Sunday, March 22, 2015

Dreaming of Spring Album


shades of green


We are beginning to experience occasional days when the temperature


sap buckets
Buckets Mean "Enough is Enough"!
actually struggles above 32 degrees. It is wonderful to see all that water flowing off my roof and not into my living room, but most days, and all of the nights are still cold and there remains a couple of feet of snow on the ground. We are all desperate for real spring. I refer to this time of year as the "Enough is Enough" season, and, as in past years, this is the time when I really need hope and start looking back to the glory of last year's spring. 





dog in the field
Nellie, "Emerging Fauna"


In this week's New England Photography Guild Blog (to be published 3/23/15), I review some of the special aspects of last spring, including macro images of the season's first emerging buds, a study of the infinite shades of green in our forests and an exploration of many of the most well known and some of the more obscure of our regional waterfalls. It's what I think of as my desperately needed "Spring Therapy" and to expand that, I include more of last year's images. So sit back, relax, swat a few imaginary Black Flies and Enjoy.




First Emergence 


first flowering



The emergence of the first buds is one of the earliest signs of the coming of spring. These tiny glimpses of green are often bizarre and show little resemblance to the mature foliage. They last only a few days but while around, they are great subjects for "other worldly" macro photography.

 

fern green




The Green Spectrum, Our Second AutumnSpring leaves

The delicate early spring greens of our forests appear in a dizzying variety of shades. They are the epitome of the freshness of the season.  To me, the colors are more exciting than those of our garish autumn, especially since they represent a glorious begining rather than the harbinger of a dying season.

 

Forest ferns













Falling Water Season


Stckney Falls, Dummerston, Vt
Stickney Falls, Dummerston, Vt
Before we can get to the new buds and the fresh green we have to make it through the oppressively gray and brown mud season. It is literally a tough and sticky slog. One of the few saving graces of this

Ashuelot Gorge, Gilsum, New hampshire
Ashuelot Gorge
miserable time is that in the early spring our many waterfalls show themselves to maximum beauty and drama. Last year I spent much of the spring highlighting many of my favorite regional falls and also searching for more obscure waterfalls about which I had only heard rumors.






Catsbane Falls, West Chesterfield, New Hampshire
Catsbane Brook Falls,
Moss Glen Falls
Moss Glen Falls, Granville, Vt














Pulpit Falls
Pulpit Falls, Winchester, NH



Spring Flowers
Spring wildflowers 


Spring is about flowers, both wild and cultivated. On hikes through our forests I am always scanning the banks for these lovely surprises, but I also enjoy touring local greenhouses for more amazing color.








 

Trillium, Fox Forest, Hillsborough, NH
Trillium




 













 


Lady Slipper
Lady Slippers
dandelion, yellow pasture
Depth of "Field"

















Emerging Wildlife

horse grazingAlong with the flora, spring is notable for the emergence of the regions fauna. Both wild and domestic animals revel in the burgeoning green of our forests and pastures. It is a pleasure to witness their excitement including among the wild turkeys, foxes, deer and the Bald Eagles along the Connecticut River. On our farms, the cows, horses and sheep all happily gorge on the fresh green grass.


eagle Landing
Eagle Landing
Dummerston Vt


I feel better now. Get ready, it's on the way, but in the meantime let's dream of spring.
spring buds



Dreaming of Spring,  New England Photography Guild Blog


Partridge Brook Reflections Spring Gallery


Spring Links from My Blog


Jeffrey Newcomer
Partridgebrookreflections.com


2 comments:

  1. I am curious Jeff, which lens do you use the most. I am picking up a refurbished 6d with 24-105 and I look to add a 24-70? Great pics by the way.

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    Replies
    1. My all-purpose lens is that Canon 24-105 L, although I use the lovely 100mm Macro for the close stuff.

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