Some days driving about in winter weather has its challenges besides just trying to stay warm. A winter scene might look nice to the viewer’s eye, but is it compelling enough to “force” a person to stop and get out of a warm vehicle to walk about and select a composition and photograph the scene.
Besides, white is, well, white. Not always the most interesting of subjects to photograph. But one still needs to attempt and create an image and hope that it converts something about the area or scene that attracts a viewer, besides thinking what an idiot this person was to go out in freezing weather just to photograph something white. Guilty. Sadly, it is not the first time and probably will not be the last time this photographer attempts those winter forays into the countryside looking for something that catches the eye and is worthy of others’ time and attention.
During the winter months in Siouxland I sometimes get a bit of cabin fever. When it is extremely cold out, I just hate leaving the house. Trying to photograph in extremely cold weather is just not fun. Period. But sometimes I brave the cold anyway and take a look around.
With recent weather patterns producing hoar frost and fog in the area I did venture out to take a look. I reasoned some of the county backroads I like to drive on would be frozen solid enough that driving on them would be possible. And I also reasoned that no one else would probably be out for a Sunday drive like me. Rather, staying home and watching a football game.
And while I didn’t exactly find any really, stellar scenes to photograph, it was interesting to see what the countryside looks like and makes me wistful to begin thinking about excursions out when the weather is a bit more accommodating and beginning to green up. It’s also good to have dreams of what might be. And then again, that patience issue comes up and one must take each day at a time and see what comes.
The recent weather in Siouxland has been generally wacky. Winter held on for much longer than most folk would like and spring just hasn’t been pushing hard enough to bring people relief. But sometimes for images resulting from Mother Nature’s mood swings create some different results.
One of the toughest things to decide sometimes when I am photographing in Siouxland and elsewhere is how I want to frame up a subject and where I want to place that subject within the frame. Placing a subject within the frame of a photograph can evoke different emotions or feelings about that photo, even if it’s a simple outdoors image. Does a viewer believe they are right there with the photographer viewing the subject, or at a distance, purveying a scene from afar.
Perspective has a lot to do with presenting viewers images and the subjects contained within. And what is it the photographer wants the viewer to see, or experience with the image, if anything. It’s all very subjective. But the photographer needs to show a person seeing an image what it is he/she sees, because it is their vision or perspective or object they want to share. And photography is all about visuals and sharing them with others.
Recently Mother Nature has been giving Siouxland residents a roller coaster ride with temperatures going from extreme cold, to warm and extreme cold again. But visually it’s a break during the winter months, as well as a nice break to get outdoors without wearing 10 layers for warmth. I attended a presentation about wildlife photography recently and spent a few moments on the walking path nearby and enjoying the warmer temps and the fog created as it rose off the Missouri River. Not one anymore for being out in extreme cold, it was nice to spend a few minutes enjoying some fresh air and creating some images that don’t always occur. But Mother Nature has more in store yet this winter, and sometimes one needs to be patient to enjoy it.
This time of year brings a continual change of weather. One day it will be sunny, blue sky, possibly windy and the next, colder temps, rain, maybe even snow, and sometimes fog. And so it was the earlier in the week that fog descended on Siouxland making it treacherous for early morning drivers getting to work, but absolutely gorgeous for those looking for a different set of images to photograph.
I opted to stay safe, and rather than driving about to find images to shoot in the fog, I went to Bacon Creek Park in Sioux City, Iowa, to walk its trail. Almost like stepping back into time, a walk through a primordial space. The only chatter to hear was birds making a ruckus. And the sound carried for through the quiet woods for quite a distance. The fog seeming to amplify the sound. It was almost magical and a nice way to spend a morning.
The other day started out with a little fog as these last days of February seem to vacillate between warmer than normal and normal temperatures for this time of year. People in a hurry were confronted with slippery streets early in the morning from “frozen” mist. But those not in a hurry could enjoy the fog and a quiet-felt day that this weather effected. I like this moodiness and found a few scenes at the campus of Morningside College nearby. But alas, I long for those sunshine days that are bright on the eyes. But the good thing is these warmer than normal days are helping turn the recent 14 inch blizzard into a memory and moisture for lawns.
Recently the Siouxland area got a nice snowfall, 10 inches. And while to some that is 10 inches too much, for others, it was a pleasant diversion to an almost snowless winter. I personally like to snow shoe, and this past snowfall was light, powdery and excellent snow to venture out into. And I did that over the weekend at Stone State Park. I was hoping for more snowfall this week, but it looks like this coming snow storm that is hitting the Plains states, will miss us here in Northwest Iowa, while giving Des Moines and points south a little more snow. And while the weather this winter doesn’t seem a bit off anyway, this past weekend it was also very foggy. The nice temps gives one an early taste of Spring Fever, and that is welcomed too. I just hope it brings a few showers for those later flowers and not leave the area high and dry.
Jerry Mennenga
Sioux City, Iowa
The winter weather is still a little wacky as a fresh round of snow is dumped along with warmer temps and fog.
I live in the Siouxland area that encompasses a wide swatch of land in northwest Iowa, northeastern Nebraska and southeastern South Dakota. The people that inhabit this area are generous folk and your basic honest, Midwestern people you like to have as neighbors. I explore the area and share observations, mostly photographic, sometimes through video, and and short text. All images and video are copyrighted material of the author.
Jerry Mennenga, Sioux City, Iowa
jerrylmennenga@yahoo.com
lostinsiouxland 