“Silently, like thoughts that come and go, the snowflakes fall, each one a gem.”
– William Hamilton Gibson
LET IT SNOW
A riot of colour, the jockeys’ outfits bounces off each other as they contrast with the pure white snow. It’s an image of speed and glamour, staged in the heart of the winter.
Taken in springtime, one can see the green hues of the leaves slowly creeping back, breathing back into the plant as the snow melts around it. Perhaps most startling about these images is the extent to which they resemble a human form.
Taken on Saunders Island in the Falkland Islands, Darwin captures what seems to be an epic summit attempt by a set of penguins. Positioned in a clever line, they slowly make their way to the top of the hill or mountain.
Shot in the St Vzran mountains in the heart of the Southern Alps in France, the photographer Jacques Pion recalls “After a long time waiting for the right moment, a skier magically appeared alone in the middle of the snow desert. So beautiful and graphic. I have never seen this moment again!”. The photograph captures that blissful mountain moment when you find yourself totally alone in the mountains.
The stunningly remote landscape is a far cry from the increasingly urbanised centres of the world. Here, we look out across snow dunes towards an approaching storm.
This abstract landscape of rolling snow-covered hills has nothing but a spruce tree in the mid-distance. The smooth, almost man-made surface of the landscape shows the absolute absence of human presence.
This surreal shot of St Petersburg carpeted in snow transports the city back to a historic era. A low mist shrouds the midground in this eerily empty view. Perhaps the most charming aspect of this photograph is the soft footprints that snake away from the bench and towards the Church of the Savior in the distance. We are left to question whose they are and how they got there. The long shadows suggest either dawn or dusk.
Shot in December 2006 in natural light, Yeo remarks that “The Twins were photographed on the seafront in Folkestone during the Christmas holidays. The couple intrigued and fascinated me in equal measure. Everything about them is the same from their facial expression to the teddy bears hanging from their bags. The snowy day highlighted their need for quilted black coats. It also highlighted their foot movement in preparing and positioning for the shoot. We all went off to a nearby cafe afterwards, for a cup of tea and to warm up as it was a pretty chilly morning standing around”.
A majestic black and white portrait of a rare Snow Leopard.
Blanketed in untouched snow, this soft and idyllic shot of mountainous life sees a church rise well above the clouds. Its red-tiled roof presents a striking contrast against the white snow and blue sky. One can almost sense the silence and calming sense of both community and religiosity.