We're all complainers about the weather
But sometimes, we say, to ourselves
(and never out loud)
That we love the snow.
That it's warmer when it snows
That it may mean a "snow day"
Or a "get home before the storm" early departure
It triggers nostalgia: sleigh rides, paradoxical warmth, muffled hushes
It embraces and enfolds us
Yet we would never admit our devotion to it
We are snows unrequited love.
Sometimes you just have to go out and walk.
That's what I decided to do today to start familiarizing myself with my new camera. There's no better way to learn than going out and shooting.
I wandered down to the harbour front and was amazed at one of the things that makes many of us alternately love and hate winter in Canada: Ice. Along a 1km stretch of the water I came across at least 5 different types of lake ice formations, and something rather unexpected.
The New Years Day hangover hush that blanketed the city allowed me to really "hear", for the first time, the harbour ice. In places there were translucent sheets that were sliding over each other and slithering around as the waves rocked them back and forth. Other formations snapped and popped as thicker ice cracked and collided. It was a solitary, and incredibly pure experience.
Here are some examples of the ice formations along Queens Quay and the inner harbour:
(click through for larger images with more detail)
In case you were wondering, the title of this post refers to the the 14 known phases of ice, not including the amorphic form. Want to know more? Try here.
As an aside, I was surprised at the number of gigantic swans that were floating about. I counted at least a dozen on my walk today...
