By Bri Nugent, Community Science Program Manager
I spent most of my childhood in a small town along the Oregon Coast. Due to a phenomenon known as the maritime effect, the Pacific Ocean created a climate that was just a bit too warm to snow. I remember being so envious of my cousins on the East Coast who regularly got to stay home from school when the snowstorms rolled through. The only snow day I had in middle school wasn’t even due to snow — we just had an unusual amount of hail.
I didn’t completely miss out on the winter fun though. My family made trips every year to the Crater Lake National Park area. We wrapped up in layers upon layers of clothes, drank hot cocoa by the fire and stayed in a rustic cabin. When it snows in Nebraska, I am quickly brought back to those sacred memories of time well spent with friends and family.
Thank you for accompanying me down memory lane. Now, let’s get to the topic at-hand – winter photography.
Winter Photography
I have dabbled in photography since I was in high school, and that passion was rekindled a few years ago when I discovered macro photography. I am that person on a hike who stops every 5 minutes to look at something. Anyone that comes along with me will be notified of every cool insect, leaf, plant, fungi and slime mold that I see.
As you can imagine, the prospect of taking photos of the small things I already admire was very appealing. However, by the time I made the decision to purchase a new camera and macro lens, there were only a couple weeks left of fall. Soon, my insect models began to retreat for the winter, and a layer of frost started to coat my lawn in the mornings. For a moment, I grieved over the loss of warm, sunny days hunched over insects with a camera in my hands. Then, the snow and ice came.
On a clear day with the sun shining and temperatures well below zero, I geared up for the cold and set out to see what I could photograph in the dead of winter. My hands felt like blocks of ice, and I was exhausted from bending down and standing up in all my gear, but boy, was my cup filled after that hike.
I took hundreds of photos, many of them terrible, but the few photos I kept were some of the best I’d taken since I started my macro photography journey. Now when the golden hues of fall give way to winter, I no longer dread the gray skies and barren trees. I welcome the changing of the seasons, knowing I will get another chance to capture the enchanting details of my favorite places covered in snow, frost and ice.
How to Get Started with Macro Photography
If I have sold you on the prospect of photographing tiny things in the winter time, here are a few subject ideas:
Frozen ponds and lakes are perfect places to look for things to photograph. Ice bubbles sometimes form under the frozen surface and create a whimsical scene to capture. Cracks and imperfections in the ice can create an ethereal composition that appears almost otherworldly.
Lichen and moss thrive during the winter, making them perfect subjects to seek out. Lichen is especially easy to come across — you probably have some growing on the fence in your backyard. Lichen come in a variety of greens, yellows and oranges, adding a wonderful pop of color in the winter. Bonus if there are snowflakes or water droplets involved.
Anything coated in ice is fun to capture as the ice can act like a magnifying glass. There are usually bubbles, crystal structures and cracks that you may not notice until it is under a macro lens.
Water droplets are one of my favorite things to photograph after a rainy day or when the snow/ice begins to melt. I can’t resist the urge to grab my camera when I see plants and trees covered in jewel-like beads of water.
So, don’t let the winter doldrums get you down. Layer up and pack your camera — macro photography will reveal another world of enchantment, right at your feet.