Yup, it’s May 9 and we picked up 3.4″ of snow overnight. The emerging buckeye buds on the tree off our back deck seems to nicely sum up today’s struggle between the seasons.
Sony A7II, Sigma 100-400mm lens @ 400mm, ISO 800, f/8, 1/200″ exposure.
The high country was a magical place yesterday as the sun came out and lit up the snow bedecked trees. I was up in the Lion’s Ridge area of the Camel’s Hump Nordic Ski Center yesterday where the powder was plentiful.
Panasonic GX8, Lumix 14-140mm lens @ 14mm, ISO 400, f/14, 1/250″ exposure.
Light morning snow bedecks the dried seed head of Queen Anne’s lace—a fine little basket of snow.
Nikon D600, Sigma 105mm macro lens, ISO 800, f/4, 1/4000″ exposure
Yesterday’s surprise snow storm made for a pretty morning as the sun rose in a cloudless sky. With a strong southerly airflow, temperatures rose quickly and the 4″ of snow we received is on its way to melting.
According to Mary Holland, this is a boom year for conifer cones, and my observations from around our area bares this out. Those critters that feed on conifer cones—red squirrels, voles, waxwings, chickadees, nuthatches, grosbeaks, crossbills, and siskins—should see a bit of a bump in their numbers next breeding season.
Panasonic GX8, Lumix 14-140mm lens @ 84mm, ISO 800, f/10, 1/640″ exposure.
While skiing up to Bald Hill at the Camel’s Hump Nordic Ski Area yesterday, I came across several places where small twig saplings had been bent beneath the deep snow. As the warm March sun went to work on south facing sections, the twigs had sprung loose to create fleeting impressions in the snow. Kind of a second shadow.
Panasonic GX8, Lumix 14-140mm lens @ 61mm, ISO 800, f/13, 1/3200″ exposure.
Like fins on the back of some subnivian creature, these bent stems break the surface of fresh snow.
Panasonic GX8, Lumix 14-140mm lens @ 61mm, ISO 800, f/8, 1/4000″ exposure.
While skiing yesterday, my eye was caught by the simplicity of this composition. Twigs, branches, snow…
Panasonic GX8, Lumix 14-140mm lens @ 19mm, ISO 800, f/8, 1/640″ exposure.
The recent freezing rains (ugh) left a little magic behind in the form of a layer of ice on branches and twigs. These elm buds have a pretty thick coat!
Panasonic GX8, Olympus 60mm macro lens, ISO 800, f/3.2, 1/2500″ exposure
John Hadden Photography 