At the dawn of a new year the temperature outside is a brisk
2 degrees with 45% humidity and as trudged down to the meadow to capture the
fist sunrise of 2016, I realized I had not bundled up nearly good enough! The only gloves I have that keep my fingers
warm enough are too bulky to manage the controls on the camera and have to be
removed to shoot. As a result my fingers
were almost numb from the cold as I attempted some photos of the first sunrise
of 2016.
A small covey of partridges greeted me as I entered the
meadow, but chuckled at me and scurried away, nestling themselves into a small snow
bank about 50 yards away. Even if I
would have had my telephoto lens with me, there was not enough light for a
photo of them. They ventured out a bit
as I began to shoot, but stayed near the protection of their snow bank.
A lone White Tail buck bolted up from a thicket nearby, and
I don’t know who was more started, him or me.
He only stopped and stared at me for a few seconds before bounding away,
white flag tail waving good-bye as he disappeared over a small hill.
My trek outside was very short but I did manage some great
sunrise photos – perhaps some of the best I’ve taken in a long time. The sun and clouds did not disappoint and I
was able to capture some amazing color.
I don’t usually set my alarm as I have two Australian Shepherds that
wake me up well before I think is reasonable, but today I was thankful that I
have dogs with such great internal clocks, who wake me up while it is still
dark outside. It was while I took them
outside that I saw the beginnings of what turned out to be a most beautiful sunrise.
As I sit at my desk with a cup of steaming hot chocolate, I
look often out the window as I work, and this morning I watched the sun make a
feeble attempt to poke through the thick layer of clouds. But if were to succeed, and all of the clouds
dissipate, it would be an illusion. Even
on the sunniest winter days with a clear blue sky, it always looks deceptively pleasant
– until you step outside and freeze your toes off because yes, this is January
and yes, it is cold.
The weather forecast for the next five days tops out at 17
degrees, with night time temps below zero, and freezing fog. Most of the time this sounds like a perfect
reason to stay indoors, snuggled up on the couch with my thick comforter, a
good book (or my computer), and a cup of hot tea or cocoa. But I have to admit that as a photographer I’m
anticipating some great hoar frost, which makes for the most amazing images!
Last night was the calm before the storm, weather wise. A bit chilly at 20 degrees but toasty
compared to what’s in store for the next week.
I’m never ready for the cold weather but once it arrives, what can you
do? You just have to deal with it, and
so I do. Dogs still have to be taken
outside – although for much shorter periods of time; the car has to be started
every morning when it gets this cold, and again only for a brief time, the
driveway needs to be shoveled, etc, etc.
Dig out the snow pants and boots, the long johns and heavy wool socks, and
just muddle through the cold. I guess it
only makes us appreciate the other seasons all that much more.
So here’s to a new year – a new beginning – a new chapter in
my life. Bring it on 2016, I’m ready and
waiting!
