“Nothing is more beautiful than the loveliness of the woods before sunrise”
~George Washington Carver
One of my favourite trees towers over my local pond. It's been dead for as long as I've known it but I'm certain that it is home to a number of critters, and it's always a striking addition to the park's landscape. Just the day before this photo was taken, it had a limb which extended to the left. For whatever reason, it caught my attention and I tried focusing my camera on that limb, to photograph it from several different angles. None of the images turned out all that well, and I didn't keep them. Too bad, because just one day later, that limb was gone forever.~George Washington Carver
“The sunrise never failed us yet” ~Celia Thaxter
The golden sun painted a warm, pink hue over the freshly-fallen snow.
“Climb up on some hill at sunrise. Everybody needs perspective once in a while, and you'll find it there.” ~Robb Sagendorph
Streaks of gray-blue and gold created an appealing backdrop for this snow-coated tree.
“There was never a night or a problem that could defeat sunrise or hope.”
~Bern Williams
Across the pond, the sun was just beginning to bathe the day with its warm glow.~Bern Williams
Time to head back home and shovel out that driveway. Thanks for joining me. I'll post a few more photos from this snowy morning on Thursday.
64 comments:
Beautiful sunrise, I needed a little walk this morning! The cold is back, it's in the high 20's. Chin-up spring is only weeks away.
wow.gorgeous shots...the first and the last are my fav...brilliant color...the first looks like the one tree is rising up out of a sea of white...
Two blogs I chose to read this morning before work. Both you and the Weaver highlighted trees in winter (also the dead one you chose.) As I said to her, I've so awaited the first sign of spring in the budding limbs. Now you show me how to appreciate the lifeless limbs. Ha!
oh yes, so pretty :)
Gorgeous. I love that old tree.
Those pastel colors in a winter snow hold the promise of spring flowers.
Love that first tree shot!!!
I adored these. Funny how we all love old dead trees and limbs. I especially love them because I photograph birds and animals,and you are correct in saying they get full of critters....and they look fabulous on old dead limbs in photos, for sure. It is so funny...we went to Florida last year and on one of the road stops we saw an old dead tree in a field and I had to take it's photo. Then, we returned to Florida this year and lo and behold, we ended up (accidentally, not planned) at the SAME road stop and I immediately recognized the old tree that I photographed before. (Of COURSE, I re-shot it too). LOL
beautiful shots but I rather like the January pic.
I love that morning sun, you got some spectacular shots.
Always a pleasure to visit!
LOVELY sunrise!!
I'm not an early riser, as a rule; so I have to get my sunrise fix from people like you. And you're doing a mighty fine job if I may say so. :)
I love sunrises no matter when or where. Yours, add a beautiful palette to the whites of the winter. Thank you, Hilary :-)
You actually make snow seem desirable!
That's a great looking dead tree. I love the way it juts out against the sky.
The Blue Ridge Parkway has one that is similar and it makes for great photography results too.
Lovely post!
DI
Very cool!
Lovely sugar coated landscapes ... all our snow has finally melted .. and now its time for highs/lows in the daily temps along with rain ... March is such a skitzo month
I have to admire you for getting up that early on a cold winter's morning to capture a sunrise. Thanks for taking us along as we sit in our jammies sipping our coffee! :-)
Lovely. And can I just say that I really appreciate how you make your photos large enough for people to notice all the details without really trying. It doesn't take a photography expert to see the beauty in these photos.
Gorgeous winter!
How breath-taking1 Love that tree!
Out to catch the sunrise. That's what a good photographer does. I am not a good photographer.
Just lovely!
It was darn kind of those clouds to filter that light so nicely, so that you could capture it and share it.
I hope that lost branch is lying on the ground below somewhere. If so, it can continue mouldering and providing sustenance for other life.
Good stuff, as always, Hil. (By the way, that silly cardinal just tapped the window again.)
Sunrise is my favorite time of day. Thanks for posting these.
beautiful as always
Wow, what a difference the warm glow makes! Just gorgeous!
Those are lovely, Hilary. Remember last year when it seemed as if the Winter was four seasons long all by itself and Spring would never come? At least where I am. An ensuing year changed that story and we've had a very mild winter, so I've been enjoying sharing the Canadian snow :-) Thank you.
Your tree looks like it should be an interactive signpost. "If you want to get the Bells Market...you go this way! But if you're looking for the pond, it's over there. The ducks are behind me...back there."
Such winter colors! Still, you can sense a strengthening warmth in that rising sun.
The snow ridden trees, what a lovely pastime, but, it is a long time, now we should carry on, now! Your pictures are beautiful Hilary.
Thank you taking us along - what a gorgeous sunrise, especially reflected on the snow. Sad about the tree limb! I have a favorite dead tree myself.
Dead trees always intrigue me and spark a story in my mind.
I have a favorite dead tree too. I've been taking pictures of it since it had leaves. It just seems to grow more . . . stately or something, the less of it there is.
And that is quite some park you have to walk in!
Now this could also be afternoon and I'd never know the difference!
Great shots. It's really hard to work with reduced light.
I spent five years in the arctic and my favorite photos are those taken when the sun did not rise. There were many beautiful skies and colors.
The last pic is just so beautiful and the first one took my breath away! We had a lovely sunrise today, but I was driving to work and didn't think I should try to click a pic then! I'm so happy that it's light again in the morning!
I really liked that first picture ... the lighting and the snow combined was so breathtaking. Such a beautiful sunrise.
Simply lovely.
And thanks for the quotes, heh heh...
Aloha from Waikiki
Comfort Spiral
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I certainly hope you get your morning coffee before shoveling out that driveway!
Nice to see early morning winter photos. You must have been cold! But it was nice to see that pink sunrise!
I love what the long light does to late winter. These are absolutely wonderful. I love those stark trees emerging from the landscape. Though they are dead, they are a part of a beautiful living system.
• Steve, I'm glad you could join me on my walk. There are days when spring feels like it's just around the corner and then days like in these photos when it feels like it's months away. I'll just be happy when it arrives in earnest. :)
• Thank you, Brian. I stood there for a long while just looking at that scene. I'm glad I was able to capture what I saw. Thanks for the kind words. :)
• MJ, since we have no choices at the moment, we might as well appreciate the trees as they are. They really do have a beauty about them. Thanks for stopping by. :)
• Thanks, Gary. :)
• Leah, that doesn't surprise me one bit. I knew you would. Thanks for the visit. :)
• KC, almost like it's glowing from within, eh? Thanks for stopping by. :)
• Thanks, Susan. :)
• TRO, thank you. Yes, I know what you mean. I have photographed many a bird on that now lost limb. I keep going back to that tree and it always offers a beautiful view or enhances one. That's very cool about inadvertently locating that tree again. You were meant to get to know it. :)
• Thanks, Ellen. I will miss that limb. Many a bird has perched and looked quite beautiful on it. :)
• Steve, thanks very much. I'm usually more of a sunset kind of person but I was very happy to enjoy that morning's offerings. :)
• Kerri, thank you. :)
• Linda, I'm not usually anxious to be out too early either but I couldn't resist the colours I was seeing flooding the sky. I just had to go find it. Thanks so much for the kind words, my friend. :)
• Anyes, thank you so much for your kind words. I'm glad I could share my sunrise with you. :)
• Thank you, Kristina. When it's fresh and fluffy like that and the sun is giving off so many colours, even I like the snow. Thanks for stopping by. :)
• Di, it's certainly a favourite of mine and I'll miss that lost branch for sure. It sure does lend a bit of drama to photos. Thanks for the kind words. :)
• Thank you, Sarah. :)
• Daryl, that's a great way to describe March. So true. The temperatures have been rising and falling all over the place. Thanks for the kind words, my friend. :)
• Jillsy, I have to admit that it wasn't that cold and it was irresistible with all that fresh snow and morning sunlight. Thanks for joining me.. jammies are always optional. :)
• Thanks, Elizabeth. When I first knew about Blogger offering templates which could be maximized in one column, I opted for that so that I could enlarge the photos from my previous 40 to 640 px wide. Thanks for the very kind words. :)
• Regina, I'm glad you enjoyed the photos. :)
• Lady Fi, so nice to see an avatar. Thanks for the kind words. :)
• AC, I beg to differ. You're always out catching your gorgeous grandkidlets proving yourself a great photographer. Thanks for stopping by. :)
• Thank you, Reb. :)
• Thanks, Frank. I hope you're right about the branch. I'm sure it's there. You know how awkward access to that tree is. And I can't imagine it being anywhere else. Perhaps you should stop wearing red for a while. I think that cardinal might want to mate with you. I have to wonder what Lucy and Benny think of its antics. :)
• MessyMimi, I'm glad you enjoyed them. Thanks for stopping by. :)
• Thanks, Becca. :)
• EthelMae, thanks very much. It was a lovely morning. :)
• Alane, thank you kindly. So you're here to gloat about your mild winter, are you? ;) That's fine - you're more than entitled. You're so right about the tree. It's kind of like the signpost from M*A*S*H. Too funny. Thanks always for stopping by, my friend. :)
• Pauline, so true. It can't be too much longer now, can it? Thanks for the visit. :)
• Bob, thank you so much. I'm glad you enjoyed them. And like you, I'm ready for spring. :)
• Barbara, thanks very much for joining me. I'm glad you enjoyed the walk. It seems everyone has a favourite tree somewhere, dead or alive. Thanks for stopping by. :)
• Travis, dead trees have a definite beauty to them. Perhaps we'll be reading one of your tree-inspired stories? :)
• June, it seems that dead trees are quite popular among photographers. Not to mention birds and other creatures. Thanks for visiting. :)
• Red, I suppose it could have been a sunset - it really is hard to tell the difference with others photos. I'd love to see some of your arctic photos sometime - I'll bet they're lovely. Thanks for stopping by and for the kind words. :)
• Yaya, thank you kindly. That was a wise decision on your part not to click and drive. ;)
• Kelly, thank very kindly. Much appreciated. :)
• Thank you, Cloudia. I'm glad you enjoyed it. :)
• Wendy, I shoveled before my coffee.. but I felt rather energized at the time so that was fine. It wasn't too cold out that morning but the temperatures have dropped some since. Thanks for stopping by. :)
• Thank you, Sandy. That's so true about long light - no matter the time of year but winter sure can do with the facelift. Thanks for your very kind words. They're always so appreciated. :)
Beautiful captures. A day that starts so well has a good ending too. :)
Sorry you missed getting the limb on that tree. I specially liked the second picture which looked a bit like a painting I have seen somewhere. Nice snow and sunrise photos Hilary - Dave
There is something magical about March snow, because the light is different. As the sun is shining from a different angle, it creates a a completely different enchantment then in December.;)
Beautiful images as always dear Hilary, have a great weekend,
xoxo
A lovely walk, Hilary. A bit chilly, but lovely!
Ahhhh...lovely.
I always look forward to walking with you!
I love that old tree.
SO beautiful. Thanks for sharing. I loved the snow we got this year but I'm glad it's over. (At least I HOPE it's over...it can snow as late as April here, though it's rare!)
I love that dead tree ♥ It's a bummer to not have the shots from the day before, but I'm with you, if it's not a good shot I hit the delete button so fast!
I'm building a new blog ~ mine is broken :( I'm over at christinemyoung.wordpress.com I'll have a post up as soon as I can figure out how!
Late winter snows have such an ethereal quality.....beautiful.
These pictures are so beautiful it almost makes me wish I was a morning person. Not many sunrises under my belt so thank you for sharing this gorgeousness!
Cheers, jj
Really nice shots, but I hope the snow rots.
It's time the cold went away, so the cat can run in the sun and play.
I rhymed in a rhyme, is that a crime?
Love looking at your shots, you can tell you don't use robots.
That be fun to try, since they can't die.
And fly real high, into the sky.
Sunrises and sunsets can be indescribably beautiful and it must have been a wonderful way to start your day, and share it here so beautifully. A quote by John Muir ~ The grand show is eternal. It is always sunrise somewhere; the dew is never dried all at once; a shower is forever falling; vapor is ever rising. Eternal sunrise, eternal dawn and gloaming, on sea and continents and islands, each in its turn, as the round earth rolls ~
This quote reminded me of the fact that we are all scattered about blogland enjoying sunrises or sunsets but at different times ~ for example my sunrise pops up three hours after yours!
Fresh snow at sunrise, what a way to start the day! Thanks for taking us along on your walk.
Simply gorgeous. Glad you were able to get out and capture the new fallen snow. I would've pulled my end of the load on this side of the border except I had to go to work.
• Indrani, I could easily use your wise words as one of my quotes. Thanks for the kind comment. :)
• Thanks, Dave. I have plenty of photos of that limb from previous days, months and years. I just thought it would have been nice to have recorded its last day but who could know? Thanks so much for your always-kind words. :)
• Zuzana, that's true about March's snowfalls but what's really magical about them is that you know they can't last too much longer. ;) Thanks very much, my friend. I'm always happy to see you stop by. :)
• Thank you, Pat. You'll need another layer, next time.. or a warm drink. Thanks for joining me. :)
• Dawn, thank you. I'm always happy to have you along. :)
• Stephanie, thank you kindly. I agree with you. It's been a lovely winter but .. enough! Thanks for stopping by. :)
• Christine, sorry to hear that you're having blogging woes. I'll stop by when you're up and running. Please let me know when that is. Thanks so much for the visit. :)
• Thanks, MPM. You're right - they do. Thanks for joining me. :)
• Joanna, you can be sure that I don't have too many sunrise encounters to speak of either but each time I do experience one, I'm always really happy for it. Thanks so much for the kind comment. :)
• Thanks very much, rhymin' Pat. I'm glad you stopped by. :)
• Glo, thank you so much. That's a lovely quote and you're so right about each of us out in our own part of the blogiverse enjoying sunrises, sunsets, rains and snows. Hopefully fewer of that last one now. ;) Thanks for your visits. They're always a pleasure. :)
• Sage, it's a sight I don't see too often and I was happy to share. Thanks for joining me. :)
• VM, thank you kindly. Darned unreasonable of work to get in the way of photography, isn't it? ;) Thanks for stopping by. :)
What superb light on these Hilary. Love the pictures, and enjoyed the walk. I imagine the old tree has many tales to tell.
The early bird catches the best pictures. Thank you Hilary, your efforts for our delectation.
Gorgeous! Winter light magic. :o)
Daniel
Explore. Dream. Discover.
http://daniels-view.blogspot.com/
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You still seem to be in the heart of Winter.
The pictures are lovely and its not hard to understand why that tree is your favourite.
Maggie X
Nuts in May
Such a beautiful journey...so sad to see the limb gone, but I suppose that is the way of things. Really lovely photos!
What a magnificent sunrise walk you have shared with us. Thank you!
The angles of light amaze me!
I love the one with the pink tones. It has a lovely composition.
• Thanks, Keith. I believe you're probably right. They have seen a lot of life. Thanks for the kind words. :)
• Moannie, thank you kindly. I'm glad you enjoyed them. :)
• Thank you, Daniel. It was worth rising for. :)
• Maggie May, we're certainly approaching spring but winter is being stubborn and tenacious. Thanks so much for the kind words. :)
• Welcome, Mrs. Mediocrity, and thanks so much for the kind words. They're so appreciated. :)
• Spanisheyes, thanks very much. I'm so glad you joined me. :)
• Michael, I sure lucked out to have such a lovely morning. Thanks for stopping by. :)
• Steviewren, thanks kindly. I'm glad you liked it. :)
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