Through the Mist

Fresh Snow on Otter Brook, Keene NH

  Despite the strangeness of the weather, we had a reasonably colorful autumn.  By December, our typical November “Stick Season” should have been long past.  We were blessed with an inch or so of snow in late December, but that quickly vanished.  It is now mid-January, and we are just getting our next modest snowfall. The result has been an exceptionally long opportunity to explore the patterns and muted colors of New England’s photographically challenging, post-autumn, in-between season.

  

A couple of weeks ago, I was reminded of one of the climatic conditions that can salvage subtlety and interest from the starkness of the stick season.  I awoke to a lovely layer of fog that hung on the landscape and persisted for much of the day.  It is remarkable how a bit of mist in the air can lift a photographer from his pre-winter funk.  I shot out of the house and headed down the road.

I didn’t need to go far, since fog can dramatically alter even the most familiar or mundane scenes.  It can add mystery and depth while transforming bright colors to soft pastels. Seen through fog, distant features can take on a pleasant, uniformly soft, appearance.  Lovely, but I find these images rather flat.  They miss an important feature of foggy weather, the enhanced sense of depth.

Forest Depth

Placing something close to the camera, unaffected by the softening mist, can provide effective contrast to the shrouded distant subjects.  The effect is an expanded sense of depth.  Whenever I begin shooting in the fog, my first question is, “Where can I find something distinct in the foreground”.  Often the soft background serves to simplify the scene, allowing the foreground to stand out, removed from the busy distraction of the more distant elements.

Screened Hay Rake

Partridge Brook Debris

         

On this day, I found plenty of interesting foregrounds, from an old, weed engulfed, hay rake to a collection of storm-tossed brook debris.   I especially like it when leading lines draw the eye through the scene to the distant background.

Granite Leading Line

   

  It was a lovely afternoon with the mist creating interest in almost every direction.  I was only forced to stop by the fading light.

Mt Monadnock Blanket

Misty Wall, Roads End Farm
Chesterfield, NH 2000

 

Now we have some snow on the ground and the hope for more traditional winter photography, 

but remember fog can also work its magic on snowy scenes.

Our new puppy Benjamin Pierce (Benji) is enjoying his first snow.  He is named after the man who built our house back in the 1830s.  Our previous dogs, Nellie and Sophie were named after Benjamin's daughter and mother.

Jeff Newcomer, NEPG
www.partridgebrookreflections.com

Winter Visual Clean-Up

Jackson Square, New Orleans La

This is the second winter that Susan and I decided that by February we had a sufficient dose of cold and ice and escaped for a March road trip to the south.  This year we loaded our rented van and headed toward New Orleans.  On the way we visited family in Harrisburg Pennsylvania and, then struggled through persistent winter in the mountains of West Virginia, until we finally felt the beginnings of spring warmth in the horse country around Lexington Kentucky.  Our route took us for short stays in Nashville and Memphis before we landed In New Orleans. 

Nashville Music at the Listening Room

The trip was about finding warmth, but it was most notable for delicious food and great music.  Yes, even country music.  Of course, I took pictures along the way, but so far, of the 1400 images, I was too busy to edit more than about 30.  More to come, I’ll be adding them to a New Orleans Trip Gallery.  It was great to get away, but I returned with a fresh eye for the special character of our winter landscape. This week I would like to get back into regular posting with an offering of a few of the winter pictures that I was able to grab before we retreated to the south.  

This winter was another disappointment, spells of cold and a few paltry snow storms, but not much to excite the miserable weather fetish of the devoted outdoor photographer.

The Cold
I found manifestations of the bitter cold spells with the smoke coming from the Keene State College smoke stacks and, one of my favorites of the season, the deadly icicles hanging menacingly inside the railroad arch in Keene New Hampshire.

Out From Under

Given the paltry amounts of snow, my pictures often featured what was bravely poking its way through the cover.  At various times, grass, rocks, fences, tress and wood piles and had their moments. 

Christmas Cheer

 Christmas always provides opportunities for warm images in a cold season.  This year’s Keene Central Square tree was not massive, but it had a nice shape.  I never caught the square in the perfect “Winter Wonderland” moment, but I like the contrasting light of the storm clouds behind the late afternoon glow.  

This year I had to go to Princeton New Jersey to catch dramatic holiday lighting.

Finally, to accurately reflect he season, I must include the bare ground around the Chesterfield Town Hall on an early February morning.  The cold clear air allowed a beautiful view of January’s aptly named Blood Moon in eclipse.  


And just as a reminder, I include a nostalgic shot of a frigid winter sunset from a Walpole hillside, February 2008.  Winter the way it ought to be - I hate this global warming s#*t!

And don’t forget to sign up for my Spring Waterfall Workshop. 

I’m expecting a lot of April showers to bring May flowing water as well as the flowers.

Spring Waterfall Workshop 

Weekend of May 17-19
Get in touch soon!

Jeff Newcomer
wwwpartridgebrookreflections.com”
603-363-8338
jeffn49@myfairpoint.net

New England's Fleeting Winter Wonderland

Partridge Brook Coating

Last week I awoke one morning to discover that overnight a dusting of snow had left a coating of white on the ground and trees.  It wasn’t much, but as I looked out of the window, I was aware of two important things.  First, the “storm” had resulted in a lovely frosting of the bare November branches. Secondly, the temperature was 38 degrees, meaning that all that beautiful snow would soon be falling from the trees.

I have previously discussed the importance of capturing winter storms while the snow is still sticking to the branches. We call this the “winter wonderland” time. The snow-covered landscape is always beautiful, but the magic of winter scenes is always best captured with the fresh frosting.

On Tuesday morning, with the temperature above freezing, I knew that the snow would soon be falling from the branches.  It wasn’t the most beautiful storm, but I thought it would be a good opportunity to contrast winter wonderland with the ordinary bare branch aftermath.

I knew that I didn’t have much time, so I headed out toward Westmoreland among the pastures that lie below Spofford Village.  The snow was already dropping, but I was able to capture a bit of the “wonderland” along Partridge Brook.  Further downstream, I used an old pasture bridge and snow bound farm equipment as foregrounds.  One of my favorite barns was also nearby.  I wanted to return to the locations later in the day, so I stomped rough markers in to the snow and then headed home for breakfast.

Before and After

I was back just a couple of hours later.  The winter wonderland was gone, and I set about grabbing my comparison images.  My views weren’t perfectly matched, but I think the point was made.  It is amazing how just a few hours can change the feel of a scene.

After the Drop

Location Location Location

On Hurricane Road

Not only time, but location can affect what we see.  After all, this IS New England, and the variable conditions is one thing that make makes our photography so dynamic.  After capturing my “Un-Wonderland” images, I headed in to Keene by way of Hurricane Road.  This road travels over a hill and with the elevation returned the winter wonderland coating.  The snow was coming off the trees in large clumps, but I was still able to catch a touch more magic before descending to the nearly snowless Keene Central Square.

Falling Clumps, Hurricane Road, Keene New Hampshire

Waiting for Snow, Keene's Central Square

This is what I love about New England. If you know what to look for, in just a few hours or a few miles, you can experience a wide variety of landscapes and weather.  Our “wait a minute” weather is just one of the special treasures of New England photography. 

Jeffrey Newcomer

www.partridgebrookreflections.com

Winter Retrospective - Pictures without Reason

Snowed-In, Spofford New Hampshire

We’ve had a few warm days, and spring is definitely in the air.  I know that significant April snow storms can happen, but the Crocuses are bravely poking their heads above the soil around our house and I should be excused for having a little hope.

Meeting House on the Hill
Westmoreland NH

It has been an interesting winter, much cold and frequent flakes, but in our corner of New England, no paralyzing dumps of snow.  There has been some lovely opportunities for photography, but I haven’t had the chance to share all the winter beauty.  Much of my published images center around my blog articles. 

Stormy Deep, Chesterfield, NH

Spofford NH

 This year, I have written articles on The First Snow, Holiday Lights, A Morning Drive in the Snow and using Lightroom to accentuate the appearance of snow, but many blogs are unrelated to the season.  I have published three articles celebrating activities over 2017 and a separate blog on our time in Bologna and Lake Como.  I have focused several articles on birds, including, Bald Eagles, a Snowy Owl and the flock gathering around my bird feeder.  I have discussed the use of Neutral Density Filters, what ‘s new in Lightroom CC Classic and, of course, a couple of articles shamelessly advertising my up-coming classes and workshops.  So, why so little about the beautiful white?

My Snowy Cupola, Spofford NH

Lambs at Mayfair Farm, Harrisville, NH

The answer may have to do with the fact that, every week, I need to come up with something new to cover in my blog.  After nine years of blogging, I may have covered most of what there is to be said about photographing snow.  Winter will always be a uniquely beautiful season, and I am sure I will always be excited about capturing its magic, but when I feel the pressure to come up with something new, I should be excused for turning away from the flakes.  

Village Grass, Harrisville NH

Factory Falls, Harrisville NH

Farm Porch, Westmoreland, NH

Now, FINALLY, The Point of All This.

Blanket, Spofford NH

I may not the be writing about the snow, but I have been out there almost every day shooting the season’s glory.  The result is that I have a bunch of winter images that I’ve not had the opportunity to share.  Many of my published pictures illustrate a technical point about photography or about a special location.  With spring approaching my goal, in this article, is to show some of my winter images that I haven’t previously found a reason to show.   

West River Sunset, Brattleboro Vermont

These are a few of my winter images without reason.  Enjoy.   

On the Edge, Westmoreland NH

Great Brook Winter, Walpole NH

Mottled Sunset, Walpole NH

Red on White, Westmoreland NH

Maple Flame, Spofford NH

First Flakes, Spofford NH

Farm in White, Keene New Hampshire

Jeffrey Newcomer

www.partridgebrookreflections.com