We got some more snow, so I went for a walk around town trying to make the most of it.
A day in the snow
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snow
The images that don't exist yet
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I'm keeping an eye on the weather forecast as I write this. Tonight, we are expecting a snowstorm that is supposed to bring a few inches of fresh snow. That's my hope, at least. I'll be ready to drive somewhere else if I don't wake up to a winter wonderland tomorrow.
It's on days like these, with the anticipation of what's to come, that sometimes I wonder about the images I'll have a chance to create tomorrow. Images of scenes that don't exist yet. Fleeting moments that will present themselves only for a brief moment in time, and that we photographers have the privilege to capture forever.
Isn't photography just great?
From the balcony
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This image is a perfect example of what I talked about in "Images only you can make".
I made it from the balcony, on a beautifully white morning. This scene would have never worked if it wasn't for the snow: there's water, aquatic plants, cement, grass and so many other elements - too busy. But this morning, all of that had been erased by the snow.
There it stood the pier, alone. Something belonging to a very different, remote time. Almost out of place.
You don't have to go to faraway lands to find beauty. Just don't forget to look for it.
You gotta love it
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Often, I lose track of time when I'm taking photographs. That's usually not a problem, but when temperatures are well below freezing like a couple of days ago, one can face some consequences.
I was so focused on making images that I "forgot" how cold it was. Of course, I was aware of it: the pain in my face was a constant reminder of the hostile environment.
When I grabbed my video camera and tried to talk to it, I could barely move my jaw. A couple of hours outside had numbed the muscles in my face. They were so cold that I almost couldn't talk.
I can't think of any other thing I'd be doing in weather like that, for that long, that isn't photography. In fact, I can't wait to do it again.
I love it.
I had to get out...
in journal
Some days are special, those days we can't miss out on. I've talked about that here on the blog and in the newsletter.
Yesterday, I had a chance to put the theory to the test. It was supposed to be a busy day at home, but the snow waits for no one. The conditions were perfect for photography, so I had to put everything off.
It was worth it.
Don't miss out on the good days
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I believe that every day is filled with possibilities. That's why I try to make images every single day, no matter where I am or what I am doing. But, not all days are created equal.
I'd been struggling for a few days to create new images. The weather wasn't helping: it was freezing cold, but no rain, no snow, no nothing. Being outside for more than half an hour became an act of bravery, and the rewards were too low.
Patience usually pays off. Yesterday was one of those days that come only every once in a while. It snowed overnight, so we woke up to a winter wonderland. Not only that, but the temperature was actually pleasant (28F / -2C, which at this point in winter is actually pretty warm), no wind, no rain, no snow, and a little bit of mist. Absolutely perfect conditions for photography.
Not too long ago, I'd dwell on where to go to take advantage of this gift. Instead of wasting time on Google Maps trying to find the perfect spot, I just grabbed my camera and headed out. I spent 5 hours in the snow, feeling like a little kid who was playing with the white powder for the first time. And I think I made some beautiful images -just walking around the neighborhood.
The place I spent the most time at was, perhaps not surprisingly, the local golf course. The snow worked as a beautiful white blanket on top of the carefully crafted landscapes, with its rolling hills, little ponds and intentionally spaced trees. So much potential in such a mundane place.
Yes, I do believe in everyday photography - there's always something to be found out there, any day. But some days are special. Those, you can't really miss out on.
Catching up
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Nothing lasts forever, and this trip wasn’t going to be an exception. I’m back in Indiana after 3 incredible months on the road, a time I spent trying to take it all in as much as I could. I don’t know when I’m going to have the chance to hit the road again, so I gave it all I had.
That means I pretty much put everything else on hold. Among other things, my exercise habits, this blog, and email.
I’m catching up now: I’ve started to exercise again, this post is the first of hopefully many to come here in the blog, and I’ve replied to a few emails that had been patiently waiting for a response for a while. I will be getting back to people on social networks soon, too. If you tried to contact me and I haven’t gotten back to you by the end of this week, please try again.
Being back is bittersweet: it’s great to be with family again, and having a routine makes me feel more energized and healthier. But I miss the road already, all the sunrises and sunsets I saw out west over those stunning landscapes.
As this part of my photography journey ends, the first snowstorms of the season here in the Midwest are already signaling the beginning of the next one. I can’t wait to take my cameras out once the white powder takes over these landscapes.
Nasty weather, happy photographer
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I am on the road again! And what better way to start the trip than with an unexpected snowstorm at the beginning of September. I welcomed and embraced the snow, and tried to make good images at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.
Image of the Month, February 2020: "Golden Gate"
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Golden Gate is the new Image of the Month for the month of February, 2020.
It was my birthday and we were getting ready to celebrate in this little bar in the Mission. I looked at the TV and saw some fog starting to roll in, and I soon realized that that evening was going to have the conditions I'd been chasing for so long on my previous trips to the Bay Area.
I only had my compact camera with me, and the battery was almost dead. Luckily, the bartender had a charger that I used to get some extra power. I grabbed the camera and ran to get a cab, as I cancelled all the birthday plans for that night.
It was freezing cold on that bridge, and traffic was loud, very loud. It was an evening I won't forget: the scene that unveiled when the lights were turned on in the dark mist was all I was hoping for.
two sizes
Remember: there are two sizes to choose from, 6x6 and 8x8 (inches). In both cases, the matt and frame are 12x12 (this means a bigger margin for the 6x6 print).
shipping included
Shipping is free to the US. International shipping is a flat rate of $14.95.
artist contract
A new image will be released every month and offered at a reduced price during that time. After 30 days, it will be sold at full price. They will never be on sale at any time in the future, the rate during the first month will be the lowest, ever.
want to know more?
You can find more information about how I create my images and all the details about pricing on The Art and Craft behind my prints.
Boring days are the most important days
in journal
Making an image on days when everything falls into place -the right conditions, the right place, the right time, the right mood- is easy. Those days hide a big danger, though: when one of those elements is missing, we might think it's not even worth trying to make images.
I love to make images in the fog or even in severe weather conditions, but most days are just sunny, clear, boring. I have a hard time finding the motivation to get out on those days because I know the chances to make a "good image" (an image that fits my style) are very slim.
Those are the most important days, though, because they are the ones that make you a photographer.
First, they show the world as it usually is - in order for us to see the extraordinary we need to sense the ordinary first.
Second, they force you to think out of the box. In a sense, a foggy day is bad news to me because I usually end up creating something similar to what's worked before. A sunny day, though, is unpredictable: unlikely to generate great images, but potentially the spark for new ideas and projects. It was on some of those boring and flat days when most of my ongoing projects were born.
Image of the Month, January 2020: "Cascade"
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Cascade is the new Image of the Month for the month of January, 2020.
This is one of my earliest images -one of my favorites as well-, made in the beautiful North Cascades National Park on a very rainy and dark day. It was well after sunset when I saw this waterfall at full power. One of those moments when nature shows its power and you can't help it but to feel really small.
two sizes
Remember: there are two sizes to choose from, 6x6 and 8x8 (inches). In both cases, the matt and frame are 12x12 (this means a bigger margin for the 6x6 print).
shipping included
Shipping is free to the US. International shipping is a flat rate of $14.95.
artist contract
A new image will be released every month and offered at a reduced price during that time. After 30 days, it will be sold at full price. They will never be on sale at any time in the future, the rate during the first month will be the lowest, ever.
want to know more?
You can find more information about how I create my images and all the details about pricing on The Art and Craft behind my prints.
Image of the Month, December 2019: "White Badlands"
in journal
White Badlands is the new Image of the Month for the month of December.
I made this image in the remote Badlands National Park, South Dakota, in the middle of a blizzard that brought almost a foot of snow to the park and closed all the roads around. I was probably the only visitor that day, surely the only one in that white and empty campground.
I spent most of the time in the car, waiting for a chance to get out and make some images. Eventually, I was able to get out for just a few minutes, face the freezing temperatures and do some photography. It was so worth it.
two sizes
Remember: there are two sizes to choose from, 6x6 and 8x8 (inches). In both cases, the matt and frame are 12x12 (this means a bigger margin for the 6x6 print).
shipping included
Shipping is free to the US. International shipping is a flat rate of $14.95.
artist contract
A new image will be released every month and offered at a reduced price during that time. After 30 days, it will be sold at full price. They will never be on sale at any time in the future, the rate during the first month will be the lowest, ever.
want to know more?
You can find more information about how I create my images and all the details about pricing on The Art and Craft behind my prints.
The mountains were calling
in journal
Hello from Arco, Italy,
Sadly, we had to leave Austria one week earlier than anticipated due to bad weather. Snow and ice prevented me from doing many of the things I wanted to do there, but it was those same conditions that gifted me with a magical day that made me miss the mountains.
I lived in Portland, OR, for 5 years. While the city might not get snow every winter (we got one big snowstorm in all of those years), the mountains around it are covered in white powder for several months a year. It's easy to find snow even during the summer, if you hike high enough. I absolutely loved it.
I find snow fascinating. I grew up in a place that barely gets any: flurries are scarce, seeing the snow stick on the ground is a once-in-a-lifetime-event. The nearby mountains do get snow but it's short-lived as the warmer temperatures melt it away rather quickly.
Innsbruck got pummeled with snow last Wednesday. The locals might have found it annoying for their commutes, but it was a gift for me: unable to reach the snowy mountains, they came to me.
Placed among giants, it was easy for me to reach high altitudes by simply walking from our place near downtown Innsbruck. I walked in the snow for hours, going as high on the mountain as I could. I knew it wasn't going to last (it's still November, after all) and I wanted to take it all in.
When I left the city behind and reached the forest, it was like being back in the mountains of Oregon. I was once again walking into magical scenes from a fairy tale.
I loved my time in Innsbruck, definitely on top of my list of places to go back to. Next time, hopefully, better prepared for the winter.