Capturing Winter’s Whisper: A Photographic Journey by Fall Creek’s Historic Esker Ridge

Join me in the mesmerizing world of photography as we capture the ethereal beauty of a frosty January morning, where history meets nature’s artistry. Explore more on our blog.

MichaelStephenWills

On this chilly January morning in 2005, as the sun rose low in the southern sky beyond a forested esker ridge, I prepared to take a long-anticipated photograph. Armed with a Sony DSC-F828, equipped with an integrated flex lens, a UV filter, and a tripod, I had all the essentials to capture the scene with the desired clarity, depth, and sharpness. Stabilizing the lens was crucial to achieve this.

I attained the shimmering gloss effect by waiting for the sun to ascend above the ridge, casting shafts of light through the trees and illuminating the water at an oblique angle.

Even in late January, the stream retains enough warmth to generate a mist as the air cools after sunset. This phenomenon frosts the twigs on the far bank, creating those white stick figures. The remnants of the previous day’s snowfall still cling to the branches.

Fall Creek freezes from the bottom up.  First the water smoothed boulders accumulate a glaucous ice coat.  Slowly moving water freezes from the edges, in stages, the middle stage an ornate filagree.  The stream narrows downstream where the surface ice first joins.  As the year progresses through February the creek gradually recedes under the ice, replaced by an ice road.

What exactly is an esker ridge? Formed over 10,000 years ago as the last glaciers retreated, these sinuous, ridge-like hills were shaped by channels of meltwater and sediment flowing beneath the ice. One result was the redirection of Fall Creek’s path through a field of eskers, where, in the 19th century, a dam and water mill were established. There the Mallory family produced barrels and furniture. The house in this photograph was once the workshop of that very mill, now transformed into my former home.

Copyright 2024 Michael Stephen Wills All Rights Reserved

56 thoughts on “Capturing Winter’s Whisper: A Photographic Journey by Fall Creek’s Historic Esker Ridge”

  1. Interesting description of how the creeks freezes. Loved the look of the “ornate filigree”, like a lacy edge of curiosity. Wonderful photo, Michael. 🙂

    Liked by 3 people

  4. A beautiful image, Michael. It’s hard for an Aussie girl to appreciate life in this setting! We do have our snow fields, and areas where snow falls (sporadically and short lived). However, to truly understand life in this setting is quite a grasp, as incredibly mesmerising as the scene is it must have been a struggle, at times?

    Liked by 3 people

      1. Oh my! I did follow the link; however, I didn’t read all the description thinking it was a repeat of your post. Wasn’t I wrong! It amazes me the lengths some photographers go to get ‘that’ image. Poor you; that must have been absolutely awful to spend the winter like that. Though, I must say, the ‘capture’ is very special, indeed.

        Liked by 1 person

  8. I can’t stand cold winter but I like this shot.

    I especially like how those frosted branches at the edge of the left third stand out against the shadowed snow in the background. It’s a beautiful detail.

    Liked by 2 people

  9. Beautiful description and so glad you shared this about eskers. You know I have been twice to an Ohio esker and posted about it; but misspelled it as “escher.” (Who obviously was a great artistic photographer, especially those neverending stairs. . .)

    Liked by 2 people

  10. I love your photos. This shot is perfect. You captured the best in everything. Winter in NY is a photographer’s delight. I just could not take the winter cold anymore so we moved from Oyster Bay in Long Island to Johns Island in Charleston in 2011.

    Liked by 2 people

  11. We first cane to Charleston in 1993 when we were checking out places to retire in the South and after three trips, we decided it was the place for us. You definitely have to visit Charleston but beware, it bewitches everyone who comes here. They want to stay.

    Liked by 2 people

  12. Michael, this is a wonderful photo — there’s such an essence of stillness and beauty of winter. I’m so glad that I saw this. Seeing it uplifted my day! (And I don’t usually love wintertime 🙂 ). Thanks for the description … very interesting how the lake freezes.

    Lovely to connect with you, Michael. I hope you and your wife are doing really well. Debbie

    Liked by 2 people

  13. Pingback: Hoary Elm – Michael Stephen Wills Photography
  14. Pingback: The Thaw at Taughannock Falls – Michael Stephen Wills Photography
  15. Pingback: Frozen Fall Creek II – Michael Stephen Wills Photography
  16. Pingback: Frozen Fall Creek III – Michael Stephen Wills Photography

  19. Hi You are so interesting! I don’t think I have read something like this before. So nice to find another person with some genuine thoughts on this subject matter. Really.. thanks for starting this up. This website is one thing that is needed on the web, someone with a little originality! thanks

    Liked by 2 people

  20. The beautiful photo makes me long for winter. Here the temperatures are much too high for the time of year. It’s only been freezing for 1 day… I hope we get a few more white days. In the meantime I can only enjoy your beautiful picture there by the creek.

    Liked by 3 people

  31. Pingback: Exploring the Beauty of Fall Creek Falls: A Photographer's Journey

Comments are closed.