Poetry in Snow
My Story from Biei, Hokkaido, Japan
After a couple of weeks in Japan with a group of photographers shooting images of wildlife primarily, I got my dream fulfilled of working in and around Biei in Western Hokkaido where there is deep snow infields and vineyards sprinkled here and there with winter’s trees. Swaths of snow cover the remains of crops cleaning up the scene into an orderly, sparkling clean carpet of white – a perfect canvas on which to find a sculpture of a tree or grouping of trees. As we rode around in our taxi, this scene appeared out my window. I have been known to yell “STOP!” with my husband and found myself doing so to the taxi driver! What I witnessed was simplicity and order to perfection just as is so much that is Japanese. A clump of trees leading my eye to a perfect row of trees on the diagonal back to the hills peeking through the blowing snowfall. Simply poetic. Simply calming. Simply peaceful.
Whiteout Conditions Came and Went
Below is a bit of a glimpse with candid shots of the weather we were dealing with in and out throughout our day. Of course, having New England blood in me, I was like a kid in a candy shop!
You can't see them, but Bob and Frank were walking down the "road" on the right and disappeared out of sight!
My 6'4" photography buddy, Frank, gives us perspective on the depth of the snow banks.
This candid shot shows how heavy the snow came down at times! We weren't far from that bank of trees yet it all is white.
Envisioning Poetry in Snow on Your Wall
This picture works beautifully with a mid-tone to dark background as seen here. It adds a sense of peace and calm to an already inviting room in which to relax at day's end. Its size here is Class A, 25" x 20" framed with about a 2-3" mat border and black gallery frame.
