Over the course of Super Bowl weekend and this past weekend, we have had some some wintry stuff come visit, giving me the opportunity to shoot some photos. Now that it’s nearly 60-deg out, I figure it’s a good time to post them.

Actually, this shot was from early January and it was the only shot I took that day, so it’s been sitting in my computer, all lonely like . . . so I made it a clone.

This next shot is from February 1st . . . 

And this next one is from February 2nd . . . 

A bit more snow, and . . . I’m sorry; you want what? You want the color version of at least one of those last two? Why, sure; your wish is my command. 

OK, I did not really have anyone ask me for the color version. It was just my way to introduce the idea that I will sometimes post one, sometimes the other, and sometimes both.

The SmugMug Gallery has all 138 photographs HERE, all in full resolution and many presented both in color and B&W, but I’ll only share some of those here, depending how the mood strikes me.

Let me also say that while the scenery was incredible, it was also very, very cold.  I was happy to snap what photo I could in my yard, and not venture far from coffee, snacks, and an understanding, if sometimes exasperated, hug.

The Blue Spruce offered uncharacteristic opportunities; it does not usually photograph well.

. . . and this next shot shows a dash of color from a lawn ornament that also avoids being easily captured.

This tree is technically (and actually) on my neighbor’s property, but I considered fair game.

I did spend an inordinate amount of time photographing the Bluebeard Shrub’s flower husks.

They remind me a bit of sea horses, or miniature dragons, or waffles. I also like the B&W treatment of these.

But in particular, I tried to get decent macros. Despite shooting around f/14, I still did not get the DOF I wanted. I should have grabbed the tripod so I could shoot at a higher f/stop, but . . . I didn’t.

I think this next one had aspiration of being the Pope . . . 

I was trying to capture the individual snowflakes, but I only partially succeeded.

I also had another idea . . . what if we could see the world from the perspective of a politician’s scruples, honesty, or honor?

This next one is of how a Senator’s honesty might see the drive I shoveled clean.

Or maybe how a Congressman’s scruples might see my deck.

My calendar post had already presented some photos from this snow event, so I won’t repeat them here, but they are in SmugMug for them adventuresome people who care to go visit the gallery.

This is what my deck and backyard looked like, with Bald Mountain in the background.

I also photographed our Adirondack chairs . . . 

The shot looks OK, but . . . hmm . . . this is a job for B&W Man!

Despite the sub-20s temperature, when the sun shined through a thin layer of clouds, it sufficiently loosened the grip of icy stuff on other stuff.

I watched drops run down the side of the icicle, and eventually drop off the tip . . . “that’s something I could try to capture” I said, and proceeded to freeze, camera in hand, as I tried to catch the sequence.  The following series is the closest I got before saying “waffle it”, and I went back in to warm up my hands.

This is what it looks before the drop . . . 

A subtle thickening of the tip . . . 

. . . a bit more . . .

. . . and we have departure!

I missed the moment of separation, even though I tried to get it three or four time . . . gravity is a harsh mistress; when she calls, that drop books out of there all lickity-split like. 

. . . so, instead, I give you a B&W version of the above.

I was not happy with the earlier versions of the Bluebeard Shrub flower husk macros . . . 

This is one of the last photos I took before heading in . . . more snow was on the way, the wind had whipped up, and the wind chill was going negative.

But the next morning the sun was shining. I missed the real good frost on everything, but managed to get a few things I liked.

This is what one of my neighbor’s yard looked like . . . 

This next shot is of the snow itself, with the sun hitting it at a shallow angle. It’s not worth looking at in full resolution, but I like the pattern. There are a few more shots in the SmugMug gallery HERE.

The following is a series of the snowflakes attached to a thin branch of a shrub. Maybe it’s not flakes, but just plain ice. I tried a few different treatments to see how it would look.

I like this next shot because it looks like diamonds are embedded in the rock face.

Here’s my neighbor’s tree again . . . 

Here’s a few more macros, just to make this post a tad longer.

Those adventurous enough to go back to the earlier photos can compare and see how much snow we got overnight.

You could also compare the snow in the following photo with the one in the February Calendar.

Strangely, for as much as it looked like we had a lot in the back yard, the front yard did not look as it had as much . . . 

. . . unless one looked a little closer.

What I really wanted was macros of the ice crystals. They are surprisingly difficult to get without the use of a tripod. I wasted a lot of shots; some were out of focus, some blurred ever-so-slightly, and so on. The gallery has more of my first attempts, but these are a decent sampling of them.

It wasn’t until the sun hit them that I got what I consider my best photos of this series. I was watching these crystals literally evaporate in front of my eyes, and it was neat.

I was relatively happy with those, so I went back to the shrub to see how they were doing.

The frost did not last long once the sun came out, despite the temperature hovering in the low teens. 

By now most reader’s eyes have iced over, and are flying through the post, ignoring my writing, and barely looking at the photos. 

Many ask why I don’t do like most people, and post one photo a day, maybe two . . . did I mention I have 138 photos of just this particular series? At the rate of one or two photos a day I would still be showcasing photos from 2009.

“Why don’t you pick just the two or three best ones from the shoot, and post those?”

Shush your mouth! . . . I like them each equally, and don’t want to impart psychological trauma on any of them by ignoring their contribution. Besides, as seen from the poll about the contest photos, tastes vary. I don’t know what one reader might like over another, but I do know these are the photos I have. I let them pick and choose whichever they enjoy, and thus ensure no one is left out.

. . . and if this means some readers with little time to spare get bored and leave, well, I did them a favor. If they don’t have time to read stuff, they should not be on the Internet; they should be taking care of whatever pressing matter allows them only a few seconds to surf the Web.

I put that little rant here because I know they will miss it . . . and now back to our regularly scheduled program.

Here’s a couple of more interesting shots, almost semi-macro-like.

Wait! . . . I forgot another shot of the little tree!

Looks like a Snow Cthulhu lumbering through the yard.

Once more, the Blue Spruce gave me a decent show . . . 

The neighbor to our north has a gazebo that shows well in the snow.

Bald Mountain also looks good with snow on it. 

And the playset in our next-door neighbor’s yard looks good in the sun.

Now, it may seem as if everyone has some neat feature or other, while our house is a dud. Not so, say I; I have bird houses.

The bird house sat unused this year. The Tree Swallows opted not to have a brood. The nest is still as they left it, sitting undisturbed to this day.

Oh, I also have fencing.

So, that was Super Bowl weekend. 

We were not supposed to get snow this past weekend, but we had a freezing fog, but once again I was late in going out. Once the sun came out, stuff started disappearing fast.

In these pictures I was trying to catch the accumulated frost falling off the branches as it began to melt under the sun’s onslaught. I succeeded somewhat, but you really have to look for it.

Of course, we need the little tree again.

The aspens with the frost also merit a look.

Hey! . . Bluebeard Shrub flower husks!

There are a few more in the SmugMug Gallery HERE, but these are a few of the Blue Spruce macros I took. And those will end this post; another marathon effort designed to counter the notion we must live in a 140 character world, and fly from media offering to media offering like a waffle on crack.

Take care all, and happy winter, especially to my friends on the East Coast . . . you lucky dogs you!

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ o o o o o o ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Astute persons might have noticed these doodles, and correctly surmised they hold some significance for me, and perhaps for humanity at large.  

If you click on the doodle, and nothing happens, this is the link it’s supposed to go to: https://disperser.wordpress.com/2011/12/26/palm-vx-and-i/.

<><><><><><><><o><><><><><><><><><o><><><><><><><>

Note: if you are not reading this blog post at Disperser.Wordpress.com, know that it has been copied without permission, and likely is being used by someone with nefarious intention, like attracting you to a malware-infested website.  Could be they also torture small mammals.

<><><><><><><><o><><><><><><><><><o><><><><><><><>

Please, if you are considering bestowing me recognition beyond commenting below, refrain from doing so.  I will decline blogger-to-blogger awards.   I appreciate the intent behind it, but I prefer a comment thanking me for turning you away from a life of crime, religion, or making you a better person in some other way.  That would mean something to me.

Should you still nominate me, I will suspect you pulled my name at random, and that you are not, in fact, a reader of my blog.  If you wish to know more, please read below.

About awards: Blogger Awards          About “likes”:   Of “Likes”, Subscriptions, and Stuff

Note: to those who may click on “like”, or rate the post; if you do not hear from me, know that I am sincerely appreciative, and I thank you for noticing what I do.

. . .  my FP ward  . . . chieken shit.