December is the cool breeze of winter blowing autumn aside.

Each day pushing toward the Winter Solstice, which will occur at 5:30 a.m. on Dec. 22, means less light. For photographers, especially landscapers, it means having to adjust schedules in order to maximize the best light. Or have to deal with hardly any light at all when clouds roll into valleys and linger.

December means the onset of winter’s regular doses of snow. In the East Kootenay, and elsewhere, ski seasons open and snow sport enthusiasts start to get their fixes. It also means having to be extra careful on the highway.

This year, December has been pretty mild, especially the past week or so, with daytime temperatures reaching +10 C last Saturday in Cranbrook. Heck, our neighbours, clad in t-shirts, were out in their driveway hose-washing the salt and grime off their vehicles. And there were long lines at car washes, too.

With Christmas’s cheery brilliance a few planetary turns away, merely three after the solstice, we decided to run ‘December in the East Kootenay’ now. A special Christmas edition of our monthly photographic feature depicting scenes, feelings, moments and quirks of our beautiful mountain region, will run at the end of this month.

And rolling past Christmas toward New Year and into January and beyond, we can all take comfort in knowing that each day will bless with a tad more light than the one before. More time for more natural light images!

In this feature we have images of Cranbrook and area, Elkford, Sparwood, Fernie and the Elk Valley, including Galloway and Jaffray. Additionally, there are shots of the Columbia Valley, ranging from Fairmont Hot Springs to Invermere, as well as Moyie and Skookumchuck.

Ian Cobb/e-KNOW

Article Share