“The Shades of Winter”
“In the deep of winter, colour and sound fade to nothingness. The world becomes muted and silent as it slumbers beneath the snow”
– Ed Lehming
As a lover of light and colour, winter can often be the hardest on me, especially when seeking inspiration and beauty. In the winter months, it’s not just the drastic reduction of colours, but also the silence. So many times, the only sound I hear is the crunch of snow beneath my feet, the wind, above, and the groaning of the trees as the frost takes hold.
Occasionally, a flash of colour shows through, but for the most part, the world is plunged into innumerable shades of gray; the only colour being the rare blue sky above or the bright yellow of exposed wood, where a branch has broken off or a woodpecker has exposed fresh wood through its labours.
As I hiked last weekend, I was caught in a bit of an unexpected squall. There was really no wind to speak of, just an ever-increasing snowfall which further muted the world. There is a certain beauty in this silence. I find my senses more attuned and I become more aware of the world around me as my path leads forth into the white haze ahead.
Here, I simply stood still and let the silence fill me for a few minutes as I made the image, a reminder when I complain about the heat of summer.
Nikon D800
Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD @ 70 mm
1/160 sec, f/6.3, ISO 400
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http://www.edlehming.com
Ed Lehming Photography 
Love the composition of this photo! Great job
Thank you
Beautiful, Ed. Each season has its shades and colors!
Thank you Miriam
You;re welcome, Ed.
Ed, This is gorgeous. Quite painterly and I can feel the quiet mood you’ve captured. Terrific work.
Thanks Jane, I really appreciate the feedback. Tis one of those photos I was not quite sure of. But I loved what I saw through the viewfinder as I composed the shot and decided to proceed with it.
Love your descriptions here, as well as your photograph – I could feel myself there.
Thank you Ann
This picture sends me shiver through the spine….that’s the effect.
Thank you for taking the time to comment. Yes, that was the intent.
I love the still beauty of this image.
Thank you. It has become one of my favourites.
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