As I drove through the gates at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge this past Friday, a thick fog (or mist) was hanging low over the fields. The sun was just beginning to rise and it was still pretty dark. Although my goal for the day was to photograph birds, I decided to make an attempt at capturing the feeling of the moment and quickly realized the difficulty of that task—it’s a real challenge to capture the delicate nuances of light and shadows and the subtle shades of the rising sun when there is so little available light.
I felt a bit uncomfortable as I was shooting these images, a clear indication that I was way outside of my comfort zone, but I think it is good to try new approaches and subjects in order for me to keep on growing and learning as a photographer.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
That second photo is the clear winner, but they’re all good, Mike. Fog seems to bring out more of a comprehensive feeling. I have lots of fog pictures, but none quite capture the moment.
Thanks, Dan. I personally prefer the final one,but it doesn’t show off the color and the fog as well as the second one does. I think that I need to use a tripod the next time and pay a bit more attention to my camera settings, but it was fun playing around with some different approaches. Here are a couple of links to fog photos that I have taken that I really like. https://michaelqpowell.wordpress.com/2014/12/17/foggy-morning-in-vienna/ and https://michaelqpowell.wordpress.com/2014/12/17/foggy-morning-in-vienna/
Nice! M:-)
Thanks so much. Having trouble remember what the M stands for. Mark?
Well, I’m glad you decided to try something new, as these photos are just wonderful! Beautiful compositions.
Thanks so much for the encouragement. I try to capture the beauty that I see, but it requires a kind of mental shift to try to switch from filling the frame with a specific subject to trying to capture a mood or feeling without having an actual target.
It worked here!
What sets you apart for me, oh master photographer and fine writer, is your ability to take us beyond the medium and to see more. Don’t know how you do it … experience and love of craft I suppose … yet there’s something more, and that must be a type of genius. Really.
Thank you so much for your constant encouragement, Bonnie. I try to be myself in what I post and I hope that my writing and images reflect my endless curiosity, boundless energy, and deep sensitivity to my surroundings. Not long ago, another blogger posted the following quote from Dorothea Lange that really resonates with me–The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera. In my posts I try to explore what I am seeing and feeling and trying to reflect in my images. For me, it’s not just about pretty pictures.
Love the shot of the road!