Cold water

Maybe this is what’s seperates the professional from the amateur – the pro realizes there will come more opportunites and makes the safe choice, the amateur thought is “what the hell, let’s do it“. Or is it a distinction between techphotograper (expensive camera) or retrophotographer (with manual cheap lenses, like myself) – I can risk the gear without financial ruin in sight. Whatever the reasons, I decided to take the chance when I stood there besides the creek. Mantra: “The snow and ice will hold my weight. The snow and ice will hold my weight [...]”

Icefester

As you might have guessed by now the snow and ice did NOT hold my weight. The flowing, icecold water was filling my pants up to the waist. Panic. “Quick, get up, take another step!“. The snow and ice dont hold the weight of the next step either. Eventually I ofcourse get up on the side. Just to realize I’m on the wrong side of the creek and there’s no way out (impossible cliffs and forest). WTF. Nothing else to do, I need to get in the water again and wade over to the right side.

Time to wade

Just a note: It is still wintertime where I live in Sweden. The ground is covered in snow. Paths and roads is covered with ice. I don’t have a drivers license. I have a bicycle. Which is ok in the wilderness, unless you are wet and it’s below freezing temperature. The road is downhill and covered with ice… where cars have made tracks. Bicyclewheels get stuck in tracks and throw you out in the ditch sometimes. Oh, and it’s getting dark. No battery in the headlight.

Well, I’m going to stop there. Lets just say my saturday was eventfull, haha! ;)

Learning from the trip:

• Not to step on snow if your’e not sure whats beneath (on the other hand I already knew this ;) ).
• Bring dry pants… and underwear… maybe even shoes.
• Bring a polarizer when shooting a creek sourrounded by snow.
• The Pentacon 50mm/1.8 is underestimated.
• Spring will be nice… come dear spring, come.

• With a manual lens on the hill
• Morningsun on forest
• Spring setback
• Sometimes we are just stuck on repeat (Anemone hepatica)
• Water avens in may (digging through the archive)