What Color is Snow?
Snow in the New Jersey Pine Barrens is not common. When it does come, it usually disappears a day or two later. Not this winter. An early snowstorm had all the photographers scrambling out to capture this rarity. Then more snowstorms happened, followed by frigid temperatures. Instead of the usual “here today, melted tomorrow,” the snow hung around and went from magical to grungy and kind of annoying.
One of the things that inspires me about snow comes from a conversation I had with landscape artist Peter Fiore years ago. He told a story about when his kids were little. They were outside one winter day, and he asked them what color the snow was. White was the obvious answer, but Peter pointed out how the snow actually can be many colors by reflecting the colors of the sky and the landscape.
This extended stretch of snow has revealed how snow and ice set the mood of an image. That mood is not created simply by being cold, but by how snow and ice reflect, sometimes boldly and sometimes subtly, the colors around them.
At First Light Late January by Peter Fiore
A Very Bucks County Sunset by Richard Lewis 2026
News Year’s Day In the Birches by Richard Lewis 2026
Frozen View Of Apple Pie Hill by Richard Lewis 2025
New Year’s Morning 2026 by Richard Lewis
Drifting Snow On A Frozen Bog by Richard Lewis 2026
Afternoon Reflections On A Frozen Pond by Richard Lewis 2026
Frozen Beaver Pond Sunset by Richard Lewis 2026
Icy Sunset Reflection by Richard Lewis 2026
Frozen Cranberry Bogs by Richard Lewis 2026
Icy Sunset At An Abandoned Marina by Richard Lewis 2026
Last Light on the Great Bay by Richard Lewis 2026
Whitesbog Winter Scene by Richard Lewis 2026
Through Frozen Cedars by Richard Lewis 2026
Icy Morning Color by Richard Lewis 2026
8 Degrees and Rising by Richard Lewis 2026
Snow is white, and ice is either clear or the natural color of the water, which here in the Pine Barrens is tea-colored. Ice and snow also reflect color, which ultimately creates a mood. A friend commented on the photograph above, saying how the 8-degree cold scene managed to warm her heart. Seeing how the colors unfold on a landscape is heartwarming, even when the temperatures are well below freezing.
Enjoy!
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Wonderful post and terrific images.
Thanks Larry.
Hello Rich,
A very nice blog post. You did a beautiful job “illustrating” your point of view with so many photographic examples. I had an experience this morning with blue ice and water reflecting the blue sky this morning. Thank you for your inspiration.
Thanks Bob. I’m happy to share the inspiration!
Great images, Rich!
Absolutely beautiful. Love your work. ❤️
Beautiful, but I can’t wait to get inside to the warm
Making it back to the car and turning the heat up all the way works really well too.
Thanks for sharing. It was a great read, and the pictures are amazing! Ina
Thanks Ina. Nice to hear from you and I’m glad you enjoyed this post.
Beautiful. Nature is amazing!
Yes it is!
My friend, you have an AMAZING eye for beautiful scenes (compositions).
Brrrrrr, you’ve got the artistic view of everything, from old Nike sites to beautiful scenes like these! I shivered with cold when I saw your photos on this one! NJ does has some outstanding nature, if you just want to look for it.