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.
As March grows nearer along with the “official” spring date the landscape in Siouxland will begin changing like everywhere else. And sometimes it’s not the grandiose landscapes that can draw one’s attention, but those “scapes” that are small in nature.
Somedays it is very easy to walk by and never cast a glance at the small things always taken for granted. Thoughts of “I don’t want to get my feet wet” course through my head as well. Let along lying down in the grass to make a photograph. But then these scenes would never be recorded or seen by others if one wanted to share. Let along someone else really caring about blades of grass. But the seasonal moisture decorates the surroundings in some marvelous ways. Some are just more slippery than others.
Somedays while out photographing in the Siouxland region I am not really inspired by what I see. However I do enjoy witnessing and seeing the various lighting conditions that might occur when out. Whether it’s sunshine or heavily overcast, the lighting is the one thing that creates the image one will take. The conditions may not be ideal, but still, I used to tell photo students that I couldn’t think of a better way to spend a day that out photographing.
When I first began photography the film used was Kodak’s Tri-X, 400 ASA black and white film. A versatile choice as one could utilize it in so many ways. Underexposing and pulling processing to flatten it out for better tonality and resolution or pushing it by one, two and sometimes three stops or more to work in low light situations. Then selecting a paper to help complete the “visual” process.
Now while out shooting I consciously shoot either color or black and white, tweaking settings in camera for one or the other. With some added tweaks in post processing. I am not a “raw” shooter. Jpegs only. It makes me think of shooting slide film where one had to be spot on in exposure. Unlike shooting negative film (think color negative) where one sometimes had latitude to do some tweaks while printing. At least one has choices, then as now. And it’s better to pursue what is comfortable to a person in pursuing their endeavors than to listen to the “maddening crowd” and follow. One might never see the cliff for all the bodies in the foreground, metaphorically speaking.
It’s always interesting to revisit places I have previously photographed while out and about in Siouxland. Time of day, time of year, varying types of weather. As the joke goes in much in the country, “Just wait five minutes and the weather will change”. Spirit Mound is one such place I have frequented over time. It was one of the stopping over points during the Lewis and Clark expedition as they traveled the west for then President Thomas Jefferson, later known as the Louisiana Purchase.
One never quite knows what one might find upon another visit. Different seasons definitely gives one a different look and view. Spring and summer plants are growing while fall they begin to dial back and winter it’s either brown or white. Add in a little fog and hoar frost and it is very white.
And while an individual photograph may not knock one’s socks off, collectively they tell a bit of a story and give a more expansive view and idea about a place. Spirit Mound is not an exciting destination to visit, but depending on the circumstances and time of year, it can be a pleasant and quiet place to enjoy and contemplate life as it continues moving forward.
Apparently during the fall I was asleep when birds were migrating to their winter climes and somehow I kept missing them or seeing them when I was out driving about Siouxland. But that may have changed as spring approaches and birds are again making their way back to someplace where they want to spend their summer months. Recently I have been finding quite a few eagles and they will be appearing in some posts down the road.
My skill set are photographing these creatures is still developing as I can capture an image, it’s just that it is not always in focus. Operator error while using my longer telephoto lens, and sometimes coupled with a tele converter reaches 1000mm or better. And my cavalier days of handholding a long lens while shooting sports or some kind of emergency scene when working for newspapers has been on the shelf a few years.
But these creatures are fascinating to watch and see them jostle with one another for a food source or positioning on a branch. I also enjoy hearing them call a warning out when some large creature with a “big glass eye” is creeping about, or just chit chatting amongst themselves. This particular day I was happy because the sun was really shining and the grey clouds and overcast skies were not present. And they have been for most of my outings looking for these large raptors. But it is an enjoyable way to spend part of a day.
There are those days while traversing parts of Siouxland where I have a chance encounter with a local “resident”, that I feel I am intruding on someone’s personal space, even from a distance.
Recently in Bacon Creek Park after a brisk walk in very cold temperatures I spied a downy woodpecker looking for a snack on some frozen cattails near a small lake. It was fine for a minute or so, but then realized I was taking an interest and thus began the stare down. The little guy was busy and I figured how many photos of a downy woodpecker do I really need swaying in a cold breeze on a cold winter’s day?
I always admire when I see other folks’ nature images of animals and how close they are able to get when photographing them. While out driving about in Siouxland I have chance encounters with various species. And some just seem uninterested in making my acquaintance.
I might be lucky enough to roll up on them unsuspectingly in a vehicle, but stopping and even opening a door for better positioning to photograph them doesn’t always work out. And shooting through windshields and windows never does. But I continue to try and look for other ways of getting close to subjects so I might frame them a little tighter for one or two shots. And yeah, it’s the journey. But occasionally a reward along the way would be nice.
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.
Recently the Siouxland area had another snow storm. This one dropping anywhere between 4-12 inches depending on where lucky souls happened to reside throughout the region. I felt really bad for some neighborhood residents as they tried to find food after this snow fall and made attempts during a very cold morning to get a meal.
I watched these neighbors dashing to and fro win the snow, chasing one another away from a possible food source and constantly looking. I photographed them for a while, watching the antics hopes of finding something to eat after the passing storm. Finally I had spent enough time getting fresh air and freezing my toes off. So I put my gear away and returned with nutrients that I filled feeders and spread about the ground, although the little buggers do that well enough themselves as they rush the feeders. Hopefully they got their fill for the time being before looking again in the afternoon as they always do before settling in for the night.
On a fairly recent cold day in Siouxland I visited Bacon Creek Park to see what might be about and a chance for a short, quick walk. The weather not really conducive to spending long periods outdoors if didn’t have to, but also having a bit of cabin fever, sometimes short trips and a quick look about is in order.
As I saw these deer looking for some sustenance on this day in snow covered terrain I knew I didn’t have it so bad, leaving a warm house, a meal to return to and a chance to see some nature in action, as limited and calm as it was. Some days are made for a second cup of coffee and contemplation of all that is right.
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 