On Becoming Spring

Posted by
Denny Jump (Bellevue, WA, United States) on 20 March 2014 in Landscape & Rural.

Winter seems to be finally losing its tight grip on the Mid-Atlantic region here in the US. And I find myself thinking that maybe winter wasn't so bad after all...the fresh air, the snowfall, the Snow Geese hanging out in the tens of thousands..I love all of these things about winter. But this particular winter has indeed been a challenge. I know I will miss it, but probably not for a while....So come on back, "Old Man Winter,"....but not too soon, if you wouldn't mind! :-)

NIKON D800 1/2000 second F/3.5 ISO 400 28 mm (35mm equiv.)

** Staples Singers - "Respect Yourself"

- " We do not move forward from a middle opinion, which is undemocratic but mediocratic.
We advance from a creative passion "- (Edgar Morin)

- "To photograph is to hold one's breath, when all faculties converge to capture fleeting reality. It's at
that precise moment that mastering an image becomes a great physical and intellectual joy."
- Henri Cartier-Bresson.

::Words from Denny:
- My beliefs, and values, have always been strongly tied-to music, especially Jazz, and Blues.
- The following artists and lyrics seem to "sum-up" where my spirit resides:
EARTH WIND AND FIRE;
"HOLD ON TO YOUR SPIRIT,
ALWAYS FEEL YOUR SOUL....
HONOR THE MAGIC IN YOUR HEART"; Earth Wind and Fire

Comments (9)

Ronnie 2¢ from Atlantic Shores, United Kingdom

Around my London way, I've not seen a flake of snow all winter but much of the country has suffered the most severe flooding and gales in living memory. Now, I'm suddenly awash with daffodils and crocus . . take each day as it comes.

20 Mar 2014 5:48am

@Ronnie 2¢: Hi Ronnie - Yes, those floods and storms that pounded all "winter" long along your beautiful coastlines and wonderful inlands and cities has been on my mind a great deal this year...I had a guilty feeling as I wrote my post here because I did think about that. But there's no such thing as global climate change - just ask the "experts in our political halls. Well at least you get to see the Crocus and "Daffy's" as my dear Mom used to call them...ours are yet to pop up, but I suspect any time now. Thanks so much Ronnie :-)

ursulakatariina from Uusikaupunki, Finland

Beautiful view and lovely light.

20 Mar 2014 6:46am

@ursulakatariina: Hi Ursulakatariina - Thank you so much :-)

Doug from Burnham-on-Sea, United Kingdom

To be honest Denny this year I'm really pleased to see winter behind us, as Ronnie says it has not given us much snow just loads of rain. Roll on spring and summer !

20 Mar 2014 8:04am

@Doug: Hi Doug - Yes, I do understand, believe me. I did not experience, first-hand, the floods and storms but I have been in enough high water and gales before that the memory certainly serves. I do hope that the corner has been turned and spring brings new hopes and new beginnings....certainly lots of recovery to be done but with the storms and floods that you had, it will be a Long time to gain a foothold again for many many people. Wishing you ALL, All the Best! Thanks, Doug :-)

Eric Cousineau from Sherwood Park, Canada

I love your title here Denny! As it was so aptly put by one of our local meteorologists yesterday..."In northern Alberta spring is a word rather than an event!". Weather forecast for today is more snow!!!! ;-)

20 Mar 2014 12:52pm

@Eric Cousineau: Thanks so much Eric and LOL your meteorologist is quite right I'll say...I would love to get back up your way - God's country it is!!

Steve Rice from Olympia, United States

That warm light has some work to do to warm the land. Not too fast, we don't need flooding to replace the bitter cold.

20 Mar 2014 7:10pm

@Steve Rice: I agree - slow is good :-) Thank you Steve :-)

franz from Baden, Austria

usually this is not what i associate with spring, but it's a superbly beautifull image in its own right !!! take courage, denny, spring (REAL spring ...) will come eventually ... with mosquitoes and all that goes with it ... ;-)

20 Mar 2014 9:41pm

@franz: Hi Franz - Thank you so much :-) Your images have been just magnificent - sorry I don't always have time to comment...I am up late tonight because tomorrow is my Friday off..but cleaning house is on the schedule ....I fly to SFO on Tuesday to rejoin my beautiful wife :-) Cheers to you all :-)

Yonatan from New York, United States

Beautiful frame here Denny my only constructive critiques would be to see how the frame looks with a slight exposure bump in the foreground and white balance adjustment as the snow is a bit blue. The sky's white balance looks appropriate. Did you use a grad ND filter for this shot? I for one am definitely looking forward to spring!

21 Mar 2014 2:38am

@Yonatan: Hey Yonatan - Thank you :-) Indeed I was experimenting with a singh ray grad nd filter as a matter of fact -I had just purchased one - they are trickier sometimes than one thinks - to be honest I can't recall if I used it for this shot or not...although I had singh ray neutral polarizer on both lenses though. Funny about the snow, I hear ya - but it looked whiter on my iMac than it does in this frame...who knows..I tend to use the auto white balance on that Nikon because it is so darn reliable in the D800 but you are right ....now that you nekton it- it's a bit blue isn't it maybe the snow is just cold LOL. Seriously, thank you -GREAT points to observe :-)

Stephen from Canberra, Australia

Beautiful composition and landscape. Looking at the horizon we can sense spring is not far away.

21 Mar 2014 5:33am

@Stephen: Thank you so much stephen - I went on your blog to apologize for my extended absence from your site, no excuse thee, but was saddened deeply to hear about brian...My heart goes out to yo and all.. thasnkStephen - I wll try to be a better visitor...All my best!

Elaine Hancock from Rockville, United States

Beautiful image Denny! It has been an interesting winter but also a pretty one.

21 Mar 2014 9:54pm

@Elaine Hancock: Hi Elane- yes it has definitely been interesting and pretty al at once:-) Well thank you so much for your response to me, i m excited and honoured that Don and Gary said nice things - I keep up with them alot and try to keep a conversation going ony becasue I think they are (along with Scott Schilng and Michael Frye) the kindest, most givin and generous Pros...and equally they are the best damn pros out there I think...they have it together and really know how to teach and inspire and have fun all at once - I really love those guys and haven't even shaken their hand but hope to one day that's for sure. I'll bet you had a great time I followed the progress...Lets talk sometime - I head out to SFO on Tuesday AM...Chers good buddy ;-)

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NIKON D800
1/2000 second
F/3.5
ISO 400
28 mm (35mm equiv.)