I love to read. I especially love to read fantasy and science fiction. Have been doing it since the early/mid '60's. One of my favorite fantasy series of all time is Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time One of the prequels to the main series is a short novel called New Spring It is set in a northern clime, just at the change from winter to spring. Cold and blustery for the most part but if you look hard you can see the signs of spring here, there and everywhere. I was at my sister's house about an hour north of NYC on March 24th, and "New Spring" was happening there. Here is my interpretation of what Robert Jordan means when he says "New Spring" All photos taken with the DS, as usual, C&C welcomed.
The first thing you notice about the changing of the seasons is that the snow/ice melts into interesting shapes.

Tamron 90mm Macro F13 at 1/500


Tamron 90mm Macro F6.7 at 1/250


DA 50-200 F5.6 at 1/500


The buds are swelling
Tamron 90mm Macro F8 at 1/250


Kit lens F8 at 1/1000


The Skunk Cabbage is melting it's way through the snow
Tamron 90mm Macro F11 at 1/250


And the daffodils are starting to push their way upwards also
Kit lens F11 at 1/250


The appropriately named snow drops are blooming
Tamron 90mm Macro F13 at 1/125


The Andromeda is starting to bloom
Kit lens F5.6 at 1/180


And last but not least, a Downy Woodpecker is starting to find insects.
DA 50-200 F5.6 at 1/500


Thanks for looking! For the original photos and more go here:
SmugMug - saltwater : Spring

NaCl(I enjoy the seasonal transitions)H2O

[photo_mom]

Hi!

Those books are among my favorites. I have read each one so many times I've lost count. About the only other books I can think I've read more are the Tolkien books. Can't wait for the next one. There's even someone who posts at DPR by the handle of taveren.

This series is a very apropos set of photos to go with that title. Quite nicely done! My favorite is the fuzzy buds in #4.

[clarenceclose]

Wow! Snow mushrooms and ice sabers, yet everywhere the pushing, budding, unfolding signs of spring. Nice series of shots. Looking forward to spring here too.

[NaClH2O]

Thanks for the nice words Clarence, yeah, after autumn, spring is my favorite season. So much new stuff happening every day! It was here for a bit last week, but now we're back to low 40's, cold blustery winds and grey threatening skies. But you can see it coming if you look for it.

Tracy, I figured that there would be at least one other Robert Jordan fan here, do you visit any of the WoT sites? Wotmania? Dragonmount? I've been a regular poster over at Wotmania since early 2003. I even have the same screen name. I'm looking forward to the last novel too. I've been reading and rereading them since 1990.
I think that #4 is one of my favorites also. It's hard to tell how the bokeh will come out when taking the photo, but I really like how this bokeh turned out.

NaCl(thanks for the good words)H2O

[Duh_Vinci]

Looks like someone had enough of the winter and had a nice walk around! Skunk Cabbage and Snow Drops are two of my personal favorites!

Regards,
D

[fevbusch]

A very refreshing and unusual theme, H2o. I think the skunk cabbage is my favorite but all the shots in aggregate make a nice set. Very productive work for an "off season". Freddy

[Alvin]

Nice set of photos, Salty! I like the ice sabres!

[NaClH2O]

Thanks everybody. I'm glad you liked them. I certainly had fun taking them.

NaCl(the beginnings of transitions are fun)H2O

[photo_mom]

T
Tracy, I figured that there would be at least one other Robert Jordan fan here, do you visit any of the WoT sites? Wotmania? Dragonmount? I've been a regular poster over at Wotmania since early 2003. I even have the same screen name. I'm looking forward to the last novel too. I've been reading and rereading them since 1990.
NaCl(thanks for the good words)H2O

Hi!

Not lately. I got burned by going to Wotmania once when I read something I didn't want to know. I like figuring things out about the stories. I got a little upset when Rand lost his hand in the last book, but other than that I've been very pleased with how he's playing out the story. Photo_dad is ready for him to just end it already. HA!

I'll have to go look for some of your posts! Do those threads get as contentious as some of our Pentax threads?

[NaClH2O]

Hi!

Not lately. I got burned by going to Wotmania once when I read something I didn't want to know. I like figuring things out about the stories. I got a little upset when Rand lost his hand in the last book, but other than that I've been very pleased with how he's playing out the story. Photo_dad is ready for him to just end it already. HA!

I'll have to go look for some of your posts! Do those threads get as contentious as some of our Pentax threads?

It's pretty slow over there now, it's been a long time since the last book was out and things have been discussed to death. Unfortunately with RJ's illness it will be an even longer wait than usual. And yes, things can get contentious to say the least! Some people have very strong feelings about some of the characters, Egwene especially seems to have people who either revile the air she breathes or bless the ground she walks on. Maybe even more contentious than the VPN threads over at DPR!

NaCl(it seems to be the female characters the get the most contention)H2O

[photo_mom]

It's pretty slow over there now, it's been a long time since the last book was out and things have been discussed to death. Unfortunately with RJ's illness it will be an even longer wait than usual. And yes, things can get contentious to say the least! Some people have very strong feelings about some of the characters, Egwene especially seems to have people who either revile the air she breathes or bless the ground she walks on. Maybe even more contentious than the VPN threads over at DPR!

NaCl(it seems to be the female characters the get the most contention)H2O

OH NO!! I just did a search on Robert Jordan while I was getting dinner on the table and found out about his health. How HORRIBLE!!

[vinzer]

These are wonderful photos Salty! Way to go!

I didn't know about RJ's condition until I read this thread. It's sad to hear about that.