I’ve lived in Buffalo most of my life, so I’m used to winter weather, but the storm that started on the morning of December 23, 2022, turned out to be beyond anything I had ever experienced before. It was a true blizzard with winds approaching 70 mph and snow falling, blowing and drifting for nearly 36 hours. At one point, I tried going outside to see if I could take a few pictures, but the conditions were far too intense, and I returned inside almost immediately. When the winds finally abated on Christmas Eve, I grabbed my camera and headed outside. Not only was there deep snow covering everything but because of the prolonged intensity of the winds snow had been blasted into places you wouldn’t ordinarily expect to see it after a more typical storm. 

This was immediately made clear when I noticed a tree across the street from my house. Every limb, every crevice, every portion of its trunk had been intensely coated with snow. It looked like a sculpture that had been carved from a piece of pure white marble. From a photographer’s point of view, it was very compelling subject matter. I recognized the opportunity immediately.

The stillness that was captured in the image was palpable, kind of eerie, but also mingled with a sense of relief. An epic storm, the most intense that most Buffalo residents had ever experienced, had stopped only moments before. There was a sudden silence, almost a hush, where an unrelenting howl had been for a day and a half. Our house had been shaking, the trees had been whipped in the wind, and suddenly the fury of the storm was over. But the moment was also filled with an emotional resonance that most nights don’t have because it was Christmas Eve. My extended family has always gathered to celebrate Christmas Eve together and the evening has always held a special place for me, but the storm had forced the cancellation of the party. So, it was a December 24 th unlike any I had ever seen or hoped to see again. And the world outside my door was coated in white, in a dazzling and wondrous way. It was a special moment, visually, emotionally, viscerally, and I wanted to capture some of that feeling.

I started shooting as I walked down my driveway and into the street. I captured what would become the defining shot of the scene almost immediately, but then waded through the deep snow and crossed the street, where I worked my way around the tree, capturing it from a variety of angles, as well as taking photos of some of the surrounding houses. I have enjoyed shooting in the snow and capturing winter scenes for many years, so I knew this was something I had never seen before, and I wanted to be sure I did it justice.

I’ve been shooting winter scenes for many years and almost that entire body of work is in black and white. I think of winter as my black and white world, so almost any time I go out into the snow with my camera, I’m seeing in black and white and thinking black and white. It’s one the reasons I love winter and snow – the ordinary and familiar is suddenly somehow different, even strange – and the lines and textures that snow reveals is, to my mind, perfectly captured in black and white.

Buffalo plays a huge role in my photography. My family has lived here since my great-grandparents emigrated from Ireland more than 100 years ago, so the streets and neighborhoods where they lived and worked resonate with shared history and the passage of time. Buffalo is a city of incredible architecture, rich industrial heritage and impressive landscapes framed by the vastness of Lake Erie and the power of the Niagara River as it makes its way downstream to Niagara Falls – all of which offer many rich photographic opportunities. Of course, the distinct seasons also offer many options for changes in light and color and atmosphere. It is a visually rich and rewarding place to pursue photography. I’m also inspired by the great photographic tradition and artists of the region, ranging from the Buffalo Pictorialists and their work in the early 20 th century to renowned artists such as Wilbur Porterfield, Milton Rogovin, John Pfahl, Patricia Bazelon and Bruce Jackson. I hope I can add something to the legacy they have created.

I have been attracted to night photography almost from the first day I seriously picked up a camera, so that has been a consistent through-line over the course of my interest in the medium. Nights when it is foggy, snowy or rainy – nights when most people would opt to stay home – are the nights I tend to feel compelled to grab my gear and head out.

It’s a huge honor to be given this award. Most hobbyists and enthusiasts, which is what I consider myself, pursue photography because they have a creative itch they need to scratch and feel a great sense of personal fulfillment when they come home with a satisfying image. Although I’ve shared some of my work on social media for some time, much of it has gone unseen, with my wife Karen being my audience of one. So, to receive an award like this gives me a great sense of validation and encouragement to stay at it and put even more energy and enthusiasm into my work. It’s also exciting to think I may find some kindred spirits out there who share my enthusiasm for black and white photography and the high contrast aesthetic I explore in my night photography, winter landscapes and infrared images. They can see a sampling of these and other portfolios at healyphotos.com.