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Tuesday 25 December 2012

Winter Sunrises (and a giveway!)

Every year for the past fifteen years I have set out after the winter solstice to watch the sun rise.  It's the point in the year when the days grow longer... and in December, days get to their shortest.  Sunrise is around 9:30 in the morning so I don't actually have to get up early and hussle.  I am so amazed at how different the sunrises have been!  Let me show you...


That was one year ago.  It was STUNNING.  Above is a zoomed in close up.  Below is the same scene in a long horizontal crop.  That red went on forever.  : )

Christmas Morning, 2011  (click to view larger)

Last winter was completely different.  It was so very dry.  It didn't snow until after the holidays.  Here's me out on a photo shoot in late November!


Here is what the winter sunrise looked like last year.  It was frosty - VERY cold, and very golden.  I don't ever recall a winter so dry.  I've held on to this for some time, contemplating what it would look like in stitches.  Maybe there's not enough color range?  I could play up the lines and textures...

Winter Solstice 2011

This year, we have more snow than ever before.  You've seen this one already from an earlier post.  It's all white and blue and silver, so different from the other palettes!!

Last week - Winter Solstice, 2012

I really enjoyed that morning.  #1: the world did not end.  #2: it was the first day ALL MONTH that my three kids were healthy and in school on the same day.  It was my fist day alone in weeks.  It was like a one hour vacation and I feel so rejuvenated.  I had to be careful though since the snow is SO deep, I was sinking past my knees in some spots.  I should invest in snowshoes!  Oooh yeah...

frosty cattails and tree tunnels

Winter 2010 was spectacular as well.  It was enough snow to make it look like winter, and had all the magical golds and blues, even some pinks in the snow.  The sky was clear.  I snapped a photograph similar to this one that won me $500 in a Canadian calendar contest!

Winter Solstice 2010

Hey!  The calendar is out now in Saskatchewan.  My photo is appropriately "December".  Isn't that cool?  The theme was cultural wonders, and the calendars are free at any SGI office.  I ran in and picked up a couple.  Want one?  Leave a comment and I'll send one out to one randomly selected person.  There are photos from all over the world in this 2013 calendar.  You can view the submissions here.

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and peace to all.


18 comments:

Michele T said...

I would love this calendar!!! Hope you have a safe and wonderful Christmas!! Best wishes to you for 2013 too!

B J Elder said...

I would love to go out on a photo shoot with you. We have such similar 'tastes' in nature photography. Love seeing what you capture.
Count me in for the drawing for the calendar as you are a bit far away from me to be able to stop in and get one myself.:D

Laura lok said...

Sounds like a gorgeous calendar. Love your solstice photos.

DVArtist said...

You live in a very beautiful place.
Happy Christmas to you
Nicole/Beadwright

Lynette said...

Wow! What a gorgeous sunrise you caught on last year's!! I wish my camera could see sunrises so nicely. We get some really spectacular ones here in Colorado, too. Never saw anything like these in Florida, so I'm soaking them up like a kid in a wonderland toy store. ;D

Shirley said...

Those colours are really stunning. I wish I could take photos like yours. I'm still waiting for the sun to shine when I'm able to be outside!

Mertie said...

I'm sure you will do justice to the winter solstice 2011 photo when you decide to stitch it and create another wonderful piece of art. Congratulations!

Carli The Quilter said...

My hubby is a Winnipeg boy and loved the photos on your posting today. I'd love to give that calendar to him. Thanks for the great shots that inspire us all. Merry Christmas Monika!
Carli

Kit Lang said...

that top photo has amazing colour! Love them all, thanks for sharing, :)

Ellie said...

Oh you live in such a beautiful part of the world. You have some awesome shots here all of them are so different and all gorgeous.
I'd love to win with calendar.
I hope you have all had a wonderful day

Marjorie's Busy Corner said...

Would love this calendar....Merry Christmas Monika

Pauline G said...

What lovely photos -would be great to win !

Margaret said...

Beautiful photos, Monika! and blessings to you for a very Merry Christmas. :-)

Gill said...

Fabulous photos! What a great idea to compare the same day in different years!

sherry said...

i love those long shadows in Last week - Winter Solstice, 2012...we really need to speak to the people in charge of hydrolines some how they manage to put them in every really good photo op place in north america...yes get snow shoes...imagine where they would take you....

Dolores said...

Wow, that's wonderful news. To have a photograph that you took being viewed by so many people. Congratulations.
I hope your Christmas was a healthy happy one.

Hilda said...

Wow, we have been blessed with amazing sunrises this winter, each one more beautiful than the previous. I would love the calendar if you are willing to send it to the U.S. I can't imagine sunrise at 9:30, when I think ours is late now after 6!

Verna G said...

LOve your pictures and would LOVE a calendar

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