Cold temperatures make for fanciful ice formations in Fargo Brook. It’s interesting to ponder the process that creates these lovely little ice bells that are suspended from a rock and hover just above the water’s surface.
Panasonic GX8, Lumix 14-140mm lens @ 61mm, ISO 400, f/8, 1/640″ exposure.
I went for what might be one last ski up on Lion’s Ridge at Camel’s Hump Nordic yesterday. With spring coming on, there was all kinds of activity recorded in the snow. I saw tracks from turkeys, weasels, mice, bear—all going about their early spring businesses. I followed this ruffed grouse track to where the bird took flight leaving the impression of its wings in the soft snow.
Panasonic GM5, Lumix 12-32mm lens @ 26mm, ISO 400, f/9, 1/1000″ exposure.
The posse was in good spirits at the top of Bald Hill yesterday morning as we transitioned for our first run in untracked powder. A perfect day!
Panasonic GX8, Lumix 14-140mm lens @ 14mm, ISO 800, f/8, 1/400″ exposure.
While exploring the top of “Chipmunk Hill” the other day, we came across a couple of still frozen vernal pools. This moss covered rock looks like the iris of an eye carved in the ice.
Panasonic GX8, Lumix 14-140mm lens @ 34mm, ISO 800, f/14, 1/500″ exposure.
With the sun on the water, the right shutter speed accentuates the ripple distortions across the pebbles on the stream bed. A thin skim of ice provides something solid for the eye to rest on. I’ve found that between 1/200″ and 1/300″ exposure nails the effect.
Panasonic GX8, Olympus 60mm macro lens, ISO 400, 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.
This female cardinal seemed to know she was on camera, giving me a fine “come hither” look over her shoulder as I snapped several shots. Of course she could also be thinking, “Hey, who you lookin’ at?”
Panasonic GX8, Lumix 100-300mm lens @ 300mm, ISO 1000, f/5.6, 1/200″ exposure.
Robin & I took a short hike up Cobb Brook yesterday afternoon. I was confident that we’d find some interesting ice formations among the stream’s numerous falls and cascades. We were not disappointed. The hilight was finding these ice discs or ice pans floating in the pool beneath one of the larger falls. These discs form as ice accumulates in slow moving eddy currents. The discs ranged in size here from around 16″ to over 3 feet.
Panasonic GX8, Lumix 14-140mm lens @ 14mm, ISO 800, f/8, 1/25″ exposure.
Bundling up and marching off into the snow when it’s below zero has its rewards. These tiny and delicate hexagonal plate ice crystals formed along the bank of Fargo Brook where stream undercutting has exposed bare soils to the frigid air. When damp warmth filtering out of the ground meets the air the crystals form. These crystals were only a few millimeters wide so getting in close with a macro lens was necessary.
Nikon D600, Sigma 105mm macro lens, ISO 800, f/16, 1/160″ exposure.
John Hadden Photography 