Photographing Sibera...errr, Massachusetts

Unless you've been living under a rock (or US weather doesn't particularly interest you), you've probably heard that Massachusetts has had a brutal winter.  I have lived in Massachusetts my entire life--and though I've endured many blizzards, this has been something completely different.  In January 2015, Winter Storm Juno dumped 3 ft (91 cm) of snow in some parts of Massachusetts; in my hometown of Fall River, we received 24.1 inches (61 cm). Since then, we encountered three additional storms.  And as the inches have piled on, Boston has had the dubious honor of reaching their snowiest month on record at 45 inches (1.16 m); the city marked another milestone: third snowiest winter on record, with 89.2 inches so far.

Now, I don't want you to think I'm complaining about the snow:  If it weren't for the Blizzard of '78, I wouldn't be here, as it were:  My dad met my mom when he was stranded in the Flint section of Fall River and she offered him assistance (you go, girl).  What does concern me is that with global warming, these "once-in-a-century" blizzards are likely going to become commonplace.  As National Geographic indicates "The Northeast is the big winner in the 'extreme precipitation' sweepstakes dealt out by global warming, with the region seeing the biggest uptick in the severity of the most severe blizzards or rainstorms across the United States."  


Instead of just reading about the blizzards, I choose to document it in both my journal and photographs; I frequently photograph some of the aftermath with my ThinkPad Tablet 2.  

The combination of my ThinkPad Tablet 2 and Windows 8.1 allow for great panoramic shots.

This is a single shot captured with my phone. It lacks the detail of the panoramic shot above, I'd say.

My TP Tablet 2 is really a niche product for me.  For the most part, my laptop is suitable for most of my work; my SLR or cell phone work well for photo albums and this blog, as the images are high resolution and easily uploaded.  However, In cases where I need a device that's resistant to moisture and can take panoramic shots, my tablet paired with the standard Windows 8.1 is ideal; images are stitched together instantaneously, can be viewed in three dimensions on the tablet, and can be saved as a two-dimensional jpeg for use on this blog, for instance.  
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I take snow removal seriously. Each instrument serves a purpose: Some are for breaking apart ice; others, getting close to pavement; and others, tossing snow in bulk. I take a similar approach when it comes to photography.

So if you are photographing this snow, mix it up!  Give some of the basic Windows 8.1 camera options a try.  Though the photographs will be nowhere near the resolution that your camera can take in a single photograph, stitched images can allow for creativity perfectly showcased on Facebook and blogs, where the images are compressed anyway.  

Snowpocalypse, as captured with my ThinkPad Tablet 2.

As you look through the photographs taken with my tablet, perhaps you feel they are reminiscent of a certain Bond film...

And on a more serious note, instead of griping about the weather, it's about time we seriously tackle global warming...I worry about our fate if we continue to live in denial.