I grabbed a to go cup of coffee, slung the camera bag over my shoulder and grabbed my FujiFilm point and shoot camera. It does so well in a pinch and can offer up some incredible shots.
The sky and the fog was pink! And the fog was heavy even in places on the ridge.
I drove down to Black Bottom Creek to see if the fog indeed shrouded the valleys.
I found ducks in pink fog.
I didn't want to miss day break so I drove back up on top of the ridge to try and find a great spot to 'catch' the first day of Autumn.
Indeed it was worth waiting for. I leaned up against the Subaru and kept thinking...'Wow, Wow...Wow!'
Time literally flew by and by 7am, the sun made its appearance.
Welcome fall. I look forward to your cooler temperatures and wild brilliant colors.
I think someone equated Fall as Spring in reverse.
We ended the day by going out to Jersey Valley to do some fishing. Well hubby fished, I took some photos and then sat on the bank with him while he fished.
It was a beautiful way to end the first day of Autumn.
Sometimes we just need to step out of 'life' for a moment and seek a bit of solitude where we can let our minds wander and not think about the pressing issues of the day.
That is what I do when I go out on an excursion to do some photography, or if I go riding my mule, or take a walk.
I don't do my clearest thinking during these times because my mind gets cleared of all the cob webs and uninvited thoughts.
Instead I am left with the task at hand. One foot in front to the other. What exposure should I use?
What lens would do best. Will the fog rise up or will the fog hang in there.
These are the simple things that went through my mind when I went to Jersey Valley before the break of dawn.
The fog was very thick and on top of the ridge the sun burned brightly.
However I found the fog an interesting challenge to work with.
Some aspects of Jersey Valley became much more interesting in the thick fog.
It was looking off into 'nothing-ness'.
The fog really was much more suited to black and white photography.
The benches were covered in heavy dew drops yet they looked out onto...nothingness.
Along the shore was a different matter, I was able to find some interesting color.
This may be purple loosestrife and if it is, it is an invasive species. Although I could see why it would be so hard to pull. The colors are outstanding.
This may be 'wild' chamomile. I can't be sure so I'll need to send a photo to my neighbor for an ID on it.
Just before I left the sun began to 'try' and burn through the fog.
I checked my watch. It was already 7:30 am and time to head home. One of these days, I'm not going to be constrained by time.
But the visit was well worth it. The mists and the sounds of fish jumping in the lake were peaceful.
When I came out of the valley, it was broad bright daylight. Such a change!
I could see the fog hanging yet in the tree tops of Jersey Valley as I drove away.
Interestingly enough, the fog was still intense over the Kickapoo River Valley, so I stopped on our gravel road and took one parting shot.
I probably should have stayed near home and watched the sunrise over this foggy valley, but the excursion to Jersey Valley was well worth it.
Besides, I had to pass through town to get there and back. I was able to get gas and pick up that milk that we needed at home!
It was a beautiful, peaceful, quiet time.
I'm thinking to seek out a sunrise at the overlook at Duck Egg. I think it would be well worth the hike with my camera and tripod.
There was a predawn quiet, most of the song birds have begun their migrations. Still, I was able to hear some birds beginning to 'wake up.
I left before dawn and thought I'd try and find a good spot to watch the sun come up. I didn't go to the usual spot but drove out to the end of our dead end road.
I could see the fog had settled in the valley so I decided to try and find a suitable place where I could look down the valley and perhaps get a stunning shot.
I turned the Subaru around and headed back out.
As I went past one of our ridge neighbors I had to stop again and figure out how to compose this interesting shot of his pasture and cattle.
I tried several shots, but this one stuck.
It seemed as though this shot conveys the fog movement. I know that the fog just doesn't sit static in one place. This is facing Southwest, and the glow of the pinks was in the sky.
So I continued down into the Kickapoo River valley and into some very dense fog. I drove up a gravel road that led to the top of the ridge and came out by a cell phone tower.
I was happy to have the Subaru, the road is not well kept and high clearance was really quite a plus.
I waited above the fog and my wait was not long.
The sky views were something stunning.
And then the sun broke through the haze and fog.
The valley below glowed.
So I got in the car and made it down the twisted road and back towards home.
When I crossed Black Bottom Creek the sun had not yet made it into the valley and the fog was still lifting.
I was pretty satisfied with the morning's outing.
As I neared home, I saw some spider webs that were lit up with dew. I parked again and did some scurrying through the weeds in the ditch.
The find of the day however was not the spider web but a Japanese Beetle that appeared be-jeweled in the dew drops.
