Signs of Spring 3

Karin Ott

Continuing the series ‘Signs of Spring’ from my portfolio. The thermometer shows a wooping 7 C / 45 F. How can that signal spring in a country that last year had only one single snowfall all winter? Well, it’s the heat from the sun and the quality of the light that signals the change.

And where did I find such a picturesque piece? Right outside my kitchen window! It’s now there anymore, though. Not the window, not the thermometer. I didn’t save it…

Signs of Spring 2

Karin Ott

The artist statement accompanying this body of work from my portfolio:

The concept of spring is vital to the Danish people. We are a nation of bi-polars. At the darkest time of year we have only eight hours of light while at midsummer it gets light at 5 a.m. and only barely dark by 11 p.m. In the winter we ground, bundle up, almost hibernate, and often tempers are as short as the day. In the summer we are transformed to outgoing people eager to make the most of every single moment of the gift of light.

The transition from darkness to light is marked by signs deeply ingrained in the natives. Every child knows the sequence of the flowers – eranthis, snowdrop, crocus – these milestones in measuring the progress. Every adult will stop and sniff the air through layers of winter clothes on the day of the undefinable turning point. And we all notice how the sun will finally both warm us to our chilled bones and mercilessly reveal the dirty windows and the dust piled up through the dark months.

Spring is a time of anticipation with summer still far enough in the future to promise to fulfill every dream we ever had.

Signs of Spring 1

Karin Ott

This is a First for this blog. I want to share one of the series that lives on my portfolio site. The darkness of winter is falling and frankly I find it quite depressing to have to wake up in pitch black. So to cheer myself – and perhaps others with me – up a bit I’ve decided to run ‘Signs of Spring’. It consists of 21 images shot between late February and mid-April in 2012. Enjoy 🙂