Greetings, Hive! Some of my friends already post pictures of snowdrops, crocuses in bloom and even mushrooms (!). I really can imagine, that at some parts of the world morels are already preparing to pop-up out of the ground. But here, in the north of Europe, there are no blooming rhododendrons on the horizon -- but rather the opposite.
Maybe you've heard this Russian proverb: "When it's March outdoors, you'd better get ready to put on seven pants." That is absolutely true. I guess we'll see no snowdrops until mid-April (but I've already prepared my macro lens that's been lazily sitting on the shelf for most of the winter).
In general, yesterday's blizzard again brought a lot of snow. Since there are no more frosts, the snow was fluffy, sticky, of the same kind that turns everything around into works of art. Returning late at night from the office, I could not resist and uncovered the camera. (At that time I had my heavy 70-200mm telephoto with me). And although the blizzard was not over yet, and snowflakes were spinning around me (I don’t like to risk my camera and lenses and usually avoid taking pictures in such weather), I couldn’t resist - I hid the camera in my jacket, and still took pictures, very quickly :)
This was a post to go with #WednesdayWalk challenge by
(Was late to post it on Wednesday, pics editing took me a few hours).
Is it art? I guess it is! Very ephemera sort of it, tho.
The city has already started its preparations for the warm season, scooters have appeared on the streets for hourly rentals and rides...
... and yesterday all of the city suddenly was covered up with a 10cm snow blanket. Again!!! And it is not going to melt!!! Winter has struck again, it's boxing with Spring, and is still full of energy... although of course it's clear that this is already 'a beginning of an end'.
Alas, the townspeople have to be patient until the asphalt is cleaned and dried, and most importantly until it gets warmer - only then I agree to open the cycling season.
At some places, melting snow makes the asphalt wet and sparkling like molten mercury; reflections are juxtaposed. At other spots where the snow does not have time to disappear, the surfaces are again draped with a white blanket ... which reflects the light back and turns lighting upside down, paints a completely different light picture. Even yesterday, the same cityscape would have looked completely different in a photograph (not to mention the view in daylight). I love sunny days... but I also adore neon nights. I am an addicted inhabitant of a metropolis :)
В одних местах тающий снег делает асфальт мокрым и сверкающим, как расплавленная ртуть, благодатной подложкой для размножения отражения. А где снег не успевает исчезнуть, поверхности превращаются во внушительный отражатель, который отражает свет и переворачивает кверх тормашками всюсветовую картиу. Еще вчера этот же вид выглядел бы совсем иначе (не говоря уж про дневное освещение). Я люблю солнечные дни... но также люблю и неоновые ночи. Я пристрастный обитатель мегаполиса :)
A real winter fairy tale! from a scratch, all of a sudden.
The last captures of my short walk I took at the playground. Of course, kidz did not miss this sudden winter's farewell gift, and momentarily found the right use for snow: made another snowman! (Isnt it too many?!) Big, fatty, and stable. And I have a suspicion that this is absolutely the last snowman of this season. 😁
Close-up portrait. Note his unusual ears, jaw, and a generally contented expression of the muzzle. Maybe this is a kidz attempt to sculpt a bear? .. 
| location: | St.Petersburg, Russia | March 2023 | natural light |
| camera/lens: | Canon 5D | 70-200mm | raw-conv |
All images taken by me, copyright (c) 