Lens Artist Challenge #286: Weather

A little late posting due to work and travel but I am pleased to participate in this week’s challenge by Anne, “Weather”. Thanks, Anne for the topic! The challenge post is available here: clicky.

When reviewing my possible weather-related photos, I realized I had quite a few foggy photos, some snowy ones, and quite a few grey/gloomy sky pictures. However, it highlights that I generally hide away when the rain comes and maybe I am missing out on some great opportunities by doing so!

My first entry was captured during a snowfall in Wiltshire, England several years ago. There have only been a handful of snowfalls in the last four years or so, and this was probably the most significant, albeit fairly tame by northern UK standards.

I love getting out in the snow, especially early in the morning. Though often accompanied by grey skies, I deeply appreciate the feeling of peace and solitude that comes when you stop crunching the snow with your footsteps and let the quiet surround you. Early mornings after a snow, the usual sounds of traffic and people are absent as folks remain home in the warmth, and schools and facilities are often delayed or closed. The snow dampens the remaining sound and the quiet experienced is deeper than usual.

In the photo below, a snow-covered bench offers a nice vantage point over the sleepy English village. If you are willing to risk a cold bottom that is.

The photo below captures the same general weather, snow, but gives a vastly different feel. The blue tones, frozen landscape, and harsh flash help transmit the below-freezing temperatures. The quiet and solitude were the same, generally, but you feel a bit smaller or less significant in the scene below. Do you agree?

Residing in southern England for the past few years, we have certainly become accustomed to foggy weather. Much like snowfall discussed above, fog usually invokes a solitude and quiet I quite enjoy. Captures can be difficult due to the lack of contrast but this is offset by the dreamy, ethereal, or downright spooky vibes you can get!

My first foggy image to share was captured in late Autumn. I was lucky some color remained as the fog provided a very nice backdrop for it to ‘pop’ a little more than it would have in bright sunshine.

Leaning into the more ethereal feeling, I present the photo below taken on a morning thick with fog at Old Sarum in Wiltshire as the last remnants of Autumn wither away on the ground. Again, the fog helps offset the color of the leaves on the ground, giving them more presence, but the overall atmosphere is a bit spookier with the gnarled old trees bracketing the well-worn walking path.

I will close this week’s challenge with a photo I captured with my mobile phone camera. This was taken before I decided to plunge into photography and get a ‘real’ camera and helped motivate me to take the plunge into photography as a hobby. While I am pretty happy with this photo as it is nice and reminds me of one of my favorite experiences with my wife and children, I often wonder ‘what if’ I had the equipment and ability I have now? What sort of captures would I have been able to get? The best camera is the one you have on you it’s said, so I am glad I was able to capture this one with what I had available. Besides, it’s hard not to enjoy a good rainbow. 🙂

Thanks for taking the time to read my post. I have an ask for you… if you enjoy the content please comment and share as it helps my page grow. Have a great Friday and weekend everyone!

For more about the Lens-Artists challenges, click HERE.