fog | kritterspix

Tree Saddle

Posted on October 9, 2021 by kritterspaw

The Mogollon Rim is probably one of our favorite places. It is not far from where we live, and offers exceptional views and a myriad of roads to explore.

One of our favorite vantage points we have dubbed, ‘Tree Saddle’. It was never more spectacular than after a heavy dousing of frigid rain. We stuck it out and were rewarded with amazing skies.

Funny, I feel I must caveat some of these photos… yes the sky was that red and magical, it was not ‘photoshopped’. I was giddy with joy for this tremendous sky as it rolled in and turned bright red. As a boater, I was reminded of the old adage, ‘Red skies at night, sailor’s delight. Red sky in the morning, sailor’s warning.’

While the views along the rim itself are stunning, the forest roads along the rim are equally beautiful.

When the fog rolled in the following morning, we wandered the forest roads capturing eerie fog pix.

I was completely soaked and freezing as clouds went from great photos to completely enveloping me as I got doused trying to get one more pic. While weather can be cold and uncomfortable, it does make more intriguing photos. It was absolutely worth it, and euphoric to be in the presence of such amazing views.

Mood lighting

Posted on October 19, 2019October 19, 2019 by kritterspaw

TreeBurst Vert_IR.jpg

As I continue to improve my photography, I think about what that means. It’s all about the light – dawn & dusk, we are so often told.

It’s complicated though. Light is bright and shadows are dark, how does one even them out and still add emotion, mood, and interest?

Tree Shadow_IR.jpg

Light is the master of depth. We need light to make our ‘hero’ shine, or our supporting cast fade into the background. In this way we can isolate our subject so we know what (or who) it is.

Fog and smoke provide a fantastic mood factor, allowing us to separate the foreground from the background. While our controlled burns up north can be dreary to look at… they can also make for some very moody exciting pix.

Light rays illuminate and become visible through the smoke or fog in the air, distinguishing different elements of the life in the forest.

The fog creates a diffusion through the harsh light, from which comes clarity.

Where there’s smoke there are pix

Posted on October 15, 2016October 30, 2016 by kritterspaw

I am finally taking heed of all that I have been reading, learning, and experiencing in taking all these pix. Go when inclement weather rules.

For years I thought anything but a blue sky was a disaster. Now, a blue sky makes me cringe. I am finally starting to get it… ‘hey, it’s raining… let’s go take pix’. ‘It’s snowing out, let’s go take pix.’. Crazy, right?! Those interesting, moody skies, make for … wait for it… interesting, moody shots.

Case in point, we are being inundated with smoke in our neighborhood thanks to the Forest Service. Their ‘prescribed burns’ are meant to help keep the fires at bay. I’m all for that… and can put up with some smokey air now and again to assure that our fire risk is abated. And as long as we’re getting smoke… let’s get pix.

smoke rises2PSi.JPG

I had thought the smoke would diffuse the light and allow me to bring out my fall colors by isolating my subject. So we left early in the morning to see what we could capture. The fall colors were unaffected by the burns… but the early low sun streaming through the trees made for some interesting shots.

Gray skies build character

Posted on September 2, 2016September 2, 2016 by kritterspaw

When we lived in Phoenix I just don’t recall those gorgeous sunsets and amazing skies. Surely we had them, but with the backdrop of asphalt and buildings, it just wasn’t the same. A forest, craggy trees, moldy rocks, and deep canyons make for great foregrounds for those cool skies.

Storms bring entire new meaning up north where we get rains from July to September (if we’re lucky) that bring rain and stormy clouds, fog, lightening, and fantastic character. Bring ’em on!

Oh, Canada

Posted on June 25, 2016June 25, 2016 by kritterspaw

You may have read my earlier posts here and here . If so, you’ll know we just got back from a fabulous trip to Nova Scotia. We enjoyed the seafood, the scenery, and the water. We saw puffins, eagles, seal, grouse, pheasant, porcupine, deer, and caribou.

It’s so awesome just to watch nature in it’s climates and storms, it’s moods and sweeps…. we just love it. We can spend time just watching it’s many facets, meeting people, and taking it all in. Oh my, how we have evolved.

Becoming a photographer teaches one many things. Not the least of which is juxtaposition, simplification, patterns and light. It’s a joy to see something, capture it and make a seemingly ordinary commonplace item something extraordinary. Not that a large lobster boat cast onshore is anything ordinary!

There is something about being on the coast. It produces such moods and emotion. It giveth and it take away; the sea can be peaceful or unforgiving. Many lives are lost on the seas, caught in it’s moods. We saw a great testament and monument to that in Lunenburg where marble pillars list the names of the lost. It gives one pause.

Yet, on it’s good days the sea is inviting in it’s beauty and allure… a peaceful serene place. It’s no wonder we crave it and constantly go back for more.

In Lunenburg we enjoyed fabulous Adams & Knickles scallops, the seaside village, and surrounding Blue Rocks.

The evening light on Lunenburg was spectacular, but it does take a long zoom and tripod to get the shot, as it isn’t up close and personal… it’s across the way at the golf course.

When we were there the flowers were blooming and the birds chirping, storms were brewing, and sun was still hesitant to shine through. Yet the water was flowing and the animals active. It was a quiet and fun time to be there.

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Peggy’s Cove

Posted on June 25, 2016 by kritterspaw

Anyone that knows us, knows that we love the water. We always find the water where ever we go (that and food markets, but I digress). Peggy’s Cove is a popular photography place with it’s iconic lighthouse and multitude of photographs littering the internet. So we figured it was our turn to experience it for ourselves.

We planned a trip to Nova Scotia that included both Cape Breton Island, Peggy’s Cove, and Lunenburg. Check out more here.

We found Peggy’s Cove to be fantastically picturesque. It was stunning to take in… almost like props were set there for photography. The iconic lobster traps, the colorful lobster boats, and rustic docks overlooking the bay. Wow!

The weather cleared for us for 2 full days when we were in Peggy’s Cove and Lunenburg… then the fog rolled back in. It gave us just long enough to get some great sunset shots in this magical place.

I found the bay to be so much more picturesque than the lighthouse. But thankfully I was the only one who thought so, as I had the bay to myself while hoards of tourists climbed all over the lighthouse.

May Day Snow

Posted on May 6, 2016May 6, 2016 by kritterspaw

When I wrote about Snow showers in my kritterspaw blog (here), I thought it was our last snow storm of the year. Phoenix, 2 hours south has already seen 90F days. Well, in the week since then Phoenix has seen 100F days, the calendar has rolled over to May, and we got another snow storm. Much to the delight of our visiting San Diego friends, we were treated with a magical day on the rim of light snow, fog, and cool weather conditions. The weather made for interesting photos and a great day.

We managed to grab an opening in the snow fall to stop for a glorious picnic as we watched the snow melt off the trees like pouring rain.

As the fog rolled in, the weather just got more mysterious, and along with it the photographic opportunities.

aspen snowPSi.JPG

While you couldn’t see the rim well, it brought an otherworldly eeriness to our outing.

It truly was a magical day. So glad we were able to enjoy it, and share it with friends.

Winter Fog

Posted on December 13, 2014 by kritterspaw

We have been inundated with fog these last few days. It has been relentless, morning and evening.

It’s made for eery weather and poor visibility… but cool pix, if you can get ’em.