Foggy Morning at Lake Henshaw

Yesterday, I went out to Lake Henshaw to explore. and relax taking photos. I visited one of my favorite cottonwood trees in the meadow, where the fog was just starting to roll in, wrapping around the tree. I loved the shape of the branches. A friend commented they looked almost like stained glass patterns. The tree stood alone on a hill, surrounded by mist, which made the scene even more enchanting.

Alone on a Hill
Still Standin’

After spending some time with the cottonwood, I moved on to another favorite: a giant willow, bent, and twisted. Using my wide-angle lens, I captured the intricate angles of its winding branches. I like to imagine the tree as fantastical creatures with limb or appendages reaching out. What do you see when you look at these?

Grand Willow #1
Grand Willow #2
Grand Willow #4
Grand Willow #5

Finally, I walked down to the lake to photograph the autumn willows reflected in the water. At one point, a bird swam by, beneath the arch of some branches. It paused and turned to look at me right as if to say, what are you doing here.

Into Stillness – As I was capturing the scene, a coot swam beneath the arching willow and turned to glance my way.

To see a few more from this gallery or view larger, click here.

Sky Meadow

Back in the spring a found a beautiful meadow near the East Grade Road on Palomar Mountain. The other day, I drove up there again. It is always nice to go out and find something unexpected. What I found on this outing was the late-season wild buckwheat adding color to the dry, golden meadow grass. I call this area Sky Meadow since it is a way up the mountain. I was hoping to enter the clouds and fog, but the base of the clouds were a little higher up the mountain this day.
You can see more from this day here.

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Sky Meadow – I took this shortly before sunrise. The sky never lit up with much color, but I loved the textures in grass and buckwheat.

A small clump of buckwheat mixes in the meadow. Higher up, the clouds/fog blew in and out, at times hiding just about everything.

Oak on the Edge – As I awaited this oak vanished and re-emerged from the cloud.
The Notch – I experimented with a more abstract composition here, focusing on this notch in a tree.
Forest Wanderings – I ended my day with a walk in the forest.