Winter is approaching. Although a little over a month until the Solstice, the forecast calls for @19°F Friday night which means I soon will have to switch into ice and frost mode for photography. I just stocked up on handwarmer packets to put into the fingertip pouch on my new winter gloves and foot warmers for my boots.
In the coming days, I might dip into the frozen archives for a few looks at winter’s past but for now, in the absence of winter, how about a look at a summer past? A warm summer Sunday at the lotus pond maybe?
The dark background is natural, although I did use a few channel selections to create some contrast so the warm flower stood out a bit more. All in a day’s digital darkroom work.
Stephen Gingold Nature Photography Blog 
That will help us feel warm Steve. It’s getting white as I look out of the window. Nice to see these rich colours.
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It’s not far off here, Rod. But for now we are only expecting maybe an inch tomorrow night.
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We already have a white cover on everything and I just dug out my parka. Sounds like you are gearing up.
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I guess white looks better than dry brown leaves and mud, Lyle. I put away the mower and log splitter for the winter and parked the snow blower in the garage. Yup, I’m ready.
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Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. Provides a nice warm feeling as we look ahead to the impending influence of this Bomb Cyclone. So, you use hand warmers? I’ve been looking for years and years for a set of gloves that’ll keep my hands warm while at the same time allowing me some dexterity and be just a wee bit waterproof. Every year I try another brand and nothing has yet to fit the bill for me. Either they’re too bulky or I can’t grab anything (too stiff) or they transmit cold too readily. The worst are the sorts which won’t let a wet hand back into the glove … something about that particular lining prevents it. We can put a probe on a comet … but we can’t make a pair of gloves that’ll keep a farmers hands warm in winter! D
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I have Raynaud’s, David. So I do everything I can to keep my hands warm when photographing in the cold. I have a pair of Marmots that were supposed to keep them warm to forty below. Nope. I will get the link for you tomorrow for some gloves/mittens I got recently that have a pocket over the fingers which holds the packets….yeah, I guess it’s a packet pocket…and the tip of the mittens pops open to reveal the fingered liners for the dexterity needed to operate a camera’s controls. They are being sold by a photographer who regularly shoots in the Arctic but are imported from Scandinavia. @$200 but worth it if they perform as advertised.
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I’d be interested to take a look at those gloves when you can get the link. I had to look up Raynaud’s … I am sorry for it. D
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Here’s the link to the gloves page, David.
Thanks, Raynaud’s isn’t much fun, but all things considered there are worse to deal with. It’s only temporary fortunately.
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It will be a few months before we get to see beautiful flowers like that in the wild. Very nice.
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I enjoy photographing ice, frost and snowy landscapes, Jim. But I do not like the cold. I guess it’s a love/hate thing. So I will periodically share flower images through the winter.
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You let us see lotus, which is better than lettuce.
Even Austin has turned chilly, with the overnight low for the next few nights predicted to be around freezing. As of today there are still wildflowers of various sorts, but a freeze could do many of them in.
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Texas without wildflowers doesn’t seem right. Is it unusual for there to be plant-killing frosts?
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Yes. Frosts kill or suppress wildflowers here too, and freezes in November and December greatly reduce their number. At the same time, even in December, January and February the temperature always at least sometimes gets into the 70s. January is probably the bleakest month on average for wildflowers, but a few usually hang on or emerge.
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Superb image, Steve. Real mastery of light and detail.
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Thanks, Andrew.
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Perfect ❤
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Such a succinct and pleasing reply. 🙂 Thanks very much, Lottie.
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Oh, yeah. Lovely Lotus beats the ccccooold in my book. Last year I didn’t have any boots, and have been thinking of investing in some nice warm boots I can walk in. However the minute the temps dip I find myself diving under a blanket, so not sure it is worth the investment. I seem to be getting worse about it as I get older, although we did have a ferocious winter last year. It left scars! 🙂
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No warm boots? That is terrible, Melissa. I share the first reaction to cold is to hunker down somewhere warm. But eventually I grow used to it and make the best. There are certain experiences that don’t exist at any other time and, as well, Spring is that much sweeter. 🙂
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I know, you are right. Like the mini glaciers that form at the edge of Lake Michigan. Maybe I can paint that this winter.
I did order some MuckBoots this afternoon. Can’t wait to try them on.
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I love my Muck Boots, Melissa. I wish they had better orthotics/sole support, but aside from that mine have always kept my feet and lower legs dry and comfortable.
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I love the color and the way you used the lighting; you really created and interesting edge to your image.
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Thank you, Charlie.
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