A Brief Encounter - I nearly Mist It
I, like many landscape photographers, are part time/enthusiasts/hobbyist etc and have to juggle their photographic adventures with everyday life. I certainly fall within this category with full time employment and a full time family life to negotiate. Work and family responsibilities keep me pretty busy, now I'm not moaning, far from it, as I'm very lucky that I can get out as often as I do. Never the less, it is still a juggling act and compromise is definitely order of the day on occasions...no more so demonstrated than last Sunday Morning. Due to various commitments I struggle to do sunrises over the weekends at present. Through the summer months this really isn't an issue, as I can make the most of longer day light hours and venture out after work. Winter, however becomes a little trickier with my time out with the camera reduced somewhat, probably like most. So I wasn't really planning to head out on Sunday morning as my son had a Rugby match, however after a quick scan of the weather apps my pulse was set racing by the temptation of mist. A quick tot up of time frames and begging to my rather forgiving Wife mean't I could feasibly get an hour and a half shooting time before I had to get home. So we were on and I knew just the spot for this type of occasion.
Trees in the Mist - A long lens shot of trees breaking through with the morning sun lighting the flowing mists.
Low Wood Bay Layers - Looking across to Low Wood Bay, Windermere.
My location choice was pretty easy, as I didn't have the time for exploration, this was a military precision photography mission.....get in and out quickly. So I decided on Loughrigg Fell, an easy win location with excellent views and has the luxury of sitting proudly above most of the misty hotspots. Loughrigg is also a very quick climb and you can be up in twenty five minutes as a good pace. Usually I can tell pretty quickly after leaving home if we are going to get mist and it was minutes into the drive when I started to notice the tell tale signs. By the time I hit Blawith I was plunged into dense mist, with little visability...I think my decision to head out was going to be rewarded and I was delighted. Once at Skelwith Bridge I made the walk up to my chosen spot through the thick mist. As I inched up the fell side I started to climb above the mist, revealing my first view of the inversion and boy it looked a big one...the excitement grew further. I arrived on location about 40 minutes before sunrise, I could already see the head torches of other photographers just off the summit waiting like I in anticipation. Now, while the inversion looked great, I was slightly worried by the big bank of cloud on the horizon where the sun was due to rise, which would snuff out all the early light and put pay to the shot I was after.
The Big Reveal - The morning sun finally breaches the cloud and beautifully lights the Fells.
Together We Stand - A couple of trees encircled by the gorgeous mists
Loughrigg Lone Tree - Another intimate scene captured with the long lens.
I was set up and in position waiting. As I predicted any early light was blocked by the clouds and for me the shot I had in mind simply didn't work. Around 30 minutes after sunrise, I decided to move locations towards the back end of the fell, which over looks Windermere. The inversion seemed thinker and once the light came I could pop the long lens on and try and pick out smaller scenes instead of the wider vista. As I walked along to location no.2 the sun was starting to break over the bank of cloud. We were on. The blood started pumping as the light started to warm and wash over the landscape, enhancing the scenes in front of me as the sun creped higher in the sky. I spent around an hour playing around with various scenes, both wider vistas and more detailed intimate shots as the light developed and mist ebbed and flowed. In all honestly at times the mist was a little too thick and wasn't clearing as much as I would have liked. Usually this wouldn't have been a problem as I would have just waited it out, but when on a curfew I wasn't afforded that luxury. As my time on the fell was coming to an end the mist started to flood the langdale Valley again and the light was producing dampled shadows on the fells giving real texture and interest to the view......oh go on then, one more shot for the road. It was definitely the right decision to move location and I've picked up a few images I've not taken before, so very happy.
Oh Go on Then.....One for the Road - A quick final shot as the mist filled the valley again and the dappled light made for a really appealing scene.
I then had to get off the fell as quickly as I could, I swear the other photographer must have thought I was crazy as I jogged my way off the fell and into the mist below before you could say 'Temperature Inversion'. It must have been some sight. The drive home was equally as painful as I drove through gorgeous conditions...mist, light, trees...you get the idea. I could have literally stayed out for hours and hours, however I'm very thankful of the the time I had and I would have been really disappointed if I'd not made the effort to go. Some time out is better than non at all and I would have really kicked myself If I hadn't gone. Yes I would have loved to spend more time enjoying the mist but you've got to be thankful of what you get and my family have continually supported me over the years and it's only fair I give that back. Life is about compromise, finding that balance, so everybody can get a bit of what they love doing. I'm very blessed to live where I do and have the opportunity to do what I do, for that I will always be thankful and not take for granted. Well I arrived home with about 5 minutes before we had to leave for Rugby (I was told I was cutting it fine but I thought it was perfectly timed), a quick change of clothes and I went from landscape photographer to Rugby Dad in a flash. Mission completed.