Beginning the first week of December, the weather finally turned cold enough that the open water was disappearing quickly. After many cloudy days the weather had cleared and I had hopes for the evening's sunset.
I donned winter gear, grabbed my kit, hopped in the car and drove to the location. I had spotted a level area to park off the road, but upon arriving had to park off the edge of the road in the snow as the spot was already occupied. As I approached the location I discovered I wasn't alone . . . another photographer had had similar ideas regarding this location and had also taken "my spot" for parking.
This image is looking toward the rock outcropping along the shore with the sunset light colouring the distant clouds. It is so cold this evening that there is steam rising off the open water being highlighted by the setting light! I ended up sitting in the snow to get this lower point of view . . . I worked as quickly as possible to capture the images as certain body parts were beginning to succumb to the cold. I also learned that the camera's battery does not last very long when the temperature is below zero . . . which was fine as I also learned I do not last very long when sitting in the snow and the wind chill is lower than -10F (-23C).
I managed to take a couple more shots before surrendering to the numbing cold and heading home . . . shivering, but satisfied.
This sunset was over two and a half months ago when there was still open water . . . now it's a sheet of ice. The shelters erected for ice fishing have been removed, while the snowmobiles and trucks no longer venture out onto slowly thinning ice . . . a sign that spring and warmer weather will eventually be here.
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