General

Winter Shadows

Although the sun does not shine as often or as bright during the winter here in the Northern Hemisphere as it does in the other seasons, there are clear days when the sun shines all day. In the middle of the day the shadows caused by interrupted sunbeams are often longer and more pronounced in winter, much like early morning and late evening shadows during other seasons. This is because the sun sits lower in the sky during the winter when it’s position is much further south.

This was very true after the most recent ice and snow storm that blanketed much of the United States with frozen precipitation. Shadows appeared as long or distorted reflections even during the middle of the day.

One of the photographs that was taken from our back patio was the image of a fence shadow on uneven ice covered snow. Winds during the storm caused the snow to pile up higher in some areas than others.

A straight, rigid fence made up of rectangular sections appeared as a curved item in the shadow that was cast on those snow drifts.

The shadows softened the hard edges of the slots that made up the very top of the fence. The top portion of the fence that is straight and rigid appeared as a curved edge, much like a ribbon being waved in the air.

As I reflected on that photograph, I thought about how we view and relate to weather events.

Some people will see winter as an uncomfortable, inconvenient season. Others may view winter as a time to slow down, reflect on the past year and rest up for the more active seasons ahead.

How do you see cold, sometimes icy winter weather?

Is winter weather an inconvenience that you endure as a chore or embrace as a challenge.

Do dormant trees look dead to  you or do you view them as a season of rest?

Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section.

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