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While I appreciate that not everyone welcomes the sight of snow with enthusiasm equal to my own, I must insist that a light dusting in early Spring is a visual delight.
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As we returned from the village on Friday morning, shafts of sunlight broke through, illuminating the hills and fields.
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So we decided to enjoy the sight.
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Light snow emphasizes contours.
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Outlines individual trees.
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It was as I took the above pictures that the turkeys came into view, their feathers ruffled by a stiff breeze.
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After the turkey wandered off, we drove back over the hill to capture the view in the opposite direction.
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It’s always worth checking out and from up there you get a sense of being almost up in the clouds.
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Such an inoffensive amount of snow!
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Many years ago, my brother and I took our dad on a long road trip which included a visit to Yellowstone Park.
It had been my ambition to view the park in Winter and this was June, so imagine my delight to arrive there in a snowstorm!
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The Smith men were much less pleased and then grumbled as traffic ground to a halt, but it was another reason to celebrate.
Bison. I’d always longed to see these wonderful beasts.
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No, I did not risk getting close to them!
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Isn’t it wonderful how the Universe sometimes provides?
That day, against the odds, I got to see the park as it would be in Winter. Yet the roads remained clear and the temperature was soon more acceptable to my companions!
Photographer Thomas Mangelsen captures stunning images of wildlife around the world, including many of the animals in Yellowstone.
This is just one that i love.
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From Yellowstone, we continued to the Badlands of South Dakota where we turned around to drive back to Seattle.
It was the year my dad turned 90. I planned the journey using a National Geographic atlas and it all fell into place like magic.
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Two years later, Dad was diagnosed with cancer. My relationship with him was difficult, so I am grateful to have these good memories.
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We coasted back down past the now ice-free lake.
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Facing into the Sun, I had to fight reflections on the windshield.
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To capture backlit images.
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Then I caught sight of this field.
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How can you not get excited by such a sight?
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Such accidents of timing must be appreciated!
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Also the contrast of dark and light.
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Fence lines.
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A bright spot in the distance.
It doesn’t take much imagination to read meaning or parallels into all sorts of things.
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But in dark times you should take inspiration wherever you can find it.
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I was mighty grateful for this.
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As we approached the pond, the Sun went in and a power pole sat in mid frame.
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Seven seconds later….
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….the image was improving.
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If you don’t like the view, change your angle and wait a bit.
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Take a longer perspective.
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Add other objects to the frame for balance.
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Simplistic, perhaps.
But I have never claimed to be anything else.
And it works for me.
Your photography is an inspiration, though I suspect you have a gift that is beyond me! Thanks for a beautiful post.
I agree that Yellowstone is probably at its best in snow, and the Bison is a wonderful animal to have seen. We had rain last night, and a gloomy start to Sunday. But the sun came out at 3pm and now we have lovely blue skies for the evening. It’s a pity that I cannot enlarge your landscape photos by clicking on them, many of them are excellent views.
Best wishes, Pete.
Thank you, Carolyn, for your interesting post, with the happy memories of your father, a visit to Yellowstone, and the vision of the powerful bison. Your talented photography is as wonderful as always!
Joanna
I love the way you segue:
“Such an inoffensive amount of snow! ”
Then: “Many years ago, my brother and I…”
– and off we are on another journey.
I suggest you thank the Creator of the universe and sincerely ask Him to reveal Himself to you. There are NO second chances after death and NO all roads do NOT lead to Heaven. I am not talking about religion. Religion is man made. I am an ex Catholic who by the grace of the living God had my eyes opened to the truth of salvation. You have read the truth, now the choice is yours.