“Trees and Rising Sun” — The sun, slighlty diffused by clearing fog, rises behind Point Lobos trees.
Sometimes I arrive at a location with no specific plan in mind beyond “making photographs.” That was the case on this morning when I drove down toward the Big Sur area very early. Before Monterey I encountered thick fog, and I started contemplating fog photographs, perhaps at Point Lobos. The fog continued as I passed Monterey, skirted Carmel, and started down Highway 1 beyond Carmel Valley. It looked like I would get foggy conditions at Point Lobos… until a moment later when the fog inexplicably cleared.
“Old Tree and Cotswalds Woods” — Old tree in a clearing in a Cotswolds forest.
I have written about my fascination with the very old and often very large trees that we saw on our weeklong spring walk in England’s Cotswolds. Many of the large trees stand apart, often in open areas or in rows between fields and pastures. This one, however, was close to a managed forest of smaller trees, which I presume are destined to become lumber when they grow larger.
“Cotswolds Forest Clearing” — A break in the trees lets sunshine into a clearing in a Cotswolds forest.
During spring the woodlands and fields and pastures of the Cotswolds are very bright and green… if it isn’t raining. Of course, it is the rain produces all of that green. We had our share of sunny days, but we also experienced the rain — generally light and transitory, but a bit more substantial on the final day of our weeklong walk. This scene was midway through the walk, where the path crossed green hill, the trees opened up a bit, and the sun shone in.
“Peaks and Clearing Storm” — Rain clouds move to the east and sunshine lights desert peaks, Death Valley National Park.
We almost came home early from our recent visit to Death Valley National Park. A significant rainstorm was forecast overnight, and the daytime light was already mostly gray. We decided to stay — after all, we had already paid for our accommodations. We visited a few interesting places in the poor light, and were about to visit one more location and photograph sprouting plants in the soft light. But suddenly and with little warning the sun came out! We changed plans and went looking for subjects in this light, backed by the dark, departing clouds.
The light seemed like it would be transient — after all, the forecast was still for rain. So we took advantage of the first light we saw, and I first set up my tripod literally in front of our lodgings. The light was very beautiful, and not just because it was such a surprise. This late day light was warmer in color, and it contrasted with a dramatic backdrop of darker clouds.
Photographer and visual opportunist. Daily photos since 2005, plus articles, reviews, news, and ideas.
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