Along a Lake Superior bay within Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, snow squalls gusted and swirled across the expanse of ice. High winds blasted snow around ice fishing shanties as we struggled to keep warm in the below zero temperatures - far, far below zero with the wind chill. Michigan's Upper Peninsula in winter is no places for sissies.

From years of experience, I know that falling snow photographs beautifully when my technique is right. The cloud layer has to be light enough that I can use a fast shutter speed to freeze the falling flakes. There has to be a beautiful foreground and a muted, but not white, background so that the snowflakes can provide a contrasting texture.

In this photograph I love the Northern White Cedars in the foreground; these wetland-loving trees are old and scraggly and have seen many a frigid winter. I named this photograph after one of my favorite books, written by David Guterson. The novel is a murder mystery, a love story, and a history of the mistreatment of Japanese-Americans during World War II. Most of all, it is lyrically written - a grace I similarly tried to achieve in this picture.

Lee Rentz

lee@leerentz.com