Tidal snow and ice

A snow pedestal slowly melts at the base during high tide. Temperatures just under freezing keep it standing during low tide. Gone soon.

As winter loosens its frigid grasp on the North Atlantic, ice and snow slowly disappear, as the warmth of the spring sun intensifies. On the first day of spring, I walked along a rocky beach in Maine and came across beautiful snow structures sculpted by the tides, many slipping toward the bay, while others remained in place, but soon to be melted and join the icy water of Blue Hill Harbor. Each day there is less left standing, and I was fortunate to be able to capture some of nature's icy sculptures and patterns before they are lost to spring.

All photos © 2015 by John R Stiles. All rights reserved. It is illegal to use any of the images without permission. For inquiries about sales or one time or multiple use, please contact the author at stilesphoto@yahoo.com.

Sensuous curves result from the changing tides

Snow Sphinx

A shelf finally breaks as the ice below it is melted away

Hardy algae clings to a boulder, staying alive through the winter.

A scallop shell is temporarily trapped beneath the ice.

Winter woods

In just over a week I have wandered through tropical woods in Thailand and now a snowy north woods in Maine, USA. Although it may seem that I seek out forested areas to explore, the fact is that I sometimes simply find myself in or near them and are drawn to their wondrous shapes, majestic yet serene bearing and intricately graceful lines. 

In this post, I share photos from two walks on successive days during late spring snowfalls that layered everything in a blanket of crystalline snow. How fortunate I am to have walked in two very different yet in many ways similar environments in a matter of days. There is something quite special about being alone in the woods no matter where they are.

All rights reserved. All photos © 2015 by John R Stiles. It is illegal to use these images without permission. For information regarding sales or buying one time or multiple use, please contact John Stiles at stilesphoto@yahoo.com

Wonderful woods

I recently wandered around a university campus in Korat, Thailand (a needed break from a conference), and was drawn to the 7,000 rai (2800 acre) woods allowed to grow freely, resulting in strange and wonderfully shaped trees competing for light. There is no trail, so I heeded the advice of my friend Fred Ham ("Make one!") and walked in through the brambles, random spines and ever present red ants. The shots on this post are of the often mesmerizing twisted limbs and trunks.