The snowy wastes.

 It wasn't until later in the day when I was able to get out with the dogs for a decent walk and it looked promising for a good bit of light towards the end of the day. I headed off up to West Plantation and a track that leads up to Gilmonby Moor. The snow was still fresh and deep with no signs of previous visitors. During the day the sun had been quite warm and this had thawed some of the snow. The unusual thing was that the loose snow had thawed quicker than and that had even been slightly compacted so as I walked I could see the tracks of birds and small aminals and their marks were standing proud of the surrounding snow.

Grouse Tracks.

The low evening sun cast shadows from the tracks....very odd. As we progressed onwards the gate to the morr was so deep in snow drift that instead of opening it we just stepped over it. Now out on to the open moor the going was very tough, at least a foot of fresh snow, in places solid enough to take my weight but the next step down into the depths, hard work. It seemed like ages before we reached the lunch hut which sits alone on the moor. Today it looked not unlike Scotts Hut with the low sun and whiteness.

The Lunch hut.

There was quite a stong wind in the cold air and with the sun disappearing fast it was time to re-trace my steps..yet more hard work but at least this time I was able to use the footsteps in the snow that I had made previously.

The last of the sun.

Soon we were back in the plantation and it was just about dark as we reached home. Well worth the effort to see this sort of scenery and light.

 

 

Local wandering in the snow.

 I'm just so busy in the studio at this time thgat today I only ventured out locally with the dogs. As ever, the camera was to hand and my eye was on the lookout for anything like a decent shot. As you can see, the snow hasn't even thawed slightly, if anything we had another dusting overnight.
 Now I admit, not every trip out will result in a brilliant photograph but if you don't practise the looking for that special shot then I believe you will never improve your work.
 Here's the two shots that I came back with.

Retired for Winter.

 I pass by this old machine regularly on my walks, most times it doesn't warrant a second look but today my attention was drawn to the contrast between the white snow and thew black barn wall. The contrasting patterns of the corrugated iron and the machine added to the shot.

Roots.

 In West Plantation there is a great mixture of trees, from very old Scots Pines to wonderful mature Beech trees like this one. The blown snow gave a form to the roots and the colour of the lichen on the trunk really enhanced the frame. It was only when I got home and downloaded the shot that I noticed that fallen branch on the right. We had some discussion on my Facebook page as to whether the branch was a good or bad inclusion in the shot....the branch stays.