Two champions of winter

A tranquil scene alongside the Ottauquechee River Trail in Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

On winter days when the sun doesn’t appear, and there’s no falling snow, you might say there’s reason for an eager photographer to despair. But with shades of blue and purple pervading the winter landscape, there’s still plenty of room for even minimal light to put on a show for the lens. 

Blue and purple — I call them the foundational colors of winter. You could also call them champions, because sometimes, champions have to shine when their possibilities seem a bit obscure, or even non-existent.

Venturing out to ski the Ottauquechee River Trail in Woodstock on Saturday, I wasn’t sure what I’d find for pictures on a cloudy winter’s day, but where there’s a river and land, you have something good to work with. The purple and blue waiting up there in the sky didn’t disappoint. In several photos, even the precious little daylight nature had left illuminated the elements in stunning fashion. The sky with its blues, grays and whites, the mountains and their purple hues, the stoic fields below, the calm river, the trees and their reflections — all were united in one, grand natural composition. It was there, just being, in perfect harmony. 

More was happening in that quiet place than met the eye. It was life, in all its bounty and richness, absorbing light and creating its own radiance on a cloudy day. At the center of it all, were blue and purple, abundantly sharing their beauty throughout the landscape. All of this holds something special for us to know — and remember. Light doesn’t always appear the way we think it will, but the elements to create the beautiful picture we need already exist. And if we get out into our surroundings and stay open to what life can reveal, we can find the inspiration and encouragement that leads us on to progress. We can find champions, illuminating the greatness that was always there. 

— Gareth Henderson

Cherishing hope for all seasons

Lights along an Elm Street sidewalk in Woodstock Village. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

It wasn't long ago that varying temperatures and the crunch of leaves under our feet were common features of the outdoor experience. But now, we're firmly in the chilly grasp of winter, and — if the forecasters have it right — we'll soon feel even more snow crunching underfoot.

The full arrival of wintertime is one more reminder that, regardless of changing human circumstances, the natural world rolls on. There is some comfort in the constancy of nature — it has ushered in the seasons we're already familiar with, during a year full of things unfamiliar. The experience that sticks in my mind the most was the shift from winter into spring, and what a huge sense of hope, comfort and renewal it inspired. The world was coming alive, showing its brilliant light and resilience, and posing a stern, visual challenge to the dark shadows of adversity.

Today, we're faced with a winter of now-familiar obstacles, including the pandemic, political tensions, and the struggling economy. But even as these loom large, we don't have to forsake the feelings of hope the spring inspired. We can remember all that’s been renewed and richly expressed, time and again, which is our love of and dedication to our neighbors and communities, and our collective strength in the face of many hurdles.

Those virtues remain at the heart of our existence, because they are foundational to us. They persist because we are still here, with each other, and for each other. No matter how steep a mountain we have to climb, we can still genuinely seek ways to work together for good and witness progress. That's a foundation made from hope, and one we can still build on.

— Gareth Henderson

To rise and renew

Sunlight pours over the landscape along River Road in Woodstock, Vermont, on Friday. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

The day after a winter storm, nature puts on a brilliant, sparkling show of beauty, and Friday didn't disappoint. In contrast to the cloud-filled sky of a day ago, sunrise gradually filled the landscape with light as Vermont woke up to frigid single-digit temperatures. Some of us had more snow removal to handle, or snow to play in, but for others, it was a day to look out on and admire from the indoors — at least for the chilling morning hours.

That last line describes me well (the staying inside part), but by mid-afternoon, spending time at the desk became old, and it was time to check out this day of abundant sun and snow up close. The temperatures rose somewhat as daylight grew, but a strong chill hung in the air with the stillness of winter. The late-afternoon sun along River Road in Woodstock was sharp, piercing the snowy white landscape with its dazzling rays. The light, cast into the woods, held its graceful poise upon the trees and snow, as shadows boldly heralded the coming night.

Yet, this show of light and shadow was not gone in an instant. It had its own peace and permanence, with the light's power and vitality remaining strong even in seeming retreat. After driving to several spots along River Road where I could photograph the setting sun's brilliant impact, my wife and I took a walk along the section near Billings Farm. By then, the sun was hitting only the very tops of the surrounding mountains, and I was pondering how spectacular certain views would be during sunrise, when the veil is lifted for the day. The graceful transition from darkness to morning holds a timely lesson, that the light can’t be forever hidden. It must always rise and renew everything in its path. That's sunrise — buoyant, joyful, strong, advancing. It always returns, with the hope of a day renewed.

— Gareth Henderson

Winter’s majesty

Branches are weighed down by heavy snow in Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Early forecasts had the southern Vermont area missing the heaviest snowfall of this week's epic winter storm, but that was not to be. Instead, some parts of the region got over 40 inches, like Ludlow which saw a whopping 42. Elsewhere in the Northeast, parts of New York also topped 40 inches, and snowfall records were snapped in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. In Binghamton, New York, the National Weather Service reported nearly 40 inches of snow, that city’s largest total snowfall since records began in 1951.

This storm got winter off to a start many areas hadn't seen in years. For some parts of the Northeastern U.S., this one storm dumped more snow than the entirety of last winter. That says a lot about the size of this storm and the mild snowfall some areas experienced last winter. Obviously, this week's winter blast was the antithesis of mild, and caught some people quite unaware. Case in point: Check out the timelapse video in this CNN report where some lonely deck furniture quickly gets buried in Binghamton, New York.

Speaking of decks, cars and walkways, many of us were thrust right into the middle of wintry clean-up in the blink of an eye. This storm seemed that fast. In some parts of the region, the snow fell at six inches per hour. That slowed and continued through part of the day, before tapering off in the afternoon as people everywhere continued with their wintry tasks. A few people turned to wintry walks in the evening, and, as for us, my wife, daughter and I headed downtown for a brisk walk in winter air — my daughter bringing her Nordic skis along for fun.

In every way, today felt like the beginning of winter, and with its majesty all around us, I look forward to enjoying it and letting its beauty inspire me as I write. That inspiration can be shared by all of us, as winter brings out some of the most beautiful scenes in nature. Perhaps that awe-inspiring beauty can warm our hearts at the coldest of times and inspire us as we endeavor to make progress in life. That's the kind of inspiration we can really use this winter, and with that spark of winter's majesty, we can bring that light with us into the holiday season and share it with others.

— Gareth Henderson

A unique seasonal switch

Fall foliage lines a country road in Pomfret, Vermont, in early October. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Every day brings another sign of fall heading into winter, and this year, the seasonal transition is unique. 

As the familiar scenes of tumbling leaves and the first snowflakes grace our landscape, there is a sense of something less familiar, a feeling of uncharted waters awaiting us. In those waters, we see challenges we've learned more about in recent months, including the pandemic, resulting financial strain, and the racial tensions pervading the nation. Among all this, there seems to be a growing feeling of polarization, a lack of collective will to strive together for solutions on these pressing issues. Many times, that division can be the most frustrating problem, as it exacerbates the impact of the other three. 

As troubling as these factors are, there is cause for hope, even as we head into the coldest season of the year. We can easily affirm we have a strong foundation as people, and can still realize further progress, because of what we've done up to this point. We have helped our neighbors, sectors have innovated to meet urgent needs, and new generations have stepped up in the social justice movement. Furthermore, more people have an awareness of the fact that their actions in support of a just cause can make a difference, even if those actions seem small at the time. 

Moving forward, we can use the seasonal switch not as an impediment to progress, but as an opportunity. Let it be an opportunity which further unites us around all we have learned this year about ourselves and how we can make a difference in others' lives, and thus amplify the greater good for all. More than anything else, we've learned that we don't exist on an island, even if we live on a remote hill in the countryside. These recent months have proven that we're all part of the fabric of humanity, and this is the time to embrace the part we all play in it. As we move into a new season, let's not allow change to weaken our resolve, but strengthen our commitment to the kind of progress we can all share. 

— Gareth Henderson