Winter snow and ice
According to the weather forecast, this is the longest cold snap in Scotland for 50 years. Not only is it much colder than usual, but it's gone on for much longer than usual too.
Roads are not being cleared, and cars are skidding off them and into each other.
Pavements are not being salted, and there have been record numbers of people taken to hospital with broken legs.
I drove home (carefully) from a folk session the other night and it was -14C. This may be nothing to some of you in Canada and Mid-West USA, but buildings, transport links and pipes and drains were just not designed for these kinds of temperatures here in the UK.
However, if you have an interest in photography, it's been a winter wonderland extravaganza. Although it's also been a bit scary trying to reach some of the more interesting places.
Here are a few images from earler in the week - click on any of them for larger versions.
Frozen Waterfall
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQ2tsa_qj7cIKbpW5MWnq8fzRX2mXY-rH8OqRzq4hfEqzPXze63TidvswxI1ULfA38ZxwsIMVPCG8g1ds3zs1dX4uNsGbHX1PEKsZvlIvjO4T5ZE06no7ZCRgMBXnM1kBViCZ/s400/frozenwaterfall4-900.jpg)
Waterfalls just don't freeze in the UK. Moving water requires far lower temperatures to freeze than standing water, and the mild climate of this country doesn't usually allow for it. However, there are small streams tumbling over rocks that have now created the most amazing ice shapes and patterns. This image is defintely worth clicking on for the larger version.
Summoning the Snow Genie
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwpyJoFQkDEha5ZyMdI_ES0AcntKQd7U9GIwfgZt4zkT96YuZbZA2BvwHiwyH3SbJYMkqoW92w2bBVgfw4KK0juM4hcSscNR9bRGM-U66AfFyQ1HV44D_Xqnz6qQhoCZEn6lfs/s400/snowgenie4-750.jpg)
Standing several yards out on Loch Ken, on ice several inches thick, Rogan scooped up a handful of very powdery snow and flung it in the air. This kind of snow is useless for snowballs or snowmen, but ideal for creating ghost-like patterns in the air.
Winter and Summer on Loch Ken
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsbdJDniFYL6gQtUfS9di51IKNPMYK3yo6uZcyTX51n0739gXk-toV5kUjtoPXcexoaAwAPSKEbQT2_piBH1GhUzRwNQIpXATk46hY4aGOLJSMF4biHxqo7sPPHQ4wgXqmL1p4/s400/LochKenWinterSummer-850.jpg)
I had the idea to merge 2 photos of Loch Ken - one from earlier this week, and the other from a sunset over the loch I took about 18 months ago (see Sunset. Loch. Midges). It's a strange effect, but I quite like it.
Air Bubbles in the Ice 1
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLvSSeu4HzKTvwsx9prBhOxkcyiRFtb8krpZaZ1rVsxQyy1PLebsKHyHe19QKGHMRQkO18FYCc2LRUD4BZobPHWq2OMu779YNrLxET_6_g4jX1NwBNtZHYRKauJgUUHuVClQaa/s400/icebubbles1-850.jpg)
As the loch slowly froze, air bubbles became trapped in the ice, forming at different sizes and different depths. Clearing some of the snow off the ice, this image as taken looking straight down.
Air Bubbles in the Ice 2
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTZK8fWR2xb6YexSPo0XqWS6IJUkzrJ5WR1_RoESh4ReLRnMJ7sees7H8Wz8BSzePOitNwoKfxlRZ7olXqglyPjCdah_WhaFFEXyhZTJZYmXuB-Ev3qYnb_eKUEzG_z_fvDfey/s400/icebubbles2-900.jpg)
These patterns are created by the same kinds of air bubbles, only the image is taken from a cross section of a large piece of broken off ice
Snow Maiden
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoW1tUcCaON9YDltPsIl1_HlsQL_tBKntKXPLbNq1Cn9LM37mxAvIlnsYuy8TOxMiyUlua7fXBAZvER6Ol0BndtDw7ceJEh5XHO_q0C0cuRzGoixLXTMOe80UtDg3sFAh9TSht/s400/meg-icy1-800.jpg)
This is what you call bowing to public pressure. My ratings go up when ever I publish a photo of my daughter, Meg
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