Winter Wonderland

I spent the 2011 XMAS holiday season in Huntsville Canada north of Toronto with relatives.  The weather started out very drab for the winter season - no snow and just around freezing and very damp.  Fortunately after a couple of days the weather changed and the snow started flying and the weather dropped like a rock to 0F.  I have always loved the silence that accompanies snow especially in the woods.  I have visited all of the places shown in these photos many many times in the summer and have lots of shots from last summer but winter definitely transforms the environment and makes it almost dream like.

Little Red Riding Hood

The previous shot and the one below are both from Ragged Falls near Algonquin Park in Ontario.  The difference from the summer time is startling with the rush of extra water, the snow, ice and almost complete solitude.  The photo of my youngest daughter walking through the woods in her red jacket sums it up for me.

Below as I walked through the woods towards Ragged falls and further up the river it struck me how surreal everything felt.  Nothing actually felt permanent and I am sure it was the snow and ice giving it a temporary air such that it felt it could vanish at any time.  The trees felt very 3D.

In the next shot the starkness and the muted colors were amazing to see while the roar of the water was impressive - very much a contrast between sight and sound

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