As my local Facebook groups are filling up with photos of snow, I’m singing the praises of ice as photography subject, thanks to a friend who showed me her images of the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens after a freezing spell, but before any snow fell.
Kenilworth, the only aquatic garden in the national park system, is swarming with photographers in summer, especially during its Lotus and Lily Festival. In winter you pretty much have the place to yourself.
Full disclosure – I added a bit of blue to the top photo. And why not?
Above, a natural shot of lotus seed pods in the water. 
Above, with a color and saturation added.
For the longer views I increased the saturation a bit.
I was pretty impressed that the photographer, an aspiring gardener, even had the notion to visit on a cold icy day to explore the photographic possibilities.
I was telling another friend about my newfound appreciation of ice photos and she immediately sent me two of her images from a regular gully.
To my eyes, the image above is stunning with no adjustment at all.
But I added some color to this one, and why not? Amazing ice formations!
Anyway, I’m staying warm while thanking my friends for inspiring me to find more beauty in the cold.
And while here in the East people are complaining about the freezing temperatures and 8 inches of snow, I’m appreciating winter more than ever, considering the catastrophic fires in winter-free Southern California. My family members live about 15 miles from the latest fire, so it’s real scary!
Snow’s photogenic, but so is ICE! originally appeared on GardenRant on January 12, 2025.
The post Snow’s photogenic, but so is ICE! appeared first on GardenRant.
