the Lions in winter

By: kardz by kris

Dec 30 2011

Tags: , , ,

Category: postaweek2011, snow, Vancouver, weather, winter

47 Comments

Aperture:f/4.5
Focal Length:36.6mm
ISO:100
Shutter:1/0 sec
Camera:DMC-LZ6

It is no easy challenge to capture a typical Vancouver winter moment. After all, as many Vancouverites will tell you, “What winter?” or “We rarely ever get any snow here”. And while half of that is in all sincerity, half of that is in jest. And at the same time, another half is a genuine hope that this is true. Because sometimes it takes three halves to make a whole :).

What it really is, of course, is absolute denial and conveniently remembering rather selectively only those absentee winters such as the mild one leading up to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver when there was the big concern that there would not be enough snow for all the events. Snow actually needed to be imported from higher elevations and colder regions. Or when I look at this year’s winter weather which is rather mild as well. Or, come to think of it, many, many other years. Hmmm…. maybe all those memories about not really having a winter are not so selective after all.

While it is true that winter here is often a non-event, there have also been a very few occasions when winter has been right in your face with a snow pack that lasts for months. But those are always quickly and rather conveniently forgotten. A mere two years before the images found in the last post, the Lions unequivocally put on a great show of disputing the claim of a complete absence of any winter weather in Vancouver.

And so this portrait of the Lions is of my favourite kind of winter: an abundance of powdery whiteness up high and far away on the local mountains, with a good measure of sunshine, while the streets and roads in town are free of snow. On a day like this it is a joy to embrace this wonderful time of year.

Talk about there being no winter is cheap, however, and you will find that the denial of winter weather goes beyond the rhetoric. Regardless of the weather, it is often possible to find some people walking in bermuda shorts and sandals, or sipping on their lattes or hot chocolates on chairs outside cafes year round, no matter how low the mercury is dipping in the thermometer. And why not? After all, we never do get a real winter here  🙂

Sharing a small small taste of winter:
the Lions huddled beneath a full blanket of snow
captured on January 15, 2008

for more on winter, put on your toque and your mittens, and head over here.

47 comments on “the Lions in winter”

  1. 30 Dec 2011 at 12:09 Diana

    the ‘head for over here’ link took me to a blank page. Perhaps it is buried under the snow? Nice shot. Where were you that you got such a good angle?

    Like

    • 30 Dec 2011 at 12:17 pix & kardz

      thanks for visiting Diana – and thanks for the heads-up.
      the link should be working now.
      and where was i? behind my camera – with a zooooooom 🙂
      Happy Winter!

      Like

  3. 30 Dec 2011 at 13:54 Northern Narratives

    Beautiful mountain photo 🙂

    Like

  4. 30 Dec 2011 at 14:31 Brenda Spiller

    Beautiful photo. We can see snowy mountains from our deck, although we never get snow ourselves. We only really feel the effect of the snow on the mountains if the wind is coming directly off them.

    Like

    • 1 Jan 2012 at 21:14 pix & kardz

      we never get snow either, LOL
      ok, not true – but don’t tell anyone i said that it isn’t 🙂
      seriously, though, the snow does look wonderful up on the mountains – and it is very necessary in order to ensure drinking water for the next year. so if it stays on the mountains, so much the better 🙂

      Like

  5. 30 Dec 2011 at 14:45 suitablefish

    gorgeous mountain photo.

    Like

  6. 30 Dec 2011 at 15:51 Fergiemoto

    Beautiful mountains!

    Like

  7. 30 Dec 2011 at 17:27 Jo Bryant

    a great post for this week – way to end 2011

    Like

  8. 30 Dec 2011 at 20:52 nrhatch

    Cool shot! In Vancouver . . . winter comes in like a lamb . . . and stays like a lamb . . . except when the lions roar! 😀

    Like

  9. 30 Dec 2011 at 22:44 hugmamma

    wow! that would be some mountain to climb…fortunately i’m an indoor, sun-worshipping type of island girl…

    love looking at such natural grandeur…sitting alongside a roaring fire… 🙂

    Like

    • 1 Jan 2012 at 21:18 pix & kardz

      i am much more into viewing from a distance while on a walk that is less precarious, personally. besides, when you are up there, you don’t actually see them. that’s my theory 🙂
      glad you enjoyed this one. thanks for the visit.

      Like

  10. 31 Dec 2011 at 02:51 Nandini

    Magical. Mountains have such a breath-taking beauty. Brilliant shot 🙂

    Like

    • 1 Jan 2012 at 21:19 pix & kardz

      thanks Nandini.
      yes, there is something impressive and awe-inspiring about mountains, and when they are covered with snow, even more so.

      Like

  11. 31 Dec 2011 at 02:54 10uta02

    There is no winter snow in Vancouver??? I can’t believe it… 😉 We are still waiting for a bit of it here in Germany – for today they predict 14° – last year we had lots of it though which made travelling to see family and friends a big adventure… Happy New Year to you!

    Like

  12. 31 Dec 2011 at 04:17 Cardinal Guzman

    Nice scenery. Love it.

    Like

  13. 31 Dec 2011 at 06:56 carolbsessums

    That’s a beautiful shot! Oh, how I miss the mountains. I drove Mama and Hallie (my 12 yr old) through 12+ states last year in July and we all soaked up the majestic scenery. I lived in Montana for 3 years, and I must admit, I do miss living in the mountains and I loved their weather, skiing, beautiful blankets of snow, but it’s dry (0 humidity), so it didn’t feel that cold, nor hot in the summer (95 feels more like 75).
     
    I like some things about living in Mississippi, too. The lush greeness of everything – lush, thick, beautiful, scrumptious trees, soft green grass, plus living closer to family (the main reason I moved back) is where it’s at for me. One thing I do NOT care for about MS is the humidity. The heat and humidity in summer can kill you, and the winter chills you to the bone, although I do enjoy the cold, and especially snow.
     
    Ah, SNOW! Wish we would get some here. Haven’t had a good snow since 2010.

    Like

  15. 31 Dec 2011 at 12:30 Gracie Sam

    What an amazing view!

    Like

    • 1 Jan 2012 at 21:25 pix & kardz

      hi Gracie – yes, i quite enjoy it.
      i lived away for some time many years ago, and didn’t realize how unique this view was until it wasn’t there anymore. and now that i am back, i am especially grateful for it 🙂

      Like

  16. 1 Jan 2012 at 06:56 joshi daniel

    lovely!
    happy new year 🙂

    Like

  17. 1 Jan 2012 at 07:14 IsobelandCat

    I like the deep blue shadows. It could almost be an icy flower.

    Like

    • 1 Jan 2012 at 21:30 pix & kardz

      ha – never saw it like that before. i like your take on it!
      just as a heads-up, though, the entire mountain is captured in sunlight here. the sun is shining from behind, and because it is low in the sky, the one shadow that is evident is the lion on the right throwing a shadow to the north/northwest.
       
      what appears as shadows below is actually the demarcation of the snowline. you can always tell where on the mountains the freezing level begins just by looking at them 🙂

      Like

  18. 1 Jan 2012 at 12:36 Patti Kuche

    Something about those spectacular mountains purrs elegance. Beautiful photograph! Happy New Year Kris!

    Like

    • 1 Jan 2012 at 21:32 pix & kardz

      aw, what a great comment.
      i agree, it is a beautiful place, and i consider it a privilege to live near enough to be able to enjoy this view regularly.

      Like

  19. 1 Jan 2012 at 15:54 Amar Naik

    nice post. happy new year

    Like

  20. 1 Jan 2012 at 23:18 thirdhandart

    A stunning capture! The beautiful, snow covered mountains are very majestic. Happy New Year!

    Like

  21. 1 Jan 2012 at 23:37 Connie T

    Beautiful mountains.

    Like

  22. 2 Jan 2012 at 00:39 summerfield84

    Wow !
    How beautiful !

    Like

  23. 2 Jan 2012 at 07:36 Inside the Mind of Isadora

    Magestic mountains … the photo is so realistic I felt a chill
    from the snow. Nicely done ..
    Isadora

    Like

  24. 2 Jan 2012 at 07:57 Rois

    I love the mountains in the winter!

    Like

  26. 3 Jan 2012 at 02:13 Madman

    I know Vancouver only from a past Summer trip, but winter looks quite mild too. Thanks for sharing your photo 🙂

    Like

  27. 3 Jan 2012 at 06:34 the island traveler

    “Lion In Winter,” just majestic! I an awed by how beautiful the landscape is. Then there are the 3 shades of white , blue and green…just an image of bliss and stillness….what an inspiring vision for 2012. Happy New Year…

    Like

  28. 3 Jan 2012 at 22:28 pix & kardz

    thank you everyone for your kind words.
    much appreciated.
    trust you are keeping warm, & a happy 2012 to you!

    Like


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