When the bitter cold days of winter give way to weather that's pleasantly brisk, it's the perfect opportunity to take a stroll. But don't forget a camera to capture the striking sights. That’s just what happened for Liz Ansley, local photographer extraordinaire.
"[The] 2010–2011 winter was so cold that I didn't get out much to do landscapes," says Ansley. "This was a spring snow, so it was the perfect opportunity to take early morning photos without freezing to death."
And a tripod helped for the crystal-clear "French Park at Dawn in Early Spring," taken in the early morning hours in April 2011. Ansley's photo lens amazingly picked up every glittering speck in the pavement; the result is like a sparkly little black dress topped off with a rustic, down-filled parka.
Photography is an art that Ansley has been honing for a few years, but it started back in her childhood. "When I was growing up, my mother had a dark room in the house and I did go shooting with her," she says. "I didn't come back to photography until 2009 (my late 30s). I guess it must have been an interest that was always there, but I was too busy to take time to nurture it."
Ansley's exquisite compositions have graced book covers internationally, including a French title by Michelle Paver featuring an image of Medicine Lake.
While Ansley admits she "does not like winter at all," this likely won't be her last snow-dusted shot, as she is happy with the result. "I think it’s beautiful," she says.
