Oh, winter. I know there’s beauty in every season, but it’s hardest for me to see this time of year. Gray upon gray, sleet, snow and rain…sigh. It’s hard to find creative motivation on these slow, gloomy days.

Yet, limitations can force creativity. Not having the ability to go on a photo walk or explore beyond these four walls, I chose some simple props and began to play. Not a bad way to spend an afternoon!

Dark and moody days call for some dark and moody shots, don’t you agree? On this day, I decided to use fresh mandarins, a dark surface, and underexposure to see what kind of mood I could create.

It’s amazing how quickly time passes when you’re selecting, arranging, and rearranging elements for a still life. And how tricky these seemingly simple shots can be!

This afternoon of play reminded me how much I enjoy this process! And also of my previous plans to create my own backdrops, to delve deeper into the still live genre, and to practice more.

What are you doing to jumpstart your creativity during these long days of winter? Please share your projects and ideas in the comments below.

~Leslie