From bad to worse (weather-wise)

You know it’s cold when the stream freezes!

"Stone Cold" (Frozen Stream With Rocks) Nikon D300, 105mm, F/8, 1/30s, +.3EV, ISO 640

I can’t decide if I see an image in the ice…do you?

Fancy that

"Blue Fairies" (Ice Crystals on Window) Nikon D300, 105mm F/2.8G Macro, Manual Settings: F/13, 1/30s, ISO 400, Incandescent WB

A line of snow squalls blasted through our area last night bringing arctic chilling winds and plummeting temperatures.

Yikes!

I woke up this morning to more ice crystals on the storm windows and, with absolutely no desire to venture out into the bitter cold, looked to them for today’s inspiration.

One particular section seemed to have a fanciful quality about it. Or, is it just my sub-conscious mind reminding me that by this time next week, I will be experiencing a little pixie dust myself?

Birdwatching

If you think Mourning Doves are dowdy, brown-colored birds, think again!

"Snowy Mourning" (Mourning Doves) Nikon D300, 400mm, F/7.1, 1/200s, +0.3EV

Proceed with caution

The steps leading off our sunroom to the back yard have become treacherous! They are completely encased in a ripply sheet of  ice due to the fact that they lie underneath the main house overhang and as the snow melts off the roof, it hits the staircase and freezes. 

"When Stairs Grow Teeth" (Wooden Stair Riser Encased in Ice with Icicles) Nikon D300, 105mm, F/3, 1/25s, -0.3EV, ISO 640

Salt and sand are the obvious solution, but before I did that, I needed today’s photo!

Things that make me go hmmm

"Glacé" (Icicle on Rhododendron Leaves) Nikon D300, 105mm, F/5.6, 1/30s, -1.0EV, ISO 640

If bicycles are called bikes, why aren’t icicles called ikes?

Frozen in time

I overwinter our unheated bird baths by covering them in black plastic. Water can still collect, but since there is some air between the plastic and the stone (or ceramic), the subsequent expansion-as-it-freezes doesn’t crack the bowl. 

And, yes, I learned that gem the hard way.   

"Frozen Still" (Leaves Frozen in Ice) Nikon D300, 70mm, F/8, 1/30s, -1.0EV, ISO 640

In the back of my mind I’d always hoped to capture something just like this shot but could never have dreamt of finding it laid out so perfectly!

It’s all about balance

"Cold as Ice" (Ice Crystals on Window) Nikon D300, 70mm, F/8, 1/200s, ISO 400

White Balance, that is.

It is so cold outside that sheets of ice crystals are forming on our windows! 

The patterns are pretty darn cool, especially when backlit by the sun, however, when photographed using Auto or even a Daylight white balance setting, all sense of  coolness is completely lost.

Hmmmm, what to do?

No worries grasshopper… this one is easy.   

Switch to Incandescent white balance and boom!

Instant feeling of brrrrrr.