January 14 was a bright, sunny day with a deep blue sky. I hadn’t touched my camera since late fall, so I took it along for a quick walk around my neighbourhood.

As soon as I stepped outside, I felt the sharp bite of the polar air mass that had settled over us. At first it was bearable, even refreshing—but my body cooled down quickly. Within half an hour, the first fully charged battery died. It was so cold, I started to wonder if I was crazy for staying out. My ears, nose, fingers, and toes were frozen.

Still, I reluctantly put in the second battery—thankfully, it only lasted another ten minutes.

As I turned to head home, I started laughing at the situation. With the arrival of winter, we humans bundle up in layers—yet nature does the opposite. Trees and bushes slowly strip themselves bare until, in the coldest months, they stand completely Naked.

What a beautiful and revealing moment.

There she is—Naked and unashamed—showing her true form. Different trees and shrubs, like the many races and cultures of humanity, each have their own presence. All of us, in our own way, are just trying to find balance in this complicated world.

© 2022 Gaetano Antonini