“Hood-River-Bridge (Winter)”

Location: White Salmon, Washington (2019)

The cold was like the nipping of a small dog: sharp and annoying, persistent but not debilitating.

I had to jostle back and forth and blow warm air onto cupped hands – rubbing them vigorously back and forth as I fought to keep my fingers warm enough to maintain dexterity.

On me, were a pair of hip-waders which I needed in order to cross through ankle deep water to reach a dry rocky shore where I could set up my camera and tripod. Without the insulation of a sturdy hiking boot, my toes were steadily getting numb.

Whenever I look at this photograph, I feel that frigidness. The coldness.

Embraced by the cold, the mountain, the river and the toll bridge are all connected in frigid triptych harmony during the early morning hours on a weekday commute.

Crossing the toll bridge, their car lights streaks of gold and red, are commuters from nearby White Salmon, Washington, and Hood River, Oregon on their way to begin the workday.

Another dime; another day.