"Personally, I find great pleasure in shooting intimate landscapes. Wherever you are in the world, it's possible to find magic in a few square meters."
-Hans Strand

Go big or go home?

Maybe not.

While "big landscapes" are impressive, the macro world can be equally as interesting and beautiful. Better yet, close-up subject matter can be found just about anywhere (i.e. no need to travel). Switch lenses and start looking around!

During the spring and summer months, gardens are fantastic places to work. Abstracts can be found regardless of the weather conditions. From backlit full sun to heavy drizzle - and pretty much everything between: they can all yield good close-up images. Conversely, find a field of wildflowers, put some extension tubes on a long lens and experiment with color washes.

As we head into winter, expanding your repertoire to include close-up work may spell the difference between being able to shoot or not. Let's face it: there are times when it's just not worth trying to get behind the wheel and white-knuckle it through piles of snow and ice. I certainly am in no mood to drive 90 miles during a winter storm - including a run over the Teton Pass - no matter how much I'd like to shoot in Grand Teton National Park.

Fortunately, there are other options, some of which you might find just outside your door.

Winter Lace (Snow)

While snow is falling, particularly if it's coming down at a good clip in relatively calm conditions, you may find endless possibilities. Dry and powdery will give you one type of scene, while heavy and wet delivers something entirely different. Particularly if you live in a wooded area, the lacy patterns created by pristine, newly-fallen snow can be spectacular.

Freezing Rain

While this may not be so magical in terms of potential power outages, there's nothing like the aftermath of freezing rain: ice-encased branches, twigs, and leaves become fanciful abstractions. If the ice holds after the sun comes out, the reflected light can be magical.

Ice

Particularly after a freeze/thaw/re-freeze cycle (and depending on the water source), you might find some really interesting abstract swirl patterns or crystals in the ice. Objects such as leaves or rocks in or under the ice can add depth or texture. This doesn't necessarily require a lake, stream, creek or river. A ditch that has collected water can work just as well.

Hoar Frost

Freezing fog (usually overnight) can create spectacular hoar frost, with ice crystals covering just about everything. Depending on how moist the air was, the resulting crystal patterns can be quite intricate and very thick. Put your macro lens on the camera and go hunting!

Expansive landscapes are great, but they're not the only game in town. The natural world is full of interesting "small" scenes, and they're always available. Look for the magic that's all around us.