T13 # 9 | 13 Scenes from the Winter Solstice

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Not every culture celebrates Christmas, but every culture has at some time or another recognized the mysterious power of the winter solstice, the day on which the sun begins its slow return. 

I love Flickr, which I regard as clear proof that our ordinary lives are anything but.  I love photographs precisely because they halt the flow of time to reveal this.  To celebrate the generosity of Flickr photographers who share their work, I have begun putting together groups of photographs called "Pictures from the Earth."  This is one such grouping. 

1.  Nature's christmas trees is by KitAy (Pennsylvania Paddlefish). Is this not moving and evocative?  There's something so bygone and yet familiar about it:  all the reds and silvers and whites.  To me it captures not only the beauty of the winter holidays, but also the sadness that surrounds them.  It's the time of year when you're most aware of the passage of time, and particularly of everything in your life that's gone.  I don't know why, but there's something about that sort of sadness that's very close to joy for me.      

I do not own the rights to this Creative Commons photograph.  Please don't save or use it without first consulting the terms of the applicable license (here).

2.  Winter sky and tree by Blueleaf/Alexander Saggers.  This is the view from outside one of his windows.  I thought the clarity, brilliance of color, and minimalism of this was a lovely contrast to the previous one.

   

I do not own the rights to this Creative Commons photograph.  Please don't save or use it without first consulting the terms of the applicable license (here).

3. Airy Fairy by Ross Finnie/Twentyhertz (twentyhertzphoto.co.uk), bass player and Glasgow photographer.  These are  "fairy lights"---for you Americans, that's British for little white lights--- on a tree outside Glasgow.  I love this because it shows such eerie delicacy and detail coming out of someone's rather random job of stringing up lights (fair play, it would be difficult to do it at all).  The blue-green of the sky is something amazing.

 

I do not own the rights to this Creative Commons photograph.  Please don't save or use it without first consulting the terms of the applicable license (here).

4.  Christmas trees in Dublin Docklands by  William Murphy/Informatique.  Notice the white-painted trees and the contrast between their delicacy and the rough texture of the building behind them?  You can see why I say that you won't want to miss his "Streets of Dublin" project.  I love this because it illustrates how many shades of grey and silver there are in the world and how beautiful they can be.

I do not own the rights to this Creative Commons photograph.  Please don't save or use it without first consulting the terms of the applicable license (here).

5.  Christmas Tree by Matt Reinbold (Furry Scaly) takes some amazing photos, including some photos of amazing animals.  He has also taken a several pictures at different times and different times of the year of this same tree.  This one is his Christmas version.  I love it because this is a perfect reflection of my idea of a winter sunset.   The intense vermilion-tinted sky reminds me of the days when I didn't live in Florida (where the colors tend to be apricots and heavenly blues, not this brilliant but clear fiery peach red). 

I do not own the rights to this photograph.  It is printed here with the permission of the photographer.  Please don't save or use it without first asking.

6.  Christmas tree by  Perfect Hexagon/Steven Janke.   This photograph is seasonal in a different way and illustrates the serendipity behind a really great photograph.   Here's the photographer's comment:  "The sun was set perfectly on the tree... My focus was perspective. My intention was portraying the comparison of the shadow to the tree, however the sun added a nice effect to the whole picture."  I also noticed the green lights or orbs in the photograph which add an additional Christmassy touch. 

 

I do not own the rights to this Creative Commons photograph.  Please don't save or use it without first consulting the terms of the applicable license (here).

7. For a very complete contrast, check out Frosted Trees by Mac Male/MasterMaq of Edmonton, Canada (check out his blog).  This next captures extremely well the ghostly, stark and shivery cold beauty of ice-encrusted trees against a black sky.  It's beautiful, but it makes you shiver.  It brings to mind stories I used to read as a child about the "northern climes."  Most clearly, it brings to mind "The Snow Queen" (which I found in one of the books my grandfather had read as a child).  I put it in the center of my T13 because that's where the winter solstice is in my mind.  This really captures the feeling of the winter solstice.  Even the orangeish light works as a reminder that the deepest part of winter is the day the sun begins to return.

I do not own the rights to this Creative Commons photograph.  Please don't save or use it without first consulting the terms of the applicable license (here).

7-8.  Christmas Palm.  First, for a touch of color to contrast with deeps of winter, consider these two "before and after" shots by Graham/Gragsie.  He lives at Big Pine Key in my own beloved state, Florida.  You'll want to check out his personal site.

Adonidia Merillii ("Christmas Palm") Seeds

Now they're all red...

I do not own the rights to these Creative Commons photographs.  Please don't save or use them without first consulting the terms of the applicable license (here and here).

9-10.   Moon & Trees by Quarrion/David Stephensen of Bendigo, Australia.  These two winter photographs remind me of Japanese paintings.  Both are examples of photographs that happened because the photographer just happened to be in the right place at the right moment. 

New Moon at Ravenswood .  The color of the sky---that silvery grey with intimations of blue-violet---really grabbed me first.  But it was the crescent moon through the tree limbs that sold me. 

I do not own the rights to this Creative Commons photograph.  Please don't save or use it without first consulting the terms of the applicable license (here).

Nine days later...  I loved the first but this I adore.  Note that the color of the sky here really is a silvery blue-violet instead of a silver with a touch of violet.  This is one of my favorite colors on the planet.  It doesn't have a name, but it should.

I do not own the rights to this Creative Commons photograph.  Please don't save or use it without first consulting the terms of the applicable license (here).

11.  Palm by NYC Bone/Dave Bone (check out Bone Structure here).  As a Floridian, I truly love palm trees and photographing palm trees.  They have a reflective surface that picks up and gives back the light---a forest of palms under a sunny sky is blinding.  It actually twinkles in the sunlight.  This next is the winter photograph I've personally been trying to take for years.

I do not own the rights to this Creative Commons photograph.  Please don't save or use it without first consulting the terms of the applicable license (here).   

12.   Winter trees on a hill by Ramesh Meda of Bangalore (website).   Look at that sky.  Look at the way it shades imperceptibly from deep blue to that silvery blue violet to apricot.  The trees are like lace. 

I do not own the rights to this Creative Commons photograph.  Please don't save or use it without first consulting the terms of the applicable license (here).

13. Christmas Tree  by MPHDodgeDaytona.   This last seemed to me to be a beautiful finish.  I think it speaks for itself. 

I do not own the rights to this photograph.  It is printed here with the permission of the photographer.  Please don't save or use it without first asking.

The Flatland Almanack is grateful for comments from the authors of the following blogs!

1. MareMagnum
2. Writer Cramps
3. Breakfast at Tiffany's
4. Going Crazy Slowly
5. I Read Banned Books
6. A Gentleman's Domain
7. Zenmomma's Garden
8. Nichtszusagen
9. Diary of a Former Catholic Church Worker
10. Writing in Faith
11. Life in the Urban Zoo
12. Lazy Daisy
13. Brain Freeze
14. A Mom Speaks
15. Enjoying the Ride
16. Mom in Mental Motion
17. Thoughts from Miller Manor
18. PMKU
19. Cozy Reader
20. Amy Ruttan
21. Chocolate on my Cranium
    
22. Loose Leaf Notes
23. In Spring it is the Dawn
24. Salome's Corner
25. Dane Bramage
26. Ambient Solace
27. Single Parents Unite
28. The Happy Wonderer
29. On a Limb with Claudia
30. Lesley Speller
31. Lives less Ordinary
32. Don't Eat Baby
33. Small Reflections
34. Comedy Plus
35. Harris Channing
36. West of Mars
37. Chris-seas Corner
38. Joy is My Goal
39. My Memory Keepsakes
40. Count It All Joy
41. Eat, Bitch, & Whine
42. Daily Doily
43. Whisperings from the Wings
    
44. Tracy's Thoughts
45. Kayla's Army of Five
46. Pieces of Me
47. Chrysalis
48. Wacky Mommy
49. Tuesday Update
50. YummY! Down on This
51. But I Digress...
    

Comments

[Robin]

Those are all wonderful, but the first and the fifth really blew me away. Incredible. Just incredible.

[tanabata]

These are all lovely photos but my favourite is definitely #5. That red sky is fantastic!

[Carrie Lofty]

Thanks so much for sharing those. They're absolutely beautiful. Photographers have a really profound way of seeing the world--one I am completely lacking. Hope you have a happy holiday season.

[Dane Bramage]

I am so jealous of real photographers. These were absolutely beautiful.

And thanks for visiting my Thursday Thirteen #61 13 Christmas Songs I Love/Hate edition.

[Alicia]

These photos are gorgeous. Thank you for putting them together like this.

[Lori]

Absolutely beautiful...some of them dont even look real. Happy TT and thanks for stopping by:)

[ellen b]

Wonderful. Thank you so much for this beautiful TT!

[On a Limb with Claudia]

What a gorgeous treat! Thank you for sharing so much from all over the world. This is such a beautiful place!

Happy TT!

[amypalko]

Thank you so much, Damozel, for sourcing such beautiful photos. I just love Flickr! The photos you find there seem to have a more human quality to them than the rather generic images you can pick up elsewhere.
Really lovely!

[Lesley]

Those are absolutely gorgeous!

[Mommychicky]

#9 & #10 - Those are my personal favorites. Just really beautiful.

Thanks for stopping by and happy TT!

[storyteller]

What a lovely collection of photos! Thanks so much for sharing and providing commentary. I thought 5 & 6 would be my favorites until I saw 9 & 10 ... then #12. After revisiting each one again, I just can't choose one because they’re all spectacular.
Hugs and blessings,

[Comedy Plus]

I loved the Christmas trees, but all of the shots are awesome. Such talent. Have a great TT. :)

[Harris Channing]

Absolutely gorgeous! Thanks for sharing.

~Harris.

[Susan Helene Gottfried]

Those are incredible pictures!!

I think the first one is a picture of the lawn of the Cathedral of Learning at Pitt. Sure looks familiar!

[Chrissie]

Wow - I LOVE those very cool photo's and 13 of them too.... Happy day!

(mine are up)

[marcia v]

soooo sooo lovely i have several on mine like#2 Thanks

[Emily]

Those pictures are absolutely breathtaking!

Happy TT!!

[cjmr]

Nice selection of photos. I aspire to take photos like this, but I'm still learning.

Happy TT. Thanks for stopping by.

[Paige Stanton]

Great post, those pictures are beautiful! Happy TT!

[~Kayla~]

BEAUTIFUL pictures!

Have a blessed CHRISTmas!

[Tracy]

Thanks for visiting. Your pictures are very nice.

[dailydoily]

Thank you for the comment about my grandmother. I love the photos, especially the last one + the fairy tree.

[Cindi]

These are just gorgeous Damozel. It's a nice reminder of the natural brilliance this time of year. We may love fairy lights and glass balls, miniature Santas, and gumdrop candy canes, but we hardly need them for a magical tree.

Thank you Damozel, just beautiful.

Cindi

[Debby]

Wow! How can anyone pick a favorite here. They are all extraordinary. And what a wonderful project of love you did here. And you're right, I think the sun is slowly warming up our sky here. Thanks for a wonderful time of peace here.