DAY 284

NATURE & LANDSCAPES

Winter’s Fury

SOMETHING GOOD COMES OUT OF THE COLD

For those who live in Northern climes, winter’s fury is simply something to be expected. It’s inevitable that a storm will come. The wind is going to howl, and the snow will fly. When you glance at the thermometer, it probably registers a number somewhere near zero, or below.

But there is beauty in that misery. Snow is piled high and drifted by the wind into shapes that would make an abstract artist swoon. If you happen to catch it at just the right time, when the storm is abating, and the setting sun is peaking through low-lying clouds, winter’s fury becomes a work of art...the perfect moment for you and your camera.

Photographing the scene can be accomplished quickly, and hopefully you won’t have to venture far from your home or vehicle. Wait for a gust of wind to blow snow off the edge of a drift, with the sun at an angle so it’s illuminated by the colors of the setting sun. Use a fast shutter speed to stop the action, and the tableau is yours. —WTD

Photo © Bill Diller.