Winter Cold 2022

Here are a few photos that could symbolize the word COLD.  During my recent winter walks, I chose to photograph the current weather conditions along the roadside as a way of expressing the current time, Winter.  We haven't had a whole lot of snow, only an inch or two, while many of you have experienced far worse conditions.  Several feet of snow would have expressed COLD as well, but I am very grateful I didn't have to show that to express the Winter.

                                            Leaves below the ice

Icy Reflection

Autumn Leaves Backgrounds

On my daily walks I strive to create something new and different when I take pictures.  It keeps my mind active and creative.  After most of the fall leaves landed on the ground, I looked for colorful ones with different shapes.  Here are three different backgrounds I found along the way.  Notice how different each one looks.   Yes, I moved them around and tried to remove distractions in the background to improve the photo.

Which one do you like?  Do any enhance the subject more?

Sand

Water

Pine needles

Leaves

Autumn leaves in Shenandoah 2019

Some pretty autumn maple leaves.

Shenandoah Autumn 2019

Hazel Mountain Overlook, Skyline Drive

Milkweed Pod in the Big Meadow

Mary's Rock Tunnel in the fog

Skyline Drive

Creek by Brookside

Gate in Luray VA

Autumn Reflections

I spent an afternoon photographing fall leaves in St. Mary's County.  I love reflections of leaves in water.

      Reflections

     I can't resist a red boat.

     Nice curves

     Panorama with a wide angle.

     Three beautiful Australian Shepherds

     Trinity Church Road

Shenandoah Autumn

At the last minute we decided to visit Shenandoah National Park when we learned that the autumn foliage was later than usual.  

We had all kinds of weather, rain, fog, clouds and sun in 3 days and saw deer, dogs, birds and even a bear cub.  We hiked to Blackrock Summit because it was the only day we expected sun.  In reality, it rained after sunset!

On Halloween, 

     We had a close encounter with a deer, which Sarita didn't notice.

Then after breakfast, we drove south from Big Meadow...

Before returning for a late afternoon Big Meadow walk.

     Can you spot the deer? (there are 3, but only one is really visible)

A woman gave us a tip that a bear cub was foraging just down the road, so we drove past Dark Hollow Falls till we found the stupid people trying to get close.  I used my very longest lens across the street!  My first bear photo outside a zoo.

The next day, we went north and home.

Here are some before and after the trip travel photos.

     Before

     After

Autumn in Virginia and PA

We drove up to the Skyline drive last week to do some leaf peeping.  Skies were mostly blue and warm.  The colors were lovely.  Here are my favorites:

     Shenandoah River

     Deer on the Big Meadow

     Big Meadow sunset

     Red tree

     Skyland Sunset

     River leaf

      PA afternoon