Dramatic Winter Skies

Cold Temperatures, storm fronts, and winds create stunning skyscapes during the wintertime.
Some images may be similar, because sometimes just passing seconds can subtly change the scene.
Midday shots are obvious, but can you guess which shots might have been taken at sunrise or when the sun was setting?

Pictures cannot do them justice, but I share a few of my favorites of the past month or so.
The list, I'm sure, will be never-ending, as I always have my eyes to the skies!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Ice is Nice!

I love the decorative ice formations which are created when rapidly-flowing water meets freezing temperatures.  Here are a few of the dozens I've come across recently,  For a few of them, I had to hang precariously over the edge of a bridge railing--an uncomfortable act for me!

Those Flocking Birds!

Just as the sky began to gain a little color from the slate-blue hues of pre-dawn, my attention was diverted from my search for a river otter to a sound that was fast approaching.  Suddenly, a flock of European Starlings put on an amazing display right before my eyes! 

If you've never heard the "WHOOSH!" of a flock of birds, I encourage you to Google it.

With each lift-off from the branches they momentarily perched on or a swoop down to the river or across the field, the sound whipped through the air as fast as they, themselves, maneuvered around me.

I didn't know where to look!!  I was surrounded by them! Large groups within the flock did their own thing, and I snapped away, knowing I might have just moments before they swarmed off. 

I never did see an otter that day, but I walked away in awe nonetheless.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Icy Waters

'Tho parts of it were frozen, the river was flowing rapidly. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Winter Pearls - Frozen Bubbles

With the polar vortex upon us during the first week of the new year, and the start of my "Winter Pearls" photography project of the night before, I was excited for the clear, sunny day to continue my frozen bubble experiments.  I was not prepared for blustery winds and tried all sorts of things to help with that issue.  Even the failed attempts were learning experiences and I was able, nonetheless, to watch ice crystals forming inside the bubbles.  The following day, however, the wind subsided while the temperature remained in the negative numbers far below zero.  Perfect! 

The sun created sparkles all around my subject, adding another layer of beauty to the bubble that did not pop (yet!)  Almost immediately, ice crystals resembling tiny ferns or feathers, began forming inside.

I noticed the bubble beginning to fill with swirls of gas, signaling to me that it will soon pop.

As the bubble began to pop, sometimes fragments would slough off into the air; other times the bubble would sink inside itself.

Once the bubble sank inside itself, it created a sort of "bowl" almost looking as if it were made of glass!  Inside the bowl, the ice crystals were more plainly visible.  And oh-so-beautiful!!