Winter Fun! First Snow Of The Season!

(click to enlarge)
Olympus E-M1 Mark Ii, 12-100mm f/4 lens @ 12mm; 1/640th sec. @ f/16; ISO 200

Along with the rest of the east coast of the U.S, we have had a very unusual and prolonged cold snap.  That huge snowstorm that traveled from Florida to the Canadian Maritime Provinces last week dumped a lot of snow in our area.  From what I saw reported, up to about 16" in some if the local cities.  Unfortunately, at my home, only about 5" fell.  I was a bit disappointed.  This wasn't a record setting snow, but it was unusual to have snow this early in the winter season.  Always an opportunity to get out and photograph.  Additionally, it was 6F at my house the other morning, again, very unusual for this area.

The cold weather has persisted through yesterday and I noticed that the 4-mile wide James River here in southeastern Virginia was frozen quite a distance out from shore.  In my 44 years of living in southeastern Virginia, I cannot quite remember us having weather below 32F for this long period of time, resulting in the river being frozen to this extent.

The draw of the 4-mile long James River Bridge. (click to enlarge)
Olympus E-M1 Mark II, 12-100mm f/4 lens @ 44nn; 1/160th sec. @ f/13; ISO 200

I thought the circumstances deserved recording, so here are just a couple of quick images I made the other day just before sunset.

This area has snow storms so infrequently that the localities don't have any substantial snow removal equipment.  Snow plows are bolted on the front of dump trucks, garbage trucks, while road graders and front loaders are put into service.  Whenever it snows, only the main roads are plowed or salted.  None of the neighborhood streets are cleared which makes it interesting for citizens to get out safely.  Lots of ice on the streets.  For example, the snow fell last Thursday but my street is still a solid sheet of ice.  One just has to be careful.

Thanks for looking. Enjoy! 

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