Winter Sun
Winter Sun is a photograph that represents both the excitement and frustration of winter photography. Photography is all about light, so the flat, diffuse light on overcast winter days can be frustrating. This kind of light doesn’t produce shadows and contrast, which are the basic elements of highlighting shape and texture. So, when the sun is out, I like to get out with a camera.
Winter Sun was a very welcome photographic moment. I was driving through the countryside and had been photographing shelter belts against the dramatic blue sky. The good light suddenly started to fade as the sun ducked behind cloud cover. “I guess that’s it,” I said to myself as I walked back to my pickup. I started to drive home when, out of habit, I glanced up at the sky to see if there was a chance that the sun would reemerge soon. When I saw the perfect circle of the sun filtered through the winter clouds, I quickly pulled over and started shooting. The clouds were moving quickly, so I was lucky to capture a few good images of the sun filtering through.
I’ve enjoyed photography for so long that aside from learning new equipment, the technical side of things has become second nature. The fun part is exploring the world around me in search of interesting subjects to photograph. I deal with some frustration when I don’t find something. I’ve learned, however, that even on a day when I’ve been frustrated by a lack of inspiration, taking “another look” has revealed interesting visual opportunities that made the day worthwhile.
Nikon Z8 w. Nikkor Z 80-200 f/2.8
