely gets thick enough around here to give access to new perspectives, but the ice itself is a great subject.

 

[Pentode]

Just the other day I was reorganizing my negatives and found several forgotten rolls of E6 I had shot around Brooklyn after a big ice storm in 1994. Coney Island was a giant sheet of ice. Boardwalk, side streets, beach.... all glazed over by 2” of solid ice. My photos did it little justice.

This year, so far, we haven’t had much more than a whole lot of rain.

 

[Vaughn]

I don't like winter. The daylight is too short. Where I live, usable light is from 9am to 3 pm. It get's cold. Heating and lighting bills rocket. Snow blocks roads. If it isn't snowing or frosty, it rains enough for me to think about building an ark! Thank goodness I live 600 feet above sea level, so little or no risk of flooding.

I much prefer Spring or Autumn, with brighter days and evenings and new growth or colours as the leaves change from green to multi colours. Then there is mist that hangs in trees and in the valleys. That too is a different aspect.

You live way too far north! LOL! Of course those north of you might disagree! The light in the redwoods is best (IMO) between 10am to 2pm, with some stretching of those times during the summer -- but late fall and winter are my favorite times. Snow in the redwoods is not unheard of, but is rare and not around for long.

 

[David Brown]

Yes each night as I sit down for my drink

Cheers!

 

[Ces1um]

Here in central Iowa winter is just beginning. I'm waiting for the ice to thicken up so I can venture out on it. Shooting from the frozen water in towards the bank offers a different perspective . Also, the ice gives me accessibility to areas that are very difficult to get to during other times of the year . What better way to experience a bright wintry day than greeting a wind from the northwest dropping the wind chill to minus degrees ? Must be careful of hunters, so I always make sure I have plenty of orange.

Any others waiting for the ice ?

Can't do it. LIke the idea, but I fell through the ice as a kid and got weighed down by my snowsuit. Barely got out of the pond. Now I just can't bring myself to go out on frozen lakes/ponds.

 

[pentaxuser]

Can't do it. LIke the idea, but I fell through the ice as a kid and got weighed down by my snowsuit. Barely got out of the pond. Now I just can't bring myself to go out on frozen lakes/ponds.

Sounds sensible. You will die of old age at 100 and on your gravestone it will say "He couldn't do it. He was too sensible"

pentaxuser

 

[winger]

Much of our water here is moving too much to freeze. In some winters, Cucumber Falls freezes some, but there's always still water running.

 

[scheimfluger_77]

Lots of great photo opportunities with snow and Ice, but you do need to be prepared.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Do not skate on thin ice.

 

[Brendan Quirk]

I don't like winter. The daylight is too short. Where I live, usable light is from 9am to 3 pm. It get's cold. Heating and lighting bills rocket. Snow blocks roads. If it isn't snowing or frosty, it rains enough for me to think about building an ark! Thank goodness I live 600 feet above sea level, so little or no risk of flooding.

I much prefer Spring or Autumn, with brighter days and evenings and new growth or colours as the leaves change from green to multi colours. Then there is mist that hangs in trees and in the valleys. That too is a different aspect.

Maybe you should move to the Durham I used to live in - Durham, Durham County, North Carolina! Maybe three snows a year, melts in one day usually. Nice mild Piedmont weather in the Southern USA.

If you are curious, you can see some Durham, NC, shots at my website.

Brendan Quirk
brendanquirk.com

 

[jtk]

Can't do it. LIke the idea, but I fell through the ice as a kid and got weighed down by my snowsuit. Barely got out of the pond. Now I just can't bring myself to go out on frozen lakes/ponds.

Don't eat the yellow snow.

 

[mark]

With a brand new knee, and the desire to never undergo that miserable adventure again, I will avoid ice like the plague.