Waiting for the ice

absalom1951 · Dec 3, 2018

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 · Dec 3, 2018

Yes each night as I sit down for my drink

Theo Sulphate · Dec 3, 2018

absalom1951 said:
... 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 · Dec 3, 2018

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 · Dec 3, 2018

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 · Dec 3, 2018

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 · Dec 3, 2018

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 · Dec 3, 2018

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 · Dec 3, 2018

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 · Dec 3, 2018

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 · Dec 4, 2018

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 · Dec 4, 2018

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 · Dec 4, 2018

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

DonJ · Dec 4, 2018

absalom1951 said:
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 · Dec 4, 2018

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 · Dec 4, 2018

BMbikerider said:
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 · Dec 4, 2018

Bob Carnie said:
Yes each night as I sit down for my drink

Cheers!

Ces1um · Dec 4, 2018

absalom1951 said:
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 · Dec 4, 2018

Ces1um said:
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 · Dec 4, 2018

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 · Dec 4, 2018

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

Sirius Glass · Dec 5, 2018

Do not skate on thin ice.

Brendan Quirk · Dec 5, 2018

BMbikerider said:
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 · Dec 5, 2018

Ces1um said:
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 · Dec 5, 2018

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

Waiting for the ice

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