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This week the weather forecast promised us frost and sunshine – a great combination for photography. Unfortunately, our two very cold mornings didn’t give the conditions I had hoped for. The first morning had plenty of frost, but was exceedingly grey and dull until about the middle of the day, then the next day the ground was frozen but there wasn’t any visible frost on the plants.
The photographs here are from previous winters. The frost on honesty pods (below) is a subject that I’d like to pursue further. I’ve even prepared a few of the dried pods by picking some, peeling the outer skins from the seed pods, and then leaving them in a position where they’re likely to catch both frost and sun. Now I have to wait for the weather to play along!
While I keep a watch on the weather, I’ve been staying warm indoors and learning a bit more about printmaking. It’s been a long time since I did printmaking of any kind. I am now trying out methods that I can fairly easily do at home, rather than needing the facilities of a printmaking workshop. There’s a lot for me to learn and it may be a little while before I have results that I can show here, but it will keep me happily occupied while it’s cold outside. ❄
Ann Mackay: Inspired by Nature 
Images of frosty plants are always compelling aren’t they? I particularly love those roses, so bravely pink still.
The printmaking sounds exciting Ann, there’s a great deal of printmaking you can do without a press. I’ve done linocut prints using the back of a spoon to apply pressure successfully in the past, and there are loads of other hand done printmaking techniques to try out as I’m sure you know. Don’t be shy about showing your work!
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It’s really time for me to get on and do a bit of printmaking again. Other things – mainly the garden – have kept me away from it, but now I’m planning to spend the wintry days working on it again. I even have a very small etching press. That will be something new to try, quite different from the big press at the printmaker’s workshop, but very convenient. 🙂
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We usually think of frost on dried-out plants, as in your first picture, so following that up with the blast of pink from the frosted roses is a startling and lovely departure.
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Thanks Steve! There can sometimes be a crossover between the last of the roses and the first frost and that was a year with an early frost. The frost has gone for the moment, so I reckon that the flowers that remain now will be long-gone by the time it comes back.
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So well photographed, Ann…utilised your weather efficiently!
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Thank you Indira! These photos were taken a couple of years ago, when we had a much heavier frost. Sadly, this time there wasn’t enough frost (or light) for photos, but there’s the whole winter ahead… 🙂
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I love the effect of frost on bits of nature at this time of year.
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Me too, but the frost was very limited and has now gone, so I may be in for a bit of a wait before there’s enough for photos…
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I thought of you yesterday when I saw some lingering roses. Of course we didn’t have any of that pretty frost to decorate them! The balance between sunshine and frost is a delicate one; I’m hoping that I get a chance this year to see some of our ice-producing frostweed, but it has to happen when I can get to the plants before the sun melts the ice!
I’ll be interested to see what your printmaking looks like. I have some wax print fabric from Liberia I’ve never done anything with. I should turn that into a winter project of my own, since there’s enough fabric for a dress.
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There are still a couple of these pink roses left on the bush, but I reckon the gales today and yesterday will have damaged them. I’m staying in out of the wind and am just about to try this little press for the first time…! (Slightly nervous, LOL!) Your fabric sounds interesting and a great winter project. Hope you find some frostweed!
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Those shimmering ice crystals rimming plants are so spectacular, Ann.
Wishing you just the right amount of frost and sunshine to be able to capture your favorite frosty motifs.
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It’s amazing how a little bit of frost can create something exciting out of the most ordinary of plant remains. The forecasted weather is pretty mild for the next while, but I have older frost photos still waiting to be processed, so the blog may have a wintery feel. 🙂
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Who’d believe the frost could be so disappointing? Hopefully (in the nicest way) you will still have plenty to enjoy over winter. Your print making sounds fascinating and a perfect creative activity for grey days, I hope there will be photos! 😊
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I know, I was surprised that the frost didn’t extend over the stems and seed heads on the second day, but it was the lack of light that was worst. Ah well. next time! This printmaking method (collagraphy) is showing me that I have lots to learn but that it will be fun! 🙂
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Love your frosty roses. Printmaking sounds interesting. I did some at college but that was 30 years ago, eek.
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Thanks Jill! (More frosty flowers next week.) The printmaking is fun but really need a bit more time for it – maybe as winter really sets in and I’m looking for things to do inside in the warm.
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