Winter photography, particularly shooting in the falling snow, has always been of interest to me, especially since I first read Martin Burwash's books that featured many images of Stevens Pass in the grasp of old man winter. Trains, rolling in the valleys beneath snow capped peaks; through rock cuts lined with the snow covered pines; struggling upgrade through a massive snow fall; it has always called me.

But this past winter was the first year that I was able to venture out and try my hand at this new challenge. For those of who have never been railfanning or taken pictures in the snow, it is radically different from summertime shooting. Often times the drive to the location can be very treacherous and slow going. Snow covered roads and other hidden dangers may result in your missing a great shot, your car getting stuck, or worse. Many locations will require a hike if you want to shoot from somewhere besides a grade crossing, and believe me those are more tiring that you think.

There is another problem once you get to your location: capturing a good image. If you haven't noticed, the sun doesn't come out too often in the mountains in wintertime, which alone causes problems. The snow plays tricks on you and your meter, making it very tricky to get a correct exposure. After a couple of trips, you get the hang of it.

I always keep a saying in the back of my head while shooting in the snow: the greater the challenge, the greater the reward.

Jonathan Glanville, in addition to photographing trains and landscapes, also enjoys racing motorcycles and working on cars. A resident of Lynnwood, WA. This is Jonathan's first byline for NWOR. He can be reached at jglanvill2001@msn.com.