I am one of those people that enjoy quiet... I mean really enjoy quiet... I love music, and conversation, but the "noise" that fills our lives I can live without... television, traffic, small talk...  and in winter... that quiet is amazing..

I just read an article on why it is so quiet when it snows..."Newly fallen snow isn't packed down yet. The snowflakes stack lightly against each other with a lot of space in between. This arrangement absorbs sound waves. Things become quieter. As the snow settles, the quiet disappears. Snow with a hard, smooth surface reflects sound waves. Sounds seem clearer and carry farther."  "The little pores in the snow catch and trap sound waves." "When a pressure wave travels along the surface, some of the air is forced into the pores in the snow. Friction and thermodynamics mean that the pressure level is much reduced when the air emerges again. This gives a significant sound 'deadening' effect."

Personally I love it, whatever the reason for it. One of the most relaxing things ever, and I feel when snow is falling with barely any wind it's not cold at all.

I just spent a couple of hours hiking through the snow in a local state park...As you get older you cherish those all too brief moments when you feel peace, today was one of those moments. I'm not a big fan of winter.. but I do find it to be one of the most beautiful seasons to see when there is fresh snow on the ground. There were only a handful of other people out, so it was extremely peaceful. Walking through the snow, under the snow covered trees, listening to the silence, I find myself and recharge myself.

There is nothing more frustrating for a photographer than to be "stuck" inside when you want to be outside, experiencing the beauty of winter, and photographing that beauty.  I understand that it was for our safety, but frustrating nonetheless... In those instances, we either risk it, and go out, or, we have to find things to photograph from within the confines of our homes..  Sometimes, all you have to do is look out of a window, and there it is.

It seems to always happen... I see something amazing... something that takes my breath away... when I am completely unable to photograph it.

This was the case the other day.... driving on a busy divided highway that I know well, with no shoulders to speak of... I come to the spot where I get an unobstructed view of New York City. Depending on the day... it's either clear, and I can see the entire skyline.. albeit briefly... or, it's lost in fog and clouds... bottoms of buildings being devoured by gray...

I know that whatever view I am getting... it is momentary. I come up the crest of a hill, glimpse the City, and then as the hill descends... it disappears....and I continue on my way.

The other day, I come to that hill... and I gasp... and out loud... to no one... as I am alone in my truck... I say "WOW".... It was late afternoon, a clear view of the skyline... the skyline bathed completely in the late afternoon sun... and it's shimmering... the reflection of the sun off of all the windows is simply stunning, the buildings all glowing yellow/orange. To add to the beautiful sight... the sky directly above the buildings is clear, bright, warm with the sun's afternoon colors. But... resting overhead... across the length of the city... is a huge, dark, ominous cloud... almost looking like the top part of a frame with no sides or bottom. Looking like it had wanted to rest on the city, but it couldn't get past the brightness. The contrast was incredible.

Now, I have 2 cameras with me... however... stopping in the middle of the road, on the crest of a hill, would be highly inadvisable.. having no shoulder to pull onto leaves me without options.. and the view is so brief, that I have to continue on. Continue on with the memory of that beautiful moment, not to be saved by photography... but only in my minds' eye.