I’ve always found skunk cabbages in a little seep along Ware-Enfield Road in Quabbin Park during the late winter but have noticed them earlier. I set out this morning with an idea to photograph a few , which I did, but ended up spending more time looking at the leaves that were either on or below the surface of thin ice. So the skunks will have to wait as I enjoyed this leaf with the textured ice more during the shoot.
And, as often happens and I have mentioned before, people stopped to ask what I was photographing and were disappointed that my subject was not a deer.
Stephen Gingold Nature Photography Blog 
I’m glad to hear it was not an animal or bird and love your skunk cabbage. I get mildly irritated when people come up to me as I am trying to frame a shot and loudly ask what I am shooting. I try very hard not to tell them that I was trying to photograph a skittish subject that they just scared away and mostly I hold my tongue. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fortunately most of my subjects can’t run no matter how disturbing a visitor might be. 🙂 I did have a momentary lack of decorum once when someone walked in front of me while I was photographing a GBH and caused it to fly off.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oops, I re-read your post and realize my fingers got ahead of myself when I characterized your leaf as a skunk cabbage–I know that is not what a skunk cabbage looks like. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 I wasn’t going to say anything about that, Mike. 🙂
LikeLike
🙂 As someone posted recent, we tend to do our best proofreading seconds after we have sent a message.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s very true of me also, Mike. 🙂
LikeLike
They don’t know what joy and beauty they are missing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think not also, Eliza. OTOH, at least they are out enjoying nature even if with tunnel vision.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I photographed a similar leaf-in-water recently, although no ice was involved. The iridescence and soft colors here are lovely; I’m surprised by the number of shades of pink, green, and blue.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The sun was just filtering through the clouds adding that variety of colors you see. From a distance with a cursory glance this just looked like a bunch of brown. On closer inspection…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m trying to imagine some people thinking that you’d found a deer frozen under the thin ice, but then again, I have my own memories of a number of casual observers’ comments when I was composing a shot. The textures that you found in the ice are remarkable.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, I might have found this. Chances are they still would go looking for deer. I do like deer but it just amazes me that some people cruise the park literally every day to see them. There are a few cars/trucks I recognize for that every time I go to the park. I Suppose they would feel the same about me looking for ice.
We haven’t had ice forming weather like last year at this time but it’s coming…I hope. Brrrr…
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s one of my very favorite Escher works, but I was also reminded of the underwater deer in Dances With Wolves.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve never seen that film. We just got NetFlix so maybe I’ll try it out on that one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Most passers-by who say anything to me assume I’m photographing a bird, even if I’m aiming toward the ground with a lens that’s not a telephoto. For them, the idea of photographing textures in lightly frozen water passeth all understanding.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve seen a few expressions that prove your point true. Utter disbelief or disappointment. I should say I am watching worm races.
LikeLike
Pretty ice patterns and warm foliage tones. Not enough people look down to see lovely things like these leaves and ice.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Tom. I guess they are to nature photographers what smelling the roses is to people in a hurry.
LikeLike
They know not whateth they misseth. But I know. They misseth pure beauty. But thou doth not.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks. I doth my best.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You doth indeed, and I thanketh thee for bringing us this beauty to see. I’ve always loved this, to gaze into ice and observe the patterns that formed as the water froze. I’m surprised to learn that you get skunk cabbage so soon. I usually begin looking in February and see it just beginning to poketh it’s head up.
The fact that people are so enamored of deer made me wonder how enamored they are of ticks, and that made me think of turkeys. In our area turkeys are making a real comeback which is so exciting because they eat a lot of ticks. Hooray for turkeys! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is not unusual for skunk cabbage to be poking its bud up this early. They generate their own heat so cold weather is of little concern. Maybe I’ll share ne soon.
Possums eat ticks also and people are encouraged to let them be. I have seen quite a few flocks of turkeys lately. They’ve become rather bold too. 🙂
LikeLike
Hahah, yeah they sure have. There is an intersection here where they attack cars.
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL. Yeah I’ve seen this video. Too fun.
LikeLiked by 1 person