Monster Icicles & Moonlit Snow

[martinastro]

Alot has been going in these last few days, best snowfall in 25 years, temps at - 16 C and even a Met Office emergency warning. Only have a few images at the momeht, I have been freezing, tired, and even in pain over the last two days and nights while enjoying the amazing weather.







Moonlit snow and distant snow showers at 3am in extreme low temps, even the snow was frozen solid like ice. The colours in the clouds are real but looked more vivid with the naked eye.







Monster icicles in Draperstown



This was the record in Tobermore



Moyola River



Quick snap of thundersnow cells +70 miles away to the E over the Irish Sea/North Channel, these produced lightning after dark, I saw a terrific in-cloud bolt from Maghera which was amazing.

[Conor McDonald]

those are monster bits of ice 

Love the night shots, excellent!

[JohnC]

Brilliant set. Amazing icicles and  the night-time shots , a speciality of yours  these days , are wonderful and number 3 in particular is a real stunner... well done and it must have been a relief to get back home despite the stunning  scenes and warm up with a cuppa . I know that pain with the cold  (the fingers with me) and it really hurts but look what you got.

[markt]

Fantastic images Martin, you have lovely countryside where you are

Icicles are starting to grow nice and big here now too

[martinastro]

Thanks everyone for the comments. John, I'm delighted you like the night exposures, I really do enjoy taking those but they are the most difficult of all because the cold is most severe during those early morning hours however in some ways that makes them of greater sentimental value to me if you know what I mean.

Regarding the pain, this time it was due to slamming the car into a curb due to slipping on the snow, the steering wheel yanked suddenly and hurt the muscles in my arm and chest, it was a delayed injury, I thought nothing more about until it hit me that night, I was in great pain, especially my left tricep, had to go on pain killers all night. Recovering well now but it's a challenege to keep warm out there. All part of the experience though  

[rjgjr]

The nighttime shots are defiteky my favorite also, nothing like the Moonlight, clouds and snow!

[Big Dipper]

Bearing in mind that you were going to post your images to a first class & elite audience (i.e. us lot on Astronomy, Photography and Weather), I'm rather disappointed that you only stayed up until 3am! Next time make sure that it's 5am minimum!!

Seriously that brings the meaning of 'dedication' to new dizzy heights - to say the least! Some really superb results there Martin. I particularly like the colours, cloud structures & the overall composition of the first three. Top stuff!

[paulster78]

Crazy icicles Martin, that one in Tobermore is a beast.  Have to agree with everyone and say the night shots are superb and the moonlit one especially, saw it on the BBC N.Ireland website too-well done 

[martinastro]

Thanks very much everyone, Andy you will be glad to know I was out to 05.00 that morning, the night images just happened to have been taken around 03.00 

Cheers Paul re the BBC mention 

[Tyler]

WOW! Some really awesome shots in here Martin! Looks like your having a blast so far this winter 

[DaveH64]

Nice set Martin, Missing out on the picturesque stuff here had about 1" snow so far and the continuous freezing conditions and dry air are not letting some hoar frost/ icicles build.