Yosemite Tree and Mist in Winter Photography @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

Wandering Camera – Yosemite Birthday Surprise

Yosemite Tree and Mist in Winter Photography @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

Hello Everyone! Welcome to this month’s Wandering Camera.  Winter is full of birthdays at our home.  Mine was in early January.  I like to spend it quietly hiking with my camera, and eating my favourite meal cooked by my husband.  This year he got me a pair of snowshoes, and, serendipitously, there was a huge snow storm just a few days before my birthday.  Naturally, I had to spend it at Yosemite.

 

 

Yosemite Badger Pass Snowshoe Photography @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

 

I wanted to snowshoe on my birthday.  However, a change of weather in turn changed our plans.  We ended up going to the Badger Pass snowshoe trail the day after.  It was a crisp, cold and sunny day in the snow with a lot of smiling faces.  We seem to be always the last ones to get off the trail.

 

 

 

Yosemite Badger Pass Snowshoe Photography @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

 

One of these days I will learn to leave the mountain trails before darkness falls.

 

 

 

Yosemite Hoarfrost Photography @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

The next day, we were at the park before sunrise.   The temperature that morning was -11C.

As we were wandering about,  we noticed that all the trees in a meadow had turned white with Hoarfrost.  It forms at very cold temperatures.  We promptly put our snowshoes on, and went off walking in the knee-deep snow to the grove of trees to see them up close.

 

 

Please click on the image thumbnails to see the pictures –

 

 

The low winter sun was shining behind the tree branches,  reflecting lights from a myriad frosty diamonds.  It was breathtakingly beautiful. 

I wish I had brought some soap water and straw, could have tried making ice bubbles.  Something to look forward to next time!

 

 

 

Yosemite Black Oak Photography @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

The last morning there I wanted to spend in a little more time in the snow before heading out.  “A little more” ended up being close to two hours.  As my husband said, it was hard enough to keep me away from snow before.  Now with the snowshoes, I was unstoppable.  One last look and a last photo, then it was time for the drive home.

 


 

 

The Birthday Surprise

 

Yosemite Tree and Mist in Winter Photography @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

 

The weather forecast for my birthday was cloudy skies, but no rain.   Then, all of a sudden in the afternoon, it started to rain and then snow began to fall.    I was out of the car faster than a lightning bolt, beelining for the trees.

There was a not a single grown-up in the vicinity, only children playing.  I felt very happy to be part of that group.

 

 

 

Yosemite Tree and Mist in Winter Photography @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

 

When we left the trees,  the storm clouds started to break on the north side.  If we were there, we would have seen the most amazing post-storm pink and red sky.   However, with the time it would have taken us to get there, we would likely have missed the light completely.  So we decided to drive into the clouds instead.

 

 

 

Yosemite Gateway To the Valley View Winter Mist and Storm Photography @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

 

I could not have been happier.   Blue hour in winter is my most favourite time for photography.  That day, Mother Nature added storm clouds and mist, and this birthday girl was over the moon. 

After setting up the camera, I watched the clouds and the mist flowing and playing in the meadow and the mountains behind until complete darkness surrounded us.   My surprise birthday present from Mother Nature. 

 

 

 

Painting with fountain pen ink @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

 

Once we got back to the hotel, my husband gave me the other set of birthday gifts.  Then he busied himself with cooking while I played with my newly-acquired inks and pens.

 

 

 

Painting with fountain pen ink @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

The Dragon and the little boy

 

This is a painting I started with the fountain pen inks I got for my birthday.  A story for another day.

 

 

 

Yosemite Gateway To the Valley View Winter Mist and Storm Photography @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

 

March marks the end of outdoor time for me due to severe pollen allergies that cause chest constriction.  Until October, fresh air is basically off limits except for a very limited time early in the morning when the air is completely still.

Spending a birthday in cold winter rain and snow and walking in -11C temperatures is probably not most people’s cup of tea, but it was a flask-full of tea for me!   You will have to excuse me for being head over heels in love with the subtle and quiet beauty of winter and all that is considered dark and gloomy weather. 

 

I look forward to seeing your photos and reading about them.

 

Wandering Camera art and photo linky party @ InkTorrents.com by Soma Acharya

 

Wandering Camera starts on the last Thursday of every month.  Photos, art and creative-themed posts, including other linky parties are all welcome.

You can continue to link up multiple posts.  

Please add a link back to this website. 

Have fun!!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

I am linking up with the linky parties on my Events And Links page.  Please pay a visit to some of them.

 

 

Leave a comment

 

Wandering Camera – October Stories

 

Clearning Storm Sunrise Watercolour / Stormy Sky Sunrise Watercolor | Whims And Fancies

 

 

Every October, my attention gets blown around like a leaf in the wind and I continuously find myself in the midst of stories, but not necessarily stories made of words.  This Wandering Camera reflects that.

One late afternoon, with rain clouds outside my window, I was practising painting a sunrise after a clearing storm over the mountains of a distant land.  Unintentionally I tend to I create shapes in the painted clouds.  This time I painted a peacock.

 
 
 

Lego Harry Potter Halloween Feast | Whims And Fancies

 

 

I set up little patches of decorations everywhere that tell little stories.  I shared with you the Lego Winter Village before.  For October, I have the students back at Hogwarts.  They are getting ready for their Halloween feast. 

 
 
 
Wine Country Raibow And Hot Air Balloons | Whims And Fancies
 
 
 
 
One morning I found a beautiful rainbow right outside my backdoor.  I wondered what it would be like to follow one.
 
 
 
 
Solitary Rose And Ticking Clock | Whims And Fancies

 

 

I have a weakling rose plant in my garden that gives one beautiful flower every year.  This one was too heavy for the stem, so I brought it inside.  One of my cats knocked the vase over trying to eat a leaf, so I moved it to the mantelpiece where the clocks are (I collect clocks).  That in turn made me think of a story about a solitary rose and a ticking clock.

 
 
 
Shattered Star Quilt Pattern | Whims And Fancies
 
 

 

 
Earlier this month I showed the quilt block I made from my new pattern, Shattered Star.  I got the idea after seeing ice shards floating away as we admired the Esmark Glacier up close near Svalbard.  That block was about stars and nebulae
 
I made this block using the vibrant colours of Halloween.  The swirls in the fabric and the shards in the design make me think of the mysteries of smoke and mirrors. 
 
 
 
Bookshelf Of A Magician - Ink And Watercolour Painting | Whims And Fancies
 
 
 
My beloved ink-and-paper magician is brilliant, but is having trouble procuring books.  So I am building a bibliotheque for him.  Quoting my friend Dixie – a bibliotheque filled with books on practical magic, spells, and alchemy.  As soon as I bring everything to life with a bit of colour, he can have it all.
 
 
I love the romanticism of magic and fairy tales.  With the help of the autumn wind, October brings them a bit closer to me and sweeps me off my feet every time.
 
 
 

Charlie Cat On Harry Potter Quilt | Whims And Fancies

 

Charlie’s Adventure – A little Halloween story

 

Charlie and the rest of us wish you a Happy All Hallows Eve, whether or not you celebrate Halloween!

 

Camera And Photography Linky Party | Whims And Fancies

 

 
As my monthly goal was to finish the block,  I am linking up with One Monthly Goal hosted by Elm Street Quilts.
 

I am also linking up with the linky parties on my Events And Links page.  Please pay a visit to some of them.

 

 

 

Leave a comment

 

Enter your email to receive new inspirations, product reviews and pro-tips
icon
error: Content is protected !!