During the winter, Tundra Swans migrate south to feed, often stopping by Oneida Lake to rest and eat before moving further on when the lake freezes over. Because of the mix of cold and warm weather so far this December, ice has yet to completely cover the lake, and the swans have made some of the open bays on the lake their temporary home. Chris and I have been driving by the north shore of the lake on our way to Eric’s and other recent outings, and we often stop to photograph the swans when they are close to shore. This morning, we woke up to about four inches of freshly fallen snow. When the snow began to fall again, we bundled up, packed our gear into the car, and headed down to Oneida Lake to visit the swans. The snow began to fall faster, and the winds created near whiteout conditions at times, but falling powder transformed the landscape into beautiful white emptiness. Sheltered in the car, Chris and I photographed the swans from the roadside as the snow coated our lenses and soaked our gloves. The trip was well worth it though, as I came away with the image below - a minimalist composition of the beautiful extremes that winter weather can bring.

Techs: Canon 1D Mark II N, 300mm f/2.8L IS, 1/125s, f/11, ISO 200.  To order this print, purchase stock rights, or view other photos I have for sale, please visit my website at www.karipost.com.