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Friday, December 2, 2016

Winter Photographs - last rose of summer



In London and much or Europe and the northern hemisphere now it's December there's frost or snow on the ground. Time to look in the attic or cupboard and bring out your winter coats and better still your ski jackets and hoods, padded gloves, scarves and waterproof boots. (Maybe even the gripping boots or non-slip add ons to shoes which you can buy on Amazon and ebay and the little catalogue companies which specialise in seasonal goods and clothes or household items and accessories.)

Photos In Snow And Frost
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas. I hate white - slipping on ice, falling over, risking breaking bones, dropping items such as gloves or keys or cameras in the wet. Late buses, traffic jams on motorways after accidents, trains delayed because of the wrong sort of leaves on the line. Then needing the toilet on the motorway and not even wanting to disrobe in a warm cubicle. Dark nights. But winter is a wonderland for photographers. Why?

Surprise Photos
We just took a photo of our last 'summer' flowers caught out by the sudden frost. I take photos on my smart mobile phone.

One of our family phones was breaker on holiday - damaged screen, broken. At the time this seemed like a real inconvenience. But there was a silver lining. The replacement had a better camera. Phones are improving all the time.

If you have a proper camera and tripod, your own back garden or front garden or local park, or the park at the place you are visiting on holiday will provide lots of photo opportunities. You might go for well known landmarks for your souvenirs. But the odd picture is great for competitions and camera club shows.

If your camera isn't up to special effects, call on another member of the family or a colleague to set up a camera on a tripod. The great thing about snow and still life is there's no hurry. Actually, there is. I called another family member and said, "Quick - get out there before the frost melts and take a picture!"



After settling up a proper camera with add on lenses to take a rose, my tame photographer enlarged the picture and discovered that a small insect was on the rose. Yes, I know, from a gardener's point of view, you rush out out with spray, wipe it off, horror of horrors, the insects are attacking our plants, and they don't sleep in winter either, the damned things. But from a photographer's point of view, everything you wouldn't want in real life, like an insect, (or snake or crocodile) makes a lovely picture.

Later you, and your picture's viewer, can enjoy the close up view - from a safe distance.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer

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