Despite the illusion of warmth, the picture was taken in a foot of old snow in a hemlock swamp; a secluded caress in a tangle of Mountain Laurel. The temperature was well below freezing here; a frost deep enough to make June seem like a universe away. This close to the subject, you need to remember not to step backwards on your snowshoes.
Behind the lens, I find myself circling winter from all directions. Is the light warm or is it frigid? Does monochrome confuse or clarify? Can snow and ice be seen in endless variation? The answer is always “yes,” depending…
JOHN TODARO 
I am particularly fond of how the shadows interact with the rolling snow, but also that you have brought out the structure of the snow in the shadows. Snow has always fascinated me, probably because it is “just” water in another form, but what forms! There is a Swedish encyclopedia about snow that is based on Sami knowledge (“SNÖ” by Yngve Ryd). No other ethnic group has as many words for snow as the Sami. The book describes over 300 words for snow. Your image could be “åppås”, untouched soft snow, or “ga’lav”, where skis sink deep into loose winter snow.
Thanks, Hans. I’ll try to find that book (and hope the English translation does those 300 words some justice). I’ve seen some films about the Sami over the years, and any traditional culture that touched with winter has my admiration. I’d venture to say that your own images of ice and snow have been enriched by that knowledge in really good ways.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks so much! ⭐
Hi John and you’re welcome! Wishing you a great Wednesday…😊⭐️🎶⭐️😊
You as well, Philip ✍️
Nice series!
You’ve gone deeper and deeper into this subject (winter) and though I know there will be more, this feels like a kind of culmination. It is so, so sensuous.
And thank you for the beautiful text as well.
Really appreciate everything you said here. Thanks so much