Mid Winter at the Studio

"Late Morning Sun Dogs"

photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison 

A little winter action here at the studio this morning - I would have missed this brilliant late morning display if I hadn't walked over to the house to check on something.  On my walk back I was faced with a nearly full circle light display!  I ran inside and grabbed the camera and this was the first image I took - the right side was dropping out and after the first shot it was gone!  Things can be fleeting! 

Most of us wish winter were fleeting too but I feel less like being outside during this frigid weather and that can mean I get something done inside!  Or something like that?!

Stay warm!!!

 

Trying Our Best

"Winter Morning at Don's Old Place" 

photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

I've been trying my best to keep up...to stay on target, but life is a bit more complicated than all that; I just have to quit fighting the tide and go with it sometimes I think.

Our winter finally began...first with a full night of rain, then turning to snow.  Made for terrible driving but also a good reason to stay put and do some work in the house. 

I caught a bug from somewhere - haven't the slightest idea where, but it took the wind out of my sails...still trying to hoist them back up.  Woke up yesterday to the results of an overnight freezing fog...it was spectacular!  Around 10:30 in the morning the sun started cutting through and the time was now or never so I grabbed the camera and went for a short visit in the "neighborhood" to see what views might be found.

"Winter Morning, Passing Don's Old Place" 

photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

I thought of the wonderful little gem of a summer place, one the owner used to spend summers at in his old age...he'd then slip off to one of his children's to spend his winters.  Its sold now...I don't know who owns it but I still refer to it as Don's old place.   When I arrived the sun was already dropping the frost from the trees...not that it's melting but that the air currents are starting to become active and the breeze is tipping the heavy ice crystals from their delicate balancing act.

 "Frosty Morning at the old Farmstead" 

photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

It was a beautiful setting but becoming quickly undone!  I tried not to spend too much time taking it in and recording it as best I could instead.  I then drove down the road a bit to a nice old farmstead and turned around as a bridge down the road had been wiped out by last September's epic flood in the valley.  The long early morning shadows at the farmstead's gate were wonderful and they were the last strong holdouts on frost that morning. 

By the time I arrived back to the acreage, the frost was all on the ground and the moment was over.  It was a beautiful 45 minutes, not just a visual memory. And now back to the business of the day...trying our best.

 

Winter in January!

 "Along the Shelf Ice"

photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

(click on image for a larger view) 

January...how many times will I now accidentally write 2015 on checks and such before I finally get it right!?!  I know I'm not alone out there!

We've had a couple snows in the last few days so we look quite like winter again; and the temps are closer to what they normally are this time of the year too.  I usually prefer winter landscapes early in the morning but late afternoon can work nicely as well and yesterday afternoon was a good day outside!

 

 "January on the Waterman"

photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

(click on image for a larger view) 

With Waterman Creek so close by, most of the afternoon was spent up and down the valley searching for those snippets of Waterman "treasure" just waiting for appreciation!

There isn't a lot of shelf ice out there due to high water levels but I did manage to find a vantage point with some ice along a gravel bank - with the additional benefit of tracks in the snow adding to the composition...and the creek itself in the valley a few miles south offered up a bright landscape benefiting from a pure blue sky!  

Pleasant scenes and simple compositions...may your winter days be ever so pleasant too!

Heading Into The Solstice

"Winter Dawn - Little Sioux at Burnt Bridge"

photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

(click on image for a larger view) 

Well we're sliding into the Winter Solstice tomorrow on the 21st - its hard to believe isn't it!  My mind's still stuck in August!

The thing I always look forward to come this day - the days gradually begin getting longer - which means more sunshine and "eventually" warmer days!!!  But I know that's not a very appreciative opinion of winter is it...sorry about that (fingers crossed behind my back).

The Winter Solstice is officially here Monday, December 21, 2015 at 10:49 PM CST; at least if you live in Sioux Falls, SD...but that's certainly near enough to us to make it count as "close enough"!

Like many other people, I hear reports of odd weather for this time of the year; we're no different.  The image above was 2 1/2 weeks ago south of the studio and the snow is GONE...hasn't even been cold enough for frost to enter the ground yet - and its nearly Christmas!  But we have had 18+ inches of snow at the studio since late November, so that at least sounds right for the eve of the solstice!

Either way - enjoy the new season, and get out there if you get a chance.  After all, the Winter Solstice only comes 'round once a year!

  

What's Ahead!

"Late Winter Afternoon - Woodland Edge"

photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

(click on image for a larger view) 

Thought I'd post another image from last weekend's snowstorm - it was Saturday evening after we had shoveled and plowed out the acreage from under 12 inches of snow; I wanted to get out before it was too late for some photo opportunities in the "neighborhood" .  I walked up through some property I've had permission to "explore" and found after about 10-15 minutes that I really needed my snowshoes!  I managed to plow through drifts over to the creek's (Waterman Creek) edge from above.  The sun was already lower than I thought it'd be but the foreground being in shadow really didn't look so bad...it created an interesting "deep" woodland look -  like the dead of winter, so I went with it!  Hope you enjoy it!

Tomorrow and the next day are bringing more of the same precipitation.  They're promising 5-10 inches more snow but we'll see what shakes out.  Unfortunately they're also promising high winds, which will put the ca-bosh on  photos until the "dust" settles...time will tell I guess!  Either way, it looks like winter is here to stay for now.

Next weekend is bringing some things of interest as well - 2 weekend art exhibits and sales that I'll be participating in!

Each year the artists of this area get together for a Holiday Sale, and this year is no different - except - this year there are two events on the same weekend!

The first Holiday sale that I'm participating in is at Barb McGee's Gallery on Main Street in Peterson, Iowa. Barb will be holding her Holiday sale for several artists, I'm fortunate to be included again this year! The Holiday Open House will be held on Saturday December 5 from 9:00AM to 5P.M. and Sunday from Noon to 3PM.

Take some time and check out the artists represented at Barb McGee's Holiday Open House!

The second Holiday sale and exhibit I'm participating in is a new gallery in Lake Park, Iowa! This exhibit will be an Art and Fine Antique sale and is being held in the former Methodist Church building in Lake Park. This new gallery, the Systolic Studio, is holding this exhibit and sale, and it will have a host of top quality artists and artwork and antiques over a 3 day event! I am very proud to be included!

 
The event is inside and up the stairway on the west entrance and this exhibit and sale opens on Friday, December 4 from 3-8PM, again on Saturday December 5 from 10AM-6PM, and Sunday December 6 from 11AM-3PM; be sure and take it in - you'll be in for a real treat!

There's a lot  ahead but first of all - keep warm and enjoy the season!

 

Don't Blink!

"A Frosty Morning on Barry Creek"

photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

(click on image for a larger view) 

This time a week ago it was a windy/rainy day, but the month had been very nice with plenty of Indian Summer weather...come Saturday it all changed!  But it was the perfect photo-storm opportunity!  Usually when blizzards come along, things are sewn up and buried for the duration, but this year was unseasonably warm and a large snowstorm on top of warm ground is quite different to see.

I've always lamented for winters with open water...streams flowing through a snow covered landscape are quite visually pleasing...much more so than frozen streams and bodies of water!  Well this first snow of the season was really quite perfect!  Well, OK...I'm no fan of driving in this stuff nor in shoveling out the home place after a storm like this (we had 12" in this one), but here was a new fallen snow on warm ground and streams still flowing relatively warm...their mist rising from the water surface; very pretty stuff going on!

We spent the morning digging out like everyone else but around 3 in the afternoon were able to get out and investigate the transformed landscape.  I drove about 3 miles to a place I've walked many times in past years...I soon realized I should have taken the snow shoes with me!  It was a tough trudge for about an 8th of a mile to Waterman Creek and the shoreline timber, where I took many pictures of snow laden cedars and Bur Oaks...every 10-15 minutes a Bald Eagle or two would cruise past me and I disturbed a few White-tail Deer bedded down for the day...it was a fun time outside!

Later we drove over to Barry Creek just down the road from us.  I've done some photos and drawings of this little creek in the past. The day had gotten too late and the light was gone but I made a note to go back at first light.

The next morning was made to order...very slight breeze and anything in low lying areas was developing a nice frosty coating.  The creek had subtle drifting steam rising from the warm water reacting with the cold air...the shoreline was frosted and glowing in the first rays of sunlight!  Very pretty stuff :)

This was a lucky break for landscape photographers and artists, the kind that doesn't come around too often in this latitude...maybe we'll get lucky again soon?  One can only hope; but on thing is sure - don't blink, you might miss out!

 

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Have you been in a last minute crunch the past couple weeks like I have?! What a race it's been to get everything covered and finished or taken care of before the big holidays coming up!

I am grateful for being busy, but things have got to slow down some, if not only just for our sanity!

I haven't had a chance to really get out for winter photography for some years...it used to be a favorite time for landscapes. One favorite location I liked hiking during the winter was Woodman Hollow Preserve in Webster County, down south of Fort Dodge, Iowa on the Des Moines River. As state preserves go, this one is nice.

This preserve actually had a decent access road in and even an old CCC type building, albeit small. The road was blocked off sometime in the1970's. I felt a little bad about it because it really cut off the ability to carry a lot of gear into it...except for younger (more able bodied) folk. The road had completely grown over in scrub trees by the early 1990's.

The photograph taken here was in December in the mid to late 1980's, along the path leading to the river overlook. This path passed through a goat prairie and overlooked the hardwood forest to the south. The main thing I remember about this day is the temperature being slightly below zero and the walk in took some time. I was carrying about 45 pounds of equipment...my 4X5 view camera and my 35mm gear, and wooden tripod and ball head. I wish I could still handle that much gear below zero on a two hour hike now!

Well, whatever you can or wish you could do these days, get out and enjoy Christmas and New Years with family or friends if you're able.

Wishing you the best! (See you next year!)