In 2008 I visited Merano, in the Italian Alps, at the border with Austria, famous for its delightful Christkindlemarkt. I had a hard time deciding where to turn my camera lens. A lot of hearts caught my eye, including some made of chocolate. Here they are, just for you…

This collection includes hyacinths caught by a winter storm in early spring, a hydrangea trying to survive the cold and some common weeds made extraordinarily beautiful by a coating of morning frost.

This collection highlights some Christmas ornaments that caught my attention around Boston’s Quincy Market.

This jolly old man from the North Pole likes to show off his long white beard and his bright red garments trimmed with fur.

I love snowmen. They always smile! Making human-featured characters out of snow is said to date back to the Middle Ages…

These little wooden carvings in the form of soldiers, kings or knights evoke memories of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite.

I took these pictures in New York City, walking down Fifth Avenue on a rainy day. My favorite image is the one with the red umbrella reflected in a shop window.

We never get tired of the beauty that these bright colors radiate all around us at this time of the year.

Christmas and ribbons go well together. They remind us of all the beautiful presents we give and receive at this special time of the year.

Photographing in winter is difficult as well as rewarding, with nature adding the “ice” component to traditional flora. Forms and shapes change dramatically, for a unique visual experience.