Thursday, December 26, 2024

Back to the gutter

Frozen little world
London, ON
December 2024
This photo originally shared on Instagram

It’s gutter ice* season again, so I’m back to lurking in the dusty corners of the neighbourhood in search of miniature wonders that won’t exist by lunchtime.

I get stares from strangers - including one homeowner who opened the door and watched intently as I crouched down to shoot the street in front of her house. I get it: I’d probably think it’s weird, too.

In a world sometimes overwhelmed with darkness, there’s a certain appeal to finding tiny examples of weather-carved joy in the most surprising margins of day-to-day life. And a dirty puddle where the sidewalk meets the road is as surprisingly marginal as it gets.

So that’s where I look. Otherwise I’d miss out on a pretty good - and temporary - show. And so would you.

——

*Gutter ice happens when everything gets good and wet from rain or melting snow, then quickly freezes overnight. The rapid cooling can turn puddles into tiny crystallized winter wonderlands that make for awesome spontaneous macro photography scenes.

The operative goal is to shoot fast, because they usually melt before the dog is finished terrorizing the neighbourhood. Besides, this phenomenon doesn’t happen all that often, so we either shoot it now or lose the opportunity entirely.

I don’t actually think that the term “gutter ice” is a real thing - but it’s real to me. And hopefully, now, to you, as well.

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