Olentangy River Ice
Today I visited a local riverbank thinking this might be one of the last chances of the season to catch photos of ice forms. The air, still and cold seemed unaffected by the morning sun which burned white and blue with not a cloud in the sky. Snow and ice glared up from surrounding earth. Footing down to the bank was slick with recent melt and refreeze conditions. My MICROspikes reliable as ever made traction on the icy snowpack a non-issue.
The river, in thaw, green ochre, higher than expected with swift flow. A thin, translucent top layer of slush and ice undulated downstream. I was hoping for drier conditions to ford the river in search of endless small scenes of ice and river rock which, was not to be. I moved on trying to stay positive. I hiked along the narrow bank upstream stopping occasionally to take a snap or two trying to bring my creative vision into focus.
50 yards away an eagle rose above the white sycamores, probably unhappy with my presence. It soared brown and glowed warm; wings filled with sun against the crystal blue north sky. She (or he) moved effortlessly along the river, rising, then gliding down along the water a few times before floating north out of sight.
I settled on a few small areas of ice, mud, and rock. The sun began to warm, and I realized I had to work with a sense of urgency. The air was still cold, but the melt was persistent. If I came across an ice scene, I had to photograph it before it was lost to the rocky mud. I managed to make a few images. I shot with existing light but occasionally used a diffuser to soften the harsh mid-morning sun. Overall, the images came together, and I was happy to venture out on what turned out to be a beautiful day.
Location –
Highbanks Metro Park - Lewis Center, Ohio
Equipment –
