Herald's Sky view: Glenview neighborhoods rendered in shades of gray

Neighborhoods west of downtown Glenview are highlighted with fresh snowfall on an otherwise gray day in an aerial photo taken last week.

After winter seemingly bypassed the Chicago area last season, Mother Nature made up for the deficiency in recent weeks by depositing approximately 3 feet of snow, coupled with overnight temperatures near zero.

Winter weather makes drone flight challenging, and more often than not a remote pilot will choose to stay grounded. Any amount of precipitation can affect the flight-worthiness of the drone, and cold temperatures can rapidly diminish battery life.

In the interest of safety, and to avoid frozen fingers because I never wear gloves while flying the drone, I choose my missions carefully during colder months.

Prior to the most recent storm that added over a foot of snow to the two feet that was already on the ground, I took advantage of a calm, precipitation-free afternoon for a brief flight overlooking the residential areas in the vicinity of Harlem Avenue and Central Road

If not for the subtle colors on the siding of some homes, the photo could just have easily been rendered in black and white. White snow contrasts with asphalt streets, trees add midtones, and a light gray haze hangs over the horizon line.

Also noticeable is the fact that the streets are not arranged in a typical grid pattern. From a visual standpoint, slight curves and turnaround loops add variety to the scene.

This week's storm has offered even more possibilities to document winter's grip on the area and, weather permitting, I hope to do so from an aerial perspective.