Last night we were hit with a pretty big ice storm, just as forecasted earlier in the week. The weather folks can take the win on this one – they warned us well in advance. At first, it didn’t seem like it would be so bad. But as darkness fell, I noticed the tree branches around our yard were looking particularly shiny. The Winter Storm warning here in Michigan was scheduled to end at 4 a.m., so plenty more was going to happen through the night leaving the end of the day with a bit of anxiety.
Fortunately, unlike many others here in Michigan, we kept our power. No large cracks or booms in the middle of the night as nature stress tests the health of trees everywhere. As we’ve experienced, it isn’t so fun losing power for any significant amount of time in winter.
This morning our two fur demons ran out the door despite our deck looking like a death trap. There is something to be said for snow dog agility on ice. All of our trees were coated in at least a few millimeters of ice – every branch, every tree. Some cedar trees clearly not liking the extra weight, taking on a rather sad-looking droop.
Ice storms can bring some unique photo opportunities for sure, but I just wasn’t feeling it today. But while the dogs were out running around, and I was checking the status of our trees – I began to catch some details that interested me. I changed my mind obviously.
The featured image above is of an Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus), also Michigan’s state tree. It’s a young one we transplanted from our front yard to back last year. It sprung up on its own near our front walk, so we moved it to a more suitable location to grow. It’s only about 1.2m (4 feet) tall so far, a convenient height that put its ice-covered crown in front of a distraction free, easily blurred via focal length, privacy fence in the distant background. It only took minor development to darken it and use the good ol’ black-point eye-dropper tool.
I wandered my yard looking for other things, making a few photos here and there while our dogs were engaged in whatever dire wolves do. Soon it began to hit me why I wasn’t so enthused to begin with – I am not as cold tolerant as I used to be. Granted, it wasn’t that cold – just below freezing – and I was in my own yard, a few steps away from extra layers. But I was getting my fill of things to see. But there is one thing that I’ve never done after an ice storm before, photograph using a drone.
Ice storm aerials
So I sent K-2SO up to see what’s what. The light wasn’t all that interesting, and rather flat – but I figured it would all be melting by the end of the day, so why not. The woodland behind my home had some interesting textures to explore. The ice-covered canopy added a certain atmosphere to the photos that I liked – it resembled fog a bit. The ice in the lower segments of the woods didn’t really come through in the photos, but mostly everything was completely covered.
I flew K2 down into the clearing hinted at above, which is a vernal pool I’ve been monitoring filled with buttonbush. It doesn’t look like much now, but springtime will bring wood ducks, wood frogs, and fairy shrimp. It serves as a compositional element here. And if you are wondering what is going on in that diamond-shaped clearing – so am I. Something on my to-do list to investigate.
All-in-all, not a bad morning. The demons got their playtime in. I got a few photographs. The trees got their stress test for the month, hopefully our drooping trees will bounce back. Despite the unique photo opportunity, it isn’t something I really wish for. Every ice storm is like rolling the dice if you are going to have problems or not. Many others in the area were not so lucky.
As far as our young white pine, well, I can imagine our much older white pine looking down at it and saying – “this is Michigan kid, we’ll see if you’ve got the chops to make it here. We’re the state tree after all – suck it up and represent man.”
Love the ice closeups – and I’m wondering what you found in the diamond-shaped clearing.
Thanks Tom. I procrastinated and didn’t go there to inspect it before it flooded, unfortunately.
Nice work, Mark. I like the color palette in the drone photos a lot. Oh and, in San Diego, the diamond-shaped cleared would BE the vernal pool… xD
Well, technically the entire area gets water and has indicator species, so ¯\_(?)_/¯ 🙂 Thanks, Alex. I didn’t expect there to be much of a color palette at all from the air, so I was surprsied.
Wonderful images and appreciate your sacrifice for them. We do not have the ice storms as other parts of the country but we sure have the heavy frost. I also like the art nature makes with frost. However, one morning I could not release the clasp on my sternum strap to my backpack because my hands and fingers were too cold. I’m a wimp anymore with the cold. Love the drone images as they sure bring a new perspective to the landscape. Love that first image!
That’s interesting you don’t get them. I wonder if it is because of elevation. THanks for the comments, Monte.
I recognize that feeling of not thinking you’re inspired to use the camera, looking around randomly, then noticing that you mind changed. I think it’s something about the mind’s insatiable curiosity that kicks in when we least expect it. The photographs are interesting to see. How nice to have a vernal pond – does it fill most of the area without standing trees in the last photo? I also recognize the worry of going to bed during a storm – will there be power and will a tree come down on the house? Well, we just have to live with it!
Yes, it does cover that entire area without trees. I can usually only do my sampling on the perimeter though because of the thick tangles of buttonbush. I think that is why the wood ducks like it, plenty of cover.
Great idea to shoot the ice storm finale with a drone. Like you, I have become far less cold tolerant (and I was never particularly cold tolerant to begin with)!
I’m surprised you don’t actually migrate south for the winter. 🙂
From the difference in weather we’re experiencing, one would think we’re separated by more than approximately 650 miles. It was near 80°F here yesterday, with a little cooler, but still, unseasonably warm weather forecasted for the coming week. While these are absolutely lovely and interesting photos, you can keep the ice in Michigan.
Ha! Don’t blame you one bit. This whole “wobbly jetstream” is certainly causing huge variations in weather. I just saw a map where it showed what these recent patterns in February made the month seem like. Much, much colder San Diego to Texas, acting like Dec/Jan – but down your way, it was more like June.
Not a bad morning at all, Mark! You made beautiful use of the weather, whether you enjoyed it or not. My Ann Arbor friend said they had ice, too, but all we got was rain (and rain and rain and rain).
There was certainly a gradient of wintery mix as they call it north to south – I am glad the ice didn’t last to the next evening as it was extremely windy and that would have been really bad. Thank you for the comments Linda.