Vance's Journal

March 4, 2001 

Winter in Jackson Hole has always been one of my favorite seasons.  Unlike in many other locations, it begins early and lingers longer than many people appreciate.  It is often characterized by extended periods of brilliant sunshine, crystal clear, starlit nights that can see temperatures drop to 20 or 30 degrees below zero.  The air is crisp, the silence is palpable, the snow is deep and the snow is whiter than any white most people could imagine.  Shadows are long and point distinctly north.  The Tetons appear larger than ever and create a deep sense of awe. 

There are other periods when clouds shroud the mountains, buttes, and hilltops, sometimes for days at a time.  Millions, upon millions of sparkling diamond crystals of snow fill the air, sometimes drifting silently, softly to blanket everything.  At other times, driven by powerfully intense winds, the snow is whipped and churned into fantastic drifts, shapes, and patterns that intrigue, delight, and sometimes amuse. 

Perhaps the most stunning and beautiful creations come in the aftermath of storms.  The clear cold nights produce dense fog over rivers and streams that continue to flow throughout the winter, and every object caught in the fog is transformed into incredible frosted works of art.  Trees, fence posts, power lines…nothing is spared this miraculous transformation.  These images take on a fairytale quality that create my favorite subjects for photographic images.  

Even as I sit here at my desk I can look out and marvel at a view I scarcely recognize!

No photograph can capture the sparkle, the brilliance, or the smell of wood burning fireplaces in the cold night air.  I try to capture what I can on film, but it will never provide the viewer with a complete “picture” of winter in Jackson Hole.  A person must experience it by living it, and I feel I am one of the lucky ones because it is a part of my daily existence.  To be deep in the heart of Grand Teton National Park on cross country skis on one of those incredibly beautiful days I love, is something I live to experience.  

Jenny Lake Miracle WV-111	The Magic of Teton Frost WV-106
Grand Teton Cathedral Magic WH-122

As winter begins to lose its grip on the nation as a whole, it will continue to linger here.  Our transition to spring is a long slow process.  I use this time to “catch up” on things long neglected, and to explore and photograph in other locations…no decision on where I’ll “shoot” this spring, but I’ll share the “best” of the images when I can!  Right now, I’m working on my selection of flower cards, and branching into Greeting Note Cards.  There are always new avenues to explore, new images to chose from, new adventures to anticipate…all I lack is time!!  Does this sound familiar to any of you out there?  Thank you, Joni, my web wizard, for putting up with my constant need for change!

Previous Journal Entries

September 22, 2000
 June 3, 2000
April 28, 2000