Snow on the branches

Snow on the branches

We have spent the end of 2011 with our friends living in the heart of Valserine valley. While it was raining for more than one week around my home, their house and the landscape all around were under a huge amount of snow.

I just retreived my office and computers this morning and couldn't wait to wish you a wonderful new year with this abstract image done with no other effect than camera shake during the exposure.

Weekly commented photo # 51 - First snow

First snow on the rural landscape around my home

Three weeks later than in 2010, the first snows came here during the last week end.
Not huge snowfalls but enough to paint most of the landscape in white.
This image is from monday, i had no other correct photographic opportunities since these days. The rain came back and i couldn't left my office to go to the mountains because the end of year is filled with administratives obligations and clients relationships. So i spent most of the week on the phone and behind the computers.

The good news are i received the confirmation that i was hired for photographing many wood made buildings in 2012 and the biggest french producer of chestnut cream also bought seven of my stock images about chestnuts and chestnut trees.

Weekly commented photo # 34 - Trees, snow and mist in a rural landscape

Trees, snow and mist in a rural landscape

Here in Haute Savoie we had an unusual winter.
The snow started to fall strongly at the end of november until the first days of december. After that the weather was really cold until january and then winter was gone and spring started.

On december 2, just after the snow falls i woke up early and took my gear for a walk in the misty rural landscape around my home.

I first took a few images in a strong mist that you can see here on my french website.
I was still turning around in this field, trying to find interesting point of views and taking care of leaving the most important places free of footprints when the mist became lighter.
If i remember well i just did this image before walking back home. It's certainly less ethereal and "beautiful" than the other ones of the serie but i really love the simple composition and how it shows the wet and cold atmosphere.

Oak trees in the snow on the Vuache mountain

Oak trees in the snow on the Vuache mountain

Another one from our first snow fall in november.
The tree on the right is the one shown here.

Last thing : On friday, my third Weekly Commented Photo will be about a very recent image i really love.

Annecy lake - Winter dawn at the pier

Winter dawn at the pier

Another done at the pier of Menthon Saint Bernard on the border of Annecy lake.
Made a few hours before the one in the previous post.
I remember i turned around some times to find the right composition with my wide angle and i realized that the best solution would probably be a crop at processing time. The original image is not too bad but i really prefer this version.

2011 project - The weekly commented photo

The Tournette mountain and Annecy lake from Menthon Saint Bernard

Every post here is done with one image and a little (sometimes very short because of my bad english) text.
Sometimes i speak about the photo, sometimes about my life, sometimes about other things i've found on the web.

In 2011 i'll give me a little assignment : Every friday i'll write a post showing an image (old or new) and explaining why and how it was done.
Why will include things like personnal mood or commercial reasons. How will give some technical informations about the making of.

One year is 52 weeks so i can hope to find the time to play that little but serious game.

Saint Jean chapel illuminated at night

Saint Jean chapel illuminated at night

I stopped last night in front of this little chapel. The sky seemed to be black but as usual, i was surprised to see the light a one minute long exposure could reveal.

Of course if one minute was perfect for the sky, it was also really too long for the snow ...
So i did a bunch of exposures from 2 to 60 seconds. Once in the "darkroom" i choose 4 and processed them with Photomatix.

Note : There is a road just near and the people driving there last night seemed surprised to see a crazy man with a tripod and a camera standing out in the cold :)

White landscape in the mist

White landscape in the mist

Another from the same serie than the one presented one week ago.
I think this one is my favorite.

This is my second contribution to SkyWatch Friday.
Click on the image to see it larger :)

Trees in the mist and snow - First contribution to Skywatch Friday

Trees in the mist and snow

Early this morning we had our first time without any falling snow for some days.
I could grab a few images of the rural landscapes around the houses while the light was still soft. Walking in more than 30 cm of fresh and virgin snow was a real pleasure.

This image is my first contribution to Skywatch Friday.
Click on the thumbnail to see it larger :)

A very cold dawn on Annecy lake

A very cold dawn on Annecy lake

I went yesterday morning to a new place around Annecy lake. More precisely it was the pier of Menthon Saint Bernard. It was really soon and really cold. I expected more snow on the mountains but the dawn light was beautiful.

A big thank you to Nikon for making large bodies still comfortable to use with frosted fingers.

Snow on the Vuache mountain

Snow on the Vuache mountain

Another one from my friday walk on the Vuache mountain. It was done just near the oak tree shown in my previous post and a little before the real summit. The autumn snow was really not high and didn't hide totaly the grass and and bush in the fields.

When i left the house and started to climb i was sure to be alone but arrived there i met another hiker, walking back from the summit and worrying about the fact i could be caught by the night in the steep forest path we both had to take to rejoin our cars. So he waited for me :)

Oak tree in the snow

Oak tree in the snow

We had our first snowfall around the house yesterday evening and this night.
This afternoon i climbed the Vuache mountain above our village and before the summit i found this beautiful oak tree.
After 15 years in Provence, making images in the snow will probably ask a little training but i feel i will love that and i still have a little time before the arrival of the real winter.