Diamonds in Ice

Sometimes you happen to be outside by accident when the lighting is just right, making an everyday scene look magnificent. This was one of those times when I shot several great macro images.

And the reason I had to be outdoors?

My dog asked to "go to the bathroom!" I never thought I'd say this on such an occasion, but: "Thank you, dog!"

Rock and Steel

When it comes to photography, most people prefer to see beautiful landscapes or interesting animals (not to mention women), if popular images on Instagram or 500px are of any indication. Yet in these cases it is the subject's innate aesthetic qualities, rather than the photographer's eye, that do much of the work. That is why my own preference often lies with conceptual pieces or ones with strong abstract qualities, like this one. This is one of my favorite macro works this season.

These frozen water drops from the previous image simply mesmerized me: upon closer inspection, they resemble chipped rock and molten steel all at once.

Winter's Golden Hour

The golden hour is every photographer's best friend that offers the most aesthetically pleasing natural lighting for almost any kind of image-taking, including portraiture. Even during generally colorless winters (those occasionally brilliant skies notwithstanding), this is the time that makes the most seemingly bland subjects—like snow on a branch—appear majestic.