We’ve two or three days of snow approaching, expecting 2-8 inches or more. I decided to take a ride around Quabbin Park and I didn’t really have anything specific in mind, but I enjoy shooting these trees (preferably in a fog), and today I thought they would look good in a high key image. If I had my snow shoes with me I might have approached a little closer and lower in the dip that was between me and them, but not shown here, so I could have isolated them a bit more against the sky. Maybe next time.
Stephen Gingold Nature Photography Blog 
Seems like you got a high from your high-contrast image.
LikeLike
Yep. Enjoying it very much.
LikeLike
This is a captivating image, Steve. I love the starkness of it and yet there is great beauty. The subtlety of tone between the snow on the ground and the light on the horizon is exquisite.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks for that, Lottie. I appreciate your critique (they can be positive). 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
The one is asking the other to dance.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you. I had not thought of that interpretation.
LikeLike
I’m with Lottie, Steve. High key fine art and exquisite is a good word for it.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Andrew.
LikeLike
I like these trees~they look companionable and they look wonderful in this high key format.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Companionable. Yes, I would say so….they’ve been there together for years. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is great! It brings to mind a dialog between the two trees, who have somewhat similar but definitely distinct personalities.
LikeLike
I do think their position hints at some sort of conversation, so I agree with the dialogue interpretation, Jackson. Thanks. I did get a response on Facebook that it looked like the tree on the right was leaning over and listening to the other.
LikeLike
Quite a nice piece of art. (PS: Received the Expedition pack yesterday … had fun filling it up today. Wonder when I’ll ever get to use it?).
LikeLike
Thanks!
Why not tomorrow?
LikeLiked by 1 person
My Achilles heel has always been my over-developed sense of responsibility. I always find myself doing what I should do rather than what I’d like to do. Our wood supply for the cook stove in the kitchen will last us less than a week. I’ve got to cut that supply so Joanna can keep the north end of the house warm while I’m at work. I’d much rather jump in the truck and take off for the day … but my hyper-developed sense of responsibility will, I am sure, keep me here. I suppose if I get chores and the wood-cutting done Joanna and I might take a couple of hours in the late afternoon for a walk on the rail trail. By then, however, I’m guessing that moisture from the coming front will be here. Perhaps I’ll simply strap the new pack on my back and walk up and down the stairs! I am sorry you are anticipating more of the white stuff – I’m sure you’ve had your fill at this point.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can empathize with you on that, David. I’ve been there regarding the firewood also. I have mine all cut, but it needs to come in the house and some of it needs to be split further. We feel that our stove burns better with smaller splits, so the larger ones need to be trimmed down a bit. I am able to do that in the basement using this. It’s a little noisy, but pretty handy. Sometimes it gets stuck in a log with some crotch or a knot, but usually does a nice job and with the straight grain pieces I can often make some nice kindling.
Yeah, I am pretty much ready for spring. But I don’t have many shots with falling snow, only one that I can think of, so I am hoping to do a little of that in the morning if it isn’t coming down too hard or blowing.
I mentioned to Jim the other day that I had water coming through the roof in my study. Our air handler for this part of the house is in the attic(we did not have a basement included when we did the addition) and that is creating ice dams. So I have the heat turned off. Usually the wood stove heat doesn’t get out here, but we kept it cranking all day and now it isn’t too bad….@60°. We are thinking of replacing our asphalt shingle roof with a metal one to solve that issue. Moving the air handler into our living space doesn’t seem to be the preferable solution. Our present roof is only about 10 years old, if that, so we wish we had just sprung for the metal roof at the start.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh yes, there is beauty in the stark contrast of the barren tress against the whiteness of the snow. I really like this photo. Serene and uncluttered. Allows one to simply focus on the trees.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It really was fortunate that I went there this morning. I almost just drove past the road up there. I am glad that you enjoyed this, Yvonne. And your comment pretty much sums up my intent with the composition. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Forgot to ask. What kind of wood do you burn in the stove? I looked at the wood splitter and that is a nifty tool to use. Not sure if that would work on the oak and mesquite wood that is generally burned in my area. We burned post oak, a bit of cedar, and some mesquite, I sealed off the fireplace. It became too much work for me. I always wished that we had installed a wood stove. I’ve a natural gas heater (an old Dearborn that heats very well).
LikeLike
The only time I heated/cooked with gas it blew up in my face, but that is a story for another time.
We have many varieties, depending on what our supplier brings. Most is oak, maple and birch. I prefer the oak for splitting. We have had a number of our own white oaks dropped which I cut and split (I do have an hydraulic splitter) and we have a good sized maple coming down this year. There are a few smaller trees, oaks and birches, that I can take down myself.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It looks like you could get snow for the next two days. And it won’t warm up. Your roof is likely to continue giving you trouble. Is the roof leaking? Or, is there condensation inside getting into your living space?
With temps of <60˚, my fingers wouldn't be able to type.
LikeLike
The temperature won’t drop too low until after the snow.
Yes, the roof is taking in water behind the ice dams. I went into the attic and could see where the water is seeping along the sheathing and sub-roof in the eaves. But turning off the heat seems to have ended that. We have a roofer coming over next week (it was to be on Monday but not if snowing) to remove the snow and ice dams.
My fingers don’t like the cold either but, compared to what they experience doing photography, 60° is manageable. My balding head requires a light pullover though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Like others, I saw a dialogue, but mine went like this:
Tree on right: “Aw, please, Mom! I promise I won’t cross the creek!”
Tree on left: “All right, but you stay on this side, and be home by sunset.”
It’s really a fun photo – filled with unusual movement for two such stationary objects.
LikeLike
Thanks, Linda. A respected photographer (Jay Maisel) calls that movement “Gesture”. We tend to think of gesture as a human quality, but everything has it if we are patient and look/watch closely. It is part of the essence that makes a work of art interesting.
Someone suggested the conversation was the sharing of a secret. I kind of like that.
LikeLike
Pingback: 05.29.2020-3 Yes, a third post :) | Stephen Gingold Nature Photography Blog
I missed this the first time around so I’m glad you linked to it…I love it. Just love it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Lynn. It is one of my favorites of them. Thanks for following the link.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure.
LikeLiked by 1 person