Every month has shifting light. December’s shift, as we move
inexorably toward winter, can be sullen. The sun can stubbornly remain entombed
in somber clouds for days, casting only grey light and intermittent tears. The
play of lowlight on branches brings small treasures if you look close. Nature
is nodding to the holiday season by doing minimalist decorating.
Occasionally, though, the sun takes centre stage and
December’s ever-colder temperatures work magic. Small ponds don’t ripple in the
strong winds, but are caught in a freeze-frame, hushed. December light,
low-angled and aggressive, pushes through the complicated architecture playing up
every twig and blade while shadows boast of their stature.
22 comments:
Your pictures are so starkly December, I wonder if they were mixed unlabeled into a portfolio you couldn't pick them out as being shot then--and your words hit the nail on the head--love some of the phrases--minimalist decorating, and freeze-frame for the pond ripples...a lovely composition, Talon.
great shots talon...the black and white only adds to their shiver as well...smiles to natures minimalist decorating...
I love the stark beauty of winter in northern climes, (looking at it from afar, as I'm thankful I'm able to do) as illustrated by these photos, and your poetic commentary. (Doesn't matter what you write...it comes out poetic!)
That's some lovely prose, my friend - and lovely photos, too. Stark, but lovely - a good way to describe winter.
You do black and white very well! Who needs color with that quality of photo?
We are still bare- grounded, and above average in oour temps, so don't even have any interesting ice.
We are yet to experience this kind of weather here in the UK, but I know it's on it's way and you describe it perfectly. I was out cutting some holly branches for our Christmas decorations and it struck me how perfect nature is.
Great photos...great words. Love it, Talon.
Wonderful pics Talon. B/W pics have a certain aura around them. The realities of Winter seems well in sight. Great verse!
Hank
Your words and pictures both paint such wonderful images on the heart. I love the shadows in the second shot.
Looks so frozen! Great observation- defined in light, December is minimalist- a new way to think of it! You know how to bring it to life.
Alot of frost lately but still no ice n snow here yet-
We usually have December sunshine for Christmas day - I think the rain is returning soon as we are warming up - and cloudy. I seem to be so sleepy with the shorter days and our timed decorative lights came on at 11 this morning...they will go off at bedtime - I made my advent wreath all candles this year to bring in a warmer glow.
I am seeing the light on squirrel and thinking of Zips morning treeing of so many - his joy! his own light!
gorgeous...every day in every month seems to have a flavor all its own!
This is (very) well written here:
"Nature is nodding to the holiday season by doing minimalist decorating."
I so like that line, Talon. And I too, have come to appreciate the monotone intricacies and the austerity that winter bandies about.
The stark nature of what (she) winter has to offer trains the eye.
Lovely photos as well as your words!
You do have a way with words, a wonderful way!
Thank you!
Margie :)
Lovely photos and poetic words, K! __I -every twig and blade, while shadows boast of their stature-.
frozen pond
sun threads the trees limbs
crochet shadows
Always, K. _m
What an eye for Nature that you have Talon. You make this barren transitional period between Fall's last breath, and Winter's deep freeze beautiful.
Thank you, hedgewitch. Yes, when the temps really dipped, the world got suddenly and completely December.
Thank you, Brian :)
Tim, lovely to see you. You're too kind. I must go and visit warmer climes at this time of year and see December in a whole new light :)
Thank you, Lynn. :)
Sandy, our temps keep swinging wildly. Freezing last weekend, rainy the last few days. I've enjoyed shooting some black and white. It lends a whole different feel, doesn't it?
Joey, how lovely to have fresh holly to cut! I agree- nature is perfect. It never fails to fascinate me.
ayala, thank you so much!
Hank, thank you! And yes, winter's arrival is imminent and inevitable for sure!
Teresa, thank you. Yes, a rare sunny day and the sun is so low now the shadows were super long :)
Snaggle, thank you. We're up and down here. Snow flurries one day, rain showers the next with the occasional clear day to remind us there's actually a sun in the sky :)
Patricia, I will be so glad when the daylight hours start stretching out again. I hope you get your December sunshine for Christmas. I'm so grateful for the holiday decorations with all the lights - they brighten our days :)
Laura,thank you. Yes, so very true. Every day does have it's own flavour!
lg, thank you so much. That's such a perfect way to describe this time of year - "training the eye". I think that's why I enjoy photography so much - it helps me to see things in a whole different way.
Margie, thank you! :)
D, thank you. "crochet shadows" is exactly what the bare branches cast - how lovely! You have a way with words :)
Thank you so much, Galen. :)
Love the black and whites. So representative of what winter looks and feels like sometimes. It will be with us officially in a week. It's not cold here today, but I hear the wind howling beneath the door.
Fantastic pictures. And your words are so true. Up here it is the "sun behind the clouds" time...
Soon I'll get to know a new kind of December light the polar night in northern Norway - I'm already very curious!!
Sólo puedo decir, magnÃficas y bellas fotografÃas Talon.
Pasa un buen fin de semana, un abrazo,
Db.
What a beautiful way of describing the light that changes with the months.
Funny, but I don't remember December lighting like this before. Seems all new, but Jim says it gets like this each and every year indeed. Maybe I have new eyes? :)
And what a pretty scene you captured!
xoxo
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