Ecstatic Wonder
The human spirit is a very strange and complex thing. Sometimes you can be greatly moved by the simplest of things, (a smile from a stranger, a Childs drawing, a simple act of kindness from an unexpected source), but consequently you can be in a stereotypically wondrous place and feel, tired, stressed, unhappy, pressured into feeling good. The same is true with regards photographic locations. You can be presented with a wondrous vista and find difficulty with photographic inspiration. It really does all come down to your unique personality, your own feelings.
This particular morning there was no question of any melancholy feelings, my emotions were on overdrive with frantic excitement, ecstatic, joyous and childlike wonder. I’m sure the rarity of snow in the UK contributed to my elevated feelings on this, the first snow of the year, but my overwhelming feelings towards it were drawing on childhood memories of overwhelming excitement. My own past experiences were playing a big part in how I was feeling at this moment in time, (even thought I was there for a very different photographic purpose, I didn’t have a sledge and I didn’t make a snow man on this morning), but it is the emotions that I felt there and then, that needed focusing on in the construction of this image. As photographers we not only need to enjoy the experience, but try to tap into these emotions for the benefit of the photographic viewer. Try to consider the way your images stimulate not only your own emotions, but the viewers own past experiences too.
Anyway for me this solitary tree made a convenient graphical composition in eager anticipation of the impending sunrise. My fingers and toes were almost solid ice at this point, but I’m sure Wayne (my ‘almost’ adult photographic companion) found my dancing around trying to keep warm rather funny...Hopefully when I’m old and unable to sprint across a frozen field, whilst trying to set a camera and tripod up with throbbing fingers, frantically trying not to miss this momentary spectacle before it quickly passed, I will look back with rose coloured spectacles, I will enjoy the memories of this morning... I wonder?
Oh yes, I nearly forgot, happy snowball fights and Christmas joy...just keep safe over the holidays, I’ve just spent 24 hours in A&E with my beautiful daughter...(sadly with a broken arm) she is ok now, plenty of pampering coming her way!!!
Comments and faves
Erick Loitiere, MartiGmD, brown-dog, Garrett Costanzo Photo, and 793 other people added this photo to their favorites.
Erick Loitiere (41 months ago | reply)
beautiful blue tones. the foreground is amazing. gorgeous capture. happy holidays.
MartiGmD (41 months ago | reply)
Wow!!!! Happy Holidays from Montreal!
Mr. Mark (41 months ago | reply)
neat
Garrett Costanzo Photo (41 months ago | reply)
Great subject, nice foreground and beautiful sky. Nice work.
K's EYES (41 months ago | reply)
Beautiful tones & textures, love the composition! Happy Holidays my friend : )
whatdoesthisbuttondo (41 months ago | reply)
Lovely colours, textures and that horizon could have been drawn with a ruler its so straight!
I'm glad I live in God's own county!
(Forgot to add 'Get Well Soon' for your daughter)
Bs0u10e0 (41 months ago | reply)
Amazing, so peaceful.
Giuseppe Parisi (41 months ago | reply)
I just love this image, it's perfect
Have a Merry Christmas!
TheNorthLight.co.uk (davidlangan) (41 months ago | reply)
a very bold and stark composition which mirrors the weather conditions perfectly. the blue snow, whether deliberate or not, definately adds to the overall mood of the photograph. the pink hues in the whispy clouds are the perfect foil to the cold tones of the snow.
Seasons Greetings
Dave
DazaT (41 months ago | reply)
We ain't got any snow yet, whether thats a good or bad thing, very very nice image, composition is spot on. Have a nice Christmas..
Lisa-Mari (41 months ago | reply)
Nothing more to say than; great shot!
sdosick (41 months ago | reply)
WOW. one of the few photos that ive ever seen that i can say looks perfect
maxxsmart (41 months ago | reply)
I find it interesting that you made such a cold, minimal image on a day when you felt so excited. The image? Well, I find it to be one of the best I've seen in my two years of photography. Truly.... This image has emotion. A feeling that is much greater than the subject. I find it interesting because I too have made some of my more minimal, melancholy images while being in the complete opposite mood. I guess it just works that way at times. Very very nice image here.
sdrphotographic.com [deleted] (41 months ago | reply)
Not bad, very profound verse. Stephen.
IainSarjeant (41 months ago | reply)
Wonderful simplicity Jason, and gorgeous colours! Nice work!
wicklowkin (41 months ago | reply)
This photo says sooooooo much. It's wonderful!!!
Have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
paul.scott103 (41 months ago | reply)
stunningly simple, another superb Jason
Forget Me Knott Photography (41 months ago | reply)
Great shot Jason.
s0ulsurfing (41 months ago | reply)
wonderful words today J, i totally relate to that sense of childlike wonder, i count myself lucky to feel that often, and i think i can sense it in your beautiful work here too. Love peace and bananas to you and yours at Christmas (especially your daughter)
Duncan_Smith (41 months ago | reply)
Wonderfully simple lone tree.
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Pixelda (41 months ago | reply)
Excellent image, hope everything is settled down for xmas day
Dani℮l (41 months ago | reply)
Wow, this looks really cold, great viewpoint!
Seung Kye Lee - Fine Art Landscape Photography (41 months ago | reply)
Serene, yet subtle elements, like the fg, makes this dramatic nonetheless.
Cold, so cold...just the way I like winter images.
Fantastic photo, Jason.
Take care.
Best Wishes
Seung Kye
Mike Stacey (41 months ago | reply)
Really nicely done Jason. I'm going to suggest a square crop with the horizon in the centre to give that solitary tree more prominence and highlight its isolation but the image is great without it - more of a personal preference.
Claudio / www.claudiocoppari.com (41 months ago | reply)
Great subject, light and composition.
joekennedy52 (41 months ago | reply)
Great shot Jason, love the minimalistic look and hue, the sky is fantastic. It just goes to show how important it is to have pre-arranged shot in mind.
Have a great Christmas to you and your family Jason and of course plenty of TLC to your daughter.
Joe
tom hills (41 months ago | reply)
you speak so much sense with regard to the mental state of photography Jason, i never disagree with what you say!!
season's best to you and your family and my heart goes out to your little girl, in some ways it's a good time to be in plaster - no swings etc or outdoors type stuff to be missing out on but show me anyone of any age (yet alone a kid) who is glad to be missing out on the snow?!!
hope it was a simple break, that she's on the mend now and that she gets well soon - all the best!
bingleyman2 (41 months ago | reply)
Sorry to hear about your daughter..did the same thing eself as a kid on an ice slide in the scool platground! Thanks for all the wonderful shots and explanations of why we stand in frozen fields in the dark etc. I look forward to every shot and draw inspiration from your work. Have a happy Christmas, and by the way, the Storiths trees have a viewpoint without wires, but you can only look up at them and it involves a small diversion into a field!
scott masterton (41 months ago | reply)
simply gorgeous :o)
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le-spikey (41 months ago | reply)
Beautiful shot, love the simplicity and loneliness to this.
Lime House Food (41 months ago | reply)
wow. this is brilliant :)
fourdollared [deleted] (41 months ago | reply)
Beautiful!
Dustin Prickett (.sunglow.) (41 months ago | reply)
so amazingly composed!
antsplan (41 months ago | reply)
quite superb in its simplicity yet it has much depth also.
superbly crafted, congratulations
Pete Hyde (41 months ago | reply)
Simply beautiful Jason, and that is not so simple to do. Thanks for the commentary too, always interesting and thought provoking. The first thing that entered my mind on seeing the thumb-nail was sledging with my kids (some time ago now! - thanks for the reminder). Hope your little girl is ok, ... they may be sweet but they are also made of pretty tough stuff.
jasontheaker (41 months ago | reply)
Sorry for the impersonal nature of this reply, but I’m rather tired with the events in the last 24 hours... thank you all so much for the warm words, Jason
Adam Rondepierre (41 months ago | reply)
oh my gosh this is awesome! everything in the photo is awesome! great work Jason!
Nic Temby (41 months ago | reply)
Amazing shot! =)
kjerrellimages (Kevin W. Jerrell) (41 months ago | reply)
I really like how you composed this image. Great work and Merry Christmas!
maccanti (41 months ago | reply)
masterful picture, really a winner shot, congrats
Ally81 (41 months ago | reply)
wonderful colours and texture of the snow. There's something magical about the snow I agree
Have a happy christmas
per_andersen (41 months ago | reply)
amazing shot.
happy christmas :-)
davcare (41 months ago | reply)
classy stuff, really love the minimal feel. happy holidays!!
andywon (41 months ago | reply)
Yes, it's really amazing how our own feelings can influence our perception of the outside world -- and how it relates to our photography. In my opinion the best photos are usually taken when everything is "tuned" together (it's very difficult to take a stunning photo of a great location when you are feeling otherwise). This one here suceeded very well for me. Great work! (and Merry Christmas, BTW!)
Wilfried.B (41 months ago | reply)
Awesome capture!
dev: in medias res. (41 months ago | reply)
gorgeous. absolutely gorgeous.
*PauloF (41 months ago | reply)
Fabulous...luv the simple comp and of course, the texture and tones...gorgeous, excellent work
Have a great festive season, Merry Christmas Jason
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Paul Marcellini (41 months ago | reply)
beautiful colors and wonderful foreground texture. I like the simple comp too.
Jean-Paul Boudreau Photographie (41 months ago | reply)
From the cottonny smoothness of the snow at your feet to that lonely witness in the distance, you offer a real treat to the eye!
merry Christmas to you!
eddie_fletch (41 months ago | reply)
Fantastic Image....
Linked to your profile after a search on "Strid" tags....
You have some awesome images on your photostream!