Day: November 21, 2010

Mystical Forest

During the winter, I get to photograph the forest while it slumbers. It is magical and primeval. It whispers its secrets and beckons to enter the world beyond the fog.

The Portal

Subtle Shapes

Vivid Colors

These three shots graphically illustrate why I love shooting in the fog. All these photos were shot Friday, at 400 ISO, with a speed of 1/125 and the camera choosing the f-stop to match lighting conditions. Despite the similarities in shooting specs, the photos are all completely different – from low contrast and color to the very vivid. This is due to the fog and its density. One can go only a few hundred yards, and the quality of the fog, and thus the photograph, is completely different. It is not difficult to shoot in the fog and the results can be wonderful.

Weather Report,11/21/10

9:30 am – a tree is down, blocking both the north and south bound lanes near River Inn. And, yes, there is snow on Cone Peak. The clouds parted long enough for me to get a shot.

Cone Peak, 11/21/10

9:00 am – more rain. It is expected to rain on and off all day. Correction – IT IS SNOWING!!

I am very grateful for the merino wool cap, gloves, and sweater I picked up in NZ. Wish I’d gotten the socks, too!

8:00 am – The wind is still racing across the landscape, and there is a mixture of blue skies and serious clouds, and the temperature is 41 degrees – inside! Last night, I received .85 inches, for a season total of 7.20. No snow, by the way, and I even woke at 3 am to check. Can’t see Cone Peak due to the clouds to see if it got any.

Given the high winds (leading to downed trees), and amount of rain over the last two days (almost 3 and 1/2 inches), I am certain that Plaskett is impassable today. Given the conditions, I don’t feel comfortable trying to make the Celebration of Life for Seanan Moses today. I hope you all understand and know I am there in spirit.

The hard closure of Highway 9 in Santa Cruz at Henry Cowell SP due to a downed tree remained in effect overnight. It should reopen sometime this morning.