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As the sun rises over the quiet expanse of a winter lake in Leningrad Oblast, its light fractures through wispy clouds, painting the icy surface in warm hues. Snow clings to rocky outcrops and bare branches, while the stillness of the scene evokes a profound sense of peace. A solitary, gnarled tree reaches into the water, its reflection mirroring the sky’s transformation. This December morning captures nature’s quiet grandeur—where cold and light converge in perfect harmony. Photographer Margolin Aleksey frames the moment with poetic precision, inviting viewers to pause and breathe in the stillness.