As a photographer, it pays to be opportunistic.

One mid-February morning, big, white flakes fell softly as I commuted to my office job. Once there, I vainly tried to keep my mind on the work at hand, but my attention was ineluctably drawn to what was happening outside. By mid-morning, no longer able to resist temptation, I excused myself, picked up my camera and my wife, and we headed off to John Bryan State Park, a short drive east of Dayton.

The light was perfect: a bright, even glow. The air was still. Colors were muted: soft browns of sycamore bark and leaves that hadn't yet fallen, the earthy green of the river. Subtle warmth glowed from beneath the fresh cover of snow. This was a rare, perfect winter moment in the Ohio woods. While Joyce held an umbrella to keep the snow off the camera, I worked the camera and was rewarded with this image. (Also see two other images I made the same morning: #9327 and #9329.)