On The Other Side

My footfall barely left an impression on the frozen snow as I walked through the trees, save for an occasional crunch as the crust gave way.

Grey skies overhead did not provide any directional light, but through the trees the snow seemed much brighter on the other side. Soft shapes of pine trunks recede towards the open space beyond.

The light seems to represent hope of better times to come, if only we can reach there. But in the foreground saplings and twigs stand in the way hampering any progress. There lies the contradiction in this image.