Ready for some pictures of our winter?

**Kirsten** · 01-30-2013, 11:55 AM

We had some snow for a few weeks and it's been really cold. Meanwhile, all the snow is gone and it's raining, but I've tried to capture as much of our winter as possible. Here are some pictures that I took over the last couple of weeks:

**Kirsten** · 01-30-2013, 11:56 AM

**Kirsten** · 01-30-2013, 11:57 AM

These were taken before the snow came; made them for a photo project of our local photography group:

For those who are interested; my website has also got its first update of the year: www.kirsten-scheffel.de

**Lady's Human** · 01-30-2013, 12:22 PM

Thank you for the moment of zen. I needed that.

**Kirsten** · 01-30-2013, 12:59 PM

Originally Posted by Lady's Human

Thank you for the moment of zen. I needed that.

You're welcome!

Glad you like them...

**Karen** · 01-30-2013, 01:50 PM

Trees stand in solemn row
Stalwartly on the horizon
Limbs and branches and twigs forming lace edging
A barrier between grey white sky
And snow covered fields

And the old, lone meadow tree
Thick trunk belying years of vigor
Now bare-branched and black
Still endures, roots deep in the earth
Proof to the young trees
That strength comes with age
Holding generations of memories and stories
Flocks and herds and parties now forgotten
By all but the lone meadow tree
Waiting, waiting
For spring

**Laura's Babies** · 01-30-2013, 01:50 PM

All I can say is "WOW!" Those are some of the most awesome pictures you have taken yet!! Those two with the woman are very haunting.... It's like they are there, but not really there.... How did you do that? I just can't get over that....

I have a really hard time deciding which ones I like the best... The ones with the beautiful snow or the ones without snow..That tree really has captured me.. What a beautifully unusual tree and no matter how you photograph it, it is stunning!

My mouth hit the floor at the snow flakes... WOW!

I wasn't dissapointed as usual!

**Kirsten** · 01-30-2013, 01:58 PM

Again, such a beautiful poem, Karen, what a wonderful tribute for this old oak!

Thank you, Laura. Well, the woman under the tree, that's me, I took that for a photo contest (theme "encounters"). I used a tripod and a time exposure of 6 seconds, that will turn all moving persons into "ghosts", and this is what I wanted for that picture. I set the camera to 10 shots in a row which gave me enough time to walk over to the tree and pose... Luckily, no one else was around to see me doing this! lol
The tree, btw, is really special. It's called "justice oak" and is said to be oldest tree of the entire forest! Some sources say it's up to 600 years old; and for that, I called the pictures "encounter with an old soul".

**cassiesmom** · 01-30-2013, 02:07 PM

These are just beautiful, Kirsten! The ones with the lady in the grey coat look like they are from a fairy tale. Just amazing.

Edited to add-- this picture reminds me of my favorite Robert Frost poem, "The Road Not Taken".
"I took the road less traveled by / And that has made all the difference."

**phesina** · 01-30-2013, 02:37 PM

Amazing.. as always. Thank you, Kirsten. These are stunning.

**Taz_Zoee** · 01-30-2013, 02:37 PM

Yay! More photos to use on my desktop at work!

I shared them with my supervisor again and he wants some of them sent to him too for his screen saver and desktop. People always come to my desk and ask about the picture on my desktop.