Engaging photographs are abundant in Vermont most times of the year. Winter is cold and brutal but beautiful. The Summer’s are hot and buggy but the mountains always offer subjects. I don’t even have to talk about Autumn, it’s epic. That leaves the Spring. That’s the tough season. It starts off looking and acting just like winter but ends up feeling like Summer. What goes on in between is a photographic challenge. Lots of melting snow and ice provide ample moisture for the seemingly unending supply of mud.
Any Mention of Spring to a Vermonter and they automatically think of the months of May and early June (and maple syrup). Those are the months when the Green returns to the Green Mountains and its safe to think of Summer’s return. These two months are a joy to photograph. April, while still chilly does offer flowers and color along with all the mud. That leaves March. March is tough to define. Some years are snowier and bitter cold and others damp and clammy. Photographic subjects can be difficult to find or even when found difficult to photograph.
March begins just like February ends – bitter cold and lots of snow. As the month progresses and sunlight increases those cold bitter days start to lengthen and snow and ice begin to melt. This is where the photographic challenge begins.
March can make things easy when Mother Nature feels generous. She can offer the occasional March blizzard with heavy snows or a balmy warm day with lots of mist. Those are the lucky days. Most March days are spent navigating the mud and melting snow and ice. For a landscape photographer, you have to compose images with bare trees, discolored snow, large puddles and lots of sticks. March photography also requires additional equipment cleaning. All the mud, dirt and dampness means lots of cleaning when you return home from the field.
So, after all, is it worth dragging yourself and your camera out at this time of the year?
So, after all, is it worth heading out to take photos? The simple answer is yes. Just make sure to consider subjects and compositions that maybe you would skip in other seasons. Again, my comments here are talking strickly about landscape photography. There are other subjects for those looking at different genres. In March, farms are coming back to life and the sugaring is ramping up. These make for great subjects for those so inclined.
