As hoped, a winter storm on my return visit to New York delivered a fresh coat of snow. More white and black than black and white.

The composition is not as clean and minimal as I would have preferred - but given the weather, driving for a more compelling scene wasn't an option.

The trees inject line, shape, and texture into the image, which works well in monochrome. The fallen log leads the eye to the meandering and frozen stream, which adds depth to the heart of the photograph.

This project is a working exercise and not an end-product, so choosing to work with a complex composition rather than searching for a more pristine one seems appropriate.

Returning to the same setting in another season of the year always makes for a compelling study. Bookmarked for the future, however, this could be quite a busy scene without the snow.

f3.6 1/1000 sec ISO 320 Jan 7, 2022