July 26, 2020 • 61

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #107: Winter

The color of springtime is in the flowers; the color of winter is in the imagination~Terri Guillemets

Our friend Ann-Christine is leading the challenge this week with her Winter theme.  She is wrapping up a month of Seasons here for our Lens-Artists Photo Challenge.  For this week’s theme, I decided to focus on our time spent in the Midwest when the long winter months were often filled with many overcast days.  From time to time, the clouds parted and the sun burst through the clouds, but we often waited weeks before a truly bright and sunny day.   In this first shot, you can see me on a typical Michigan winter’s day with an overcast sky in the background.  This image was taken by Ann Teliczan, a professional photographer from Grand Rapids, Michigan when we went on a photo shoot one winter’s day.

One kind word can warm three winter months.~Japanese Proverb

Our high-rise apartment in Grand Rapids, Michigan gave us a wonderful view of the Grand River and the surrounding area.  In winter we watched the weather shifting and storms blowing in.  Here’s a shot taken in the early morning on a foggy winter’s day.  If you look closely, you can see the ice floes on the river.

Here’s another view of the river at sunset, which was often spectacular.  In this shot you can see thicker ice floes to the left.

Two Bridges and a Highway

My old grandmother always used to say, summer friends will melt away like summer snows, but winter friends are friends forever.~George R.R. Martin, “A Feast for Crows”

One of our favorite places in Michigan was Holland State Park.  Here you can see kids climbing on the sand dunes covered with snow.  The green and white striped lighthouse is to the left.  The ice typically lasted until the end of April.

Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.~Edith Sitwell, “Taken Care Of”

Chicago’s winters are notoriously frigid, but for those of us who braved those wintery winds, we were rewarded with wonderful light displays and great exhibits at Chicago’s world class museums.

Holiday Lights along Michigan Avenue. Chicago, IL

If winter comes, can spring be far behind?~Percy Bysshe Shelley, “Ode to the West Wind”

Once, while walking on Michigan Avenue in Chicago, I spotted this cluster of sparrows, which made me smile.  It seemed to me that these hardy little birds were huddling together for warmth.

Winter is a challenge for some of us.  Are you like me and struggle with the cold?   Despite that, I’ve lived all of my life in places with frigid winter temperatures.  Over the years, I’ve developed a system of dressing in layers based on the temperature.  (Below 30 degrees F, I wear a silk layer, underneath the wool.  Below 0 degrees F, I wear a double layers of socks and my warmest marino wool sweaters.)  Canadian boots and down jackets are great insulation, too.  But I must confess that I look forward to spring!

Be sure to stop by Ann-Christine’s site for her wonderful winter inspiration!  We hope you join us.  In your post, include a link to Ann-Christine’s theme post and the tag “Lens-Artists” so we can easily find your post in the Word Press Reader.

A special note to those of you who joined us last week for the Autumn challenge.  It was a pleasure to view your delicious fall colors and scenery, highlighting the natural beauty of the season.  Many of you included memories of joyful celebrations, which were uplifting and fun, too.  I’m so glad you joined us!

Next week, we have a special treat.  We’re delighted to announce that Xenia Tran of Tranature will be our next guest host for LAPC #108 on Saturday, August 1 when she’ll be sharing her chosen theme and beautiful images to inspire you.
And finally, I hope you are enjoying the beauty of the season in your part of the world.   Once again, thank you for being a part of our Lens-Artists Photo Challenges.  Your participation and creativity are a gift to us during these trying and often stressful times.  Take care and be well.

Categories: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, Photography

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61 replies »

  1. The sparrows made me smile – they cluster together like that in the hedges here. The foggy image is fantastic though, it looks like a painting. I’m afraid I loathe the winter months, not so much because of the wet or even the cold, but the long dark days. I’m like a bear – I need to hibernate and wake up in the spring! (Or persuade the OH to buy an apartment in a sunnier climate!)

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    • Hi, Jude. The sparrows are adorable, aren’t they? So cheerful despite the cold weather! I am the same as you–in terms of the dark days. It really affects me! I had to really dig for some winter shots in my archives…I guess I hibernate, too!

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  4. Like you Patti I struggle with the cold and we don’t get anything like your low temperatures. -5 C or 23 F about as low as we get but there’s nothing like merino-possum woollies to keep you warm. Love the river photos.

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  6. Terrific post as always Patti. Loved the little sparrows – the curly lines of the bush covered with the little birds is perfection! And your Michigan images are terrific although I believe I’d bring in a library full of books and wait for spring before venturing out into the winter winds there!!

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  7. Hi, Tina. You’d definitely “read” your way through winter!! There is a 1 mile indoor skywalk right off our building, so we were able to walk indoors in the winter. I loved that! The winds are crazy. Stay “warm” where you are!!😀

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    • Hi, MM. Thank you! I want to take more night images…before winter comes! And the sparrows…it’s true. It’s amazing that they survive. I hope all’s well with you.

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  12. I must say this is a post to simply love all the way. My favorite! Excellent photos as always, and from your high rise – breathtaking. My heart belongs to the sparrows though – a completely lovely capture, Patti.

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    • Hi, A-C. Aren’t the sparrows adorable? I love how their feathers are so puffed up in the cold. And thanks so much for your kind words about the other shots, too. Our view in Grand Rapids was wonderful. We were so high up, I felt like I was in an airplane, coming in for a landing!! Many thanks again.

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  13. I love the sparrows. The are all puffed up to insulate against the cold! I have not been in an Ontario winter for 12 years but this year due to Covid we will be home all winter.I am dreading it. I am going to invest in thermal underwear and I have taken note of your silk layer .

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  14. I have heard a lot about the wonderful winters in Wisconsin and Michigan from my wife, and I see the reason again from your photos.

    The sparrows reminded me of fluffed up snow pigeons that I saw on a cold and windy winter’s day on the Tibetan plateau: all puffed up against the cold. Made me smile. Beautiful photo

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  15. Great photos! That’s the Water Tower on Michigan Ave, isn’t it? Love the person in the snowfield. Looks like the shot in the movie Fargo, where Steve Buscemi buries the money by a similar fence post, snow and fence posts as far as the eye can see.

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  16. Hi Patti. While you do not have crisp sunny winter days, it certainly produces crisp clear night time photos. 2 bridges skit is my favourite. And even if the Sparrows aren’t huddling together for warmth, Winter is coloured by imagination (and yes I like tat quote)

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    • Hi, Abrie. Glad you liked the “bridges” shots. It was a spectacular view from the 20th floor. The sunsets were often wonderful. And thanks, too, for stopping by and commenting. Your comments always make me smile.

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  17. Love the images from your high-rise apartment, Patti. Those little sparrows are so cute!
    Holiday lights are just beautiful. A great series for the winter theme. 🙂

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    • Thank you so much, Amy. I’m delighted that you like this series. I realized that I have very few winter shots. I’ve got to fix that this winter!! I hope all’s well with you.

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  21. I enjoyed your morning and evening shots high above Grand Rapids; and I felt the virtual shudder of cold just by looking at the ice on the river. I got used to “real” winter with a few years in each of Toronto and Minneapolis; in a way, I miss the spells of cold, but I didn’t miss how *long* winters could be and how *short* spring would entail. I saw how winter would last ages, and skip quickly onto summer: sure made those summers special though. 😅

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    • So true, Henry. Those long winters had to be endured, and the spring was far too short! You’re absolutely right about treasuring the summers. We are doing that again now that we’re back in New England! Thanks as always for your thoughtful comments.

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  22. Pingback: Lens-Artist-PC-107-Winter – WoollyMuses
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  25. So fun to see some winter city images! Really stunning – esp the first two from above. Winter is a challenge for me as well, since I am not a big fan of cold temperatures. But layers do the trick for me too. 🙂

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  26. Beautiful images of Winter Patti, I especially love the night time captures – there’s something magical about lights twinkling in the cold air. Hope you are keeping safe and well and much love from our house to yours 🤗💖 xxx

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  27. Patti, thanks for giving my year a real winter. Haven’t had one for nearly 10 years now, even if I live up here in the North. I heard and seen about the winters in Chicago … they are tough. Love the birdshot. Lovely. Wonderful post, Patti.

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  28. I can relate so well to your winter thoughts and photos. They all sound and look familiar to my winters in Wisconsin. And when my daughter lived in Chicago, Michigan Avenue was a spot we visited several times in different seasons. Those sparrows were there then too! They must like all the snacks people drop while walking and eating. It was fun to see the lights hung on the trees -enchanting.

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