I went out right after sunrise. This the first time since the new snow that I got to see the scenery in daylight and I must say that I love it to bits. This is what I have been waiting for! I wouldn’t mind having a lot more snow, but this will do just fine for now. As I was walking in this wonderland, I was trying to figure out exactly why it is that I love winter so much. I didn’t quite find that answer but I did find out what it is about winter that I love. It’s the way the snow covers everything. It’s the cold air biting my cheeks. It’s the special winter light. The silence of a winter forest. The starry skies. The glow of moonlight. I don’t know why I love all that. But one thing I do know – this is why I love photography in the winter time.

I have finally realised what the secret of a photographic vision is and it’s so simple I can’t believe it has taken me this long to figure it out (see e.g. my blog entry regarding my style). You have to love your subject, this is what should guide your camera. It is one thing to photograph subjects you like or sceneries that pleases your eye, and another thing to photograph something that speaks to your heart. Because, as corny as it sounds, you have to see with your heart. The rest is just technicalities.

And, please don’t laugh at me, but it’s only now that I finally understand the people who happily snap away only concentrating on the subject in total ignorance of the technicalities. All these family snapshots and pictures of pets. They love the subject in the photo, nevermind how the photo is created. And so it is with me – I love winter, so I will do my best to portray winter. I love the intricate detail of wild flowers, so I will do my best in the summer to portray the flora. This is my ”why”. This is my vision. This is my ”so-this-is-the-point-with-all-this-gear”.

But, even after having said all of this, I can’t resist adding one more thing: The subject rarely makes the image. The photographer does. So we’ve got to keep working on those technicalities as well!