Winter's Endless Grip

Winter in northern Michigan is way to long!

Scott Peterson

3/31/20252 min read

And yet, winter has its moments. Take this morning, for instance. A freezing rain overnight coated the trees in glistening ice, followed by four inches of fresh snow. As I shoveled the driveway in the early morning darkness, I caught myself hoping for a break in the clouds. After warming up with another cup of coffee, I glanced outside—and there it was. The sun had broken through, illuminating the ice-covered trees against a brilliant blue sky. It was too perfect to resist. I grabbed my camera and headed straight for the beach, and what a morning it turned out to be.

The older I get, the less I seem to tolerate winter. Let’s face it—winters in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula are long, dark, cold, and snowy. Winter typically settles in around mid-November and lingers through mid-April. Oh, but Mother Nature loves to play tricks on us. Take this March, for example—she gave us a glorious week of sunshine and temperatures in the 50s and 60s. The snow melted, and we all started dreaming of an early start to yard work. But she wasn’t done with us yet. The past two weeks brought two major snowstorms, school closures, and over 20 inches of fresh snow in my hometown. Just when you think spring is around the corner, winter reminds you who’s boss.

As a photographer, winter presents both challenges and rewards. Freshly fallen snow on a sunny day can be breathtaking, transforming the landscape into a pristine wonderland. But those sunny days? They’re rare. More often, winter offers a dull, overcast sky, making everything look flat and lifeless. Then there’s the struggle of managing camera controls with frozen fingers or while fumbling with bulky gloves. Some mornings, when the world outside is cold and colorless, it’s far too easy to convince yourself to stay inside, sipping coffee by the fire rather than braving the elements for a few shots.

Maybe winter isn’t all bad. Maybe I’ve been too harsh. But then again... nah, I’m still not a fan! How much longer until summer?

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoy the photos from today. If you liked this post, please consider sharing and subscribing for more ramblings and pictures.