We've had yet another snowstorm here in Washington. While others may dread the snow and all of the inconveniences snow entails, I look forward to every snowstorm. Snow turns an otherwise dreary winter landscape into something beautiful. Unfortunately, I can't make it out to shoot right after every snowstorm, but it has also been just cold enough for the snow to stick around for a while. So, when I had the day off on George Washington's Birthday, I visited the National Arboretum.

I've always been fond of the National Capitol Columns monument. In the following photo, the snow around the base of the 22 Corinthian columns really set off a nice contrast with the blue sky.

Snow ColumnsThe National Capitol Columns monument at the National Arboretum in Washington, DC, surrounded by snow. These 22 Corinthian columns were once a part of the east portico of the United States Capitol.

I spent some of my time at the Arboretum shooting the trees as well. I was particularly taken with this Crape-Myrtle in the Gotelli Dwarf and Slowing-Growing Conifer Collection. To me, it looks as though the tree is reaching out to embrace me.

A Tree's EmbraceA Crape-Myrtle (Lagerstroemia) surrounded by snow in the Gotelli Dwarf and Slow-Growing Conifer Collection at the National Arboretum.

We've had a bit more snow here in Washington. It's hard to appreciate the additional snow, however, since it is very cold. I went out Wednesday morning to shoot the sunrise after Tuesday's storm. At dawn, when I took the following photo of the Lincoln Memorial, it was 8 degrees F with winds gusting up to 25 miles per hour. The wind chill temperature was -13 degrees F.

Winter Dawn at the Lincoln MemorialDawn at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, after a snowstorm. Arlington, Virginia, is visible in the background.

About a week ago it snowed here in Washington, DC. This was very exciting for me. It had been several years since we had had any real snowfall and snow does magical things for winter landscape photography.

Here are a couple of landscapes that I shot the morning after the snowstorm. I shot them at Great Falls, Virginia, which is just a little ways up the Potomac River from Washington.

Dawn on a snowy Great FallsDawn at Great Falls after a snowstorm.

Twilight at a snowy Great FallsTwilight at Great Falls after a snowstorm.