2021 Photos of the Year: Photographers' Choice
Snowmaking at Sunday River
Bryce Barnes walks up a ski trail under the spray of a snowmaking gun at Sunday River in Newry on January 28. After getting the guns running, snowmakers walk through the spray to make sure the mix of water and air is creating perfect snow crystals.
A WORD FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHER….
I wanted to photograph an essay on snowmakers at Sunday River, which is well known for it’s robust snowmaking operation, for years and was finally able to make it happen in late January. When we agreed on a date, I had no idea that it would be on a night with a full moon. At the start of their shift, which is 7 p.m. for the night crew, the moon was hidden behind a thick cloud cover. When the clouds started breaking up about three hours later, the light from the moon really changed the look of the photos I was capturing. It gave definition to the sky and was bright enough to light up the slopes. I gained a deep appreciation for snowmakers on that cold January night. They work in frigid temperatures and constantly battle stuck valves or clogged nozzles, which often require the dexterity of ungloved hands. The next time you get off the lift and are enjoying some fresh-groomed corduroy, take a second to give thanks to the hard-working snowmakers that helped make it possible. (Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer)
