The subtle colours of the late afternoon sunset reflected in the water of this urban lake in Middlesbrough accompanied by the slow, calm meanderings of the swan and its reflection belie how cold it was at the time.
Earlier photos from this location showed the apparent confusion of some of the birds walking on water with the ice part melted just below the surface. The sunny day had caused this part thaw, but as the sun dipped below the horizon the low temperatures returned rapidly.
There has been no temperature adjustment or colour cast put on these images. whatever you do the liquid gold stays gold, it’s just the carat that changes!
Obviously I am exaggerating but it is true that I had no desire to make changes. The photos capture something of the beauty and peace that I enjoyed on a late afternoon Winter walk around this Middlesbrough lake. The Coots had found an area without ice and as I walked I was in continual awe at the ever changing light.
Sometimes it can be hard to tell whether the sun is rising or setting, especially if you don’t know what direction you are facing. It might be better to start the week with a sunrise, but who is to say (other than me) that these shots were not taken in the morning?
This flock of birds epitomise the freedom of flight across this urban lake in Middlesbrough as the evening approaches and the silhouetted tree against the sunset reveals its majesty and the bicycle tyre hanging from a branch appears as an iconic urban flag.
These Coots just need some skates on to complete their performance of dancing on ice 🙂 I wonder what music they would dance to?
The context for these images can be seen in the second photo. The surface of the lake was frozen but by the end of the day the ice had melted enough for large areas of it to appear completely liquid. Some of the birds seemed a little confused, which made my late afternoon walk around this urban lake in Middlesbrough all the more entertaining.
Without clicking on the landscape version of this image, I find I have a preference for the portrait crop. However, that is partly because it is easy to see the dimples created by the surface tension between the water and the pine needles and in the second image that is the most important aspect of the shot. The first image composition or crop includes more space which changes my perception to one more focused on the reflected depth of the sky.
The marsh water beside the lake at Llyn Llech Owain in Carmarthenshire, Wales, was almost like glass when this shot was taken. The reflection of grass and clouds in its surface is only distorted by the slightest of movements on a cold Winter day.
Do you have a preference for the landscape or portrait crop?
