Crooked Pine Tree Blowing Snow

I just love the character of this little pine tree, with its crooked trunk growing from a rugged granite rock formation at Custer State Park in South Dakota. A tiny sunburst is perfectly framed through the branches, creating a magical moment against the clear blue sky.

They had a late spring snowfall the night before, so we got up early to explore the Sylvan Lake area and photograph the fresh snow before it disappeared. This little tree immediately caught my attention, and I quickly realized I could frame the sun behind it to create a beautiful sun star and to give it a backlight.

The morning was chilly, and strong winds were blowing snow from the branches, making it look like snow was falling even though the sky was bright and clear. I loved how this unexpected combination of sunshine, drifting snow, granite, and the crooked little pine came together to create such a unique scene.

This photo was taken by Jennifer White with Timeless Moments Photography. All images are copyrighted Timeless Moments Photography/Jennifer White. All rights reserved.