Much of my photography has taken place in Spring and Autumn, and I've tended to avoid summer and winter.  I don't think I'm alone in this.  So whilst I'd done a little work in snow and ice, that's been happenstance not by design.  But I'd always enjoyed it and found myself wanting more. 

So winter 2015 saw me taking trips to Iceland and Norway's  Lofoten Islands complete with a new and serious wardrobe.  Not being used to driving in severe conditions, I joined photographic groups for  these - something I hadn't done for a very long time -  and a challenge in itself because I'm used to making my own arrangements and deciding where & when I get up, stay in bed, eat, how long I stay at a spot, and so on.  And I'm not a good compromiser. 

You don't photograph as much with a group and in winter.  Days are short, a group is much slower, doesn't stop everywhere you'd like, and weather in places like Iceland can make photography unpleasant or quite impossible.  That said, and despite largely abortive attempts to photograph the Aurora Borealis, we were at least in locations able to yield quality photographs when conditions permitted;  and  I returned pleased with those photographs I'd got though frustrated that there couldn't be more of  them.  I'll do it again.