In a reflective mood at the end of winter? Check out Andy Chen’s winter photography over at Kumquat’s Musings. I’m anxious for the high-res scan to plaster on my desktop.

Photography in unusual lighting conditions like this one is more tricky but well worth the effort. I’ve taken a photo or two in those situations, and almost inevitably end up thinking “Wow, I didn’t notice these detail when I was taking the photo.” The realism of photography is also the most deceiving — a scene that is rushed, loud, noisy, and uncomfortable to the photographer can appear peaceful and serene to the viewer. I can usually tell when I have a good photo if I notice things in the proof that I hadn’t seen when I was physically at the scene.