Hey everyone, boy are we getting a good soaking here in the Northeast! I was just outside checking on some things and caught a little of the fresh drizzle, and it reminded me of just how refreshing and re-invigorating that feeling can be - literally like the cleansing of a shower! And so I thought I’d take a break from the “glorious sun highlighting Autumn’s beauty” type of photographs I’ve shared recently and show you that rain, mist, and fog in the Fall Forest are also quite glorious! Depending on the scene and one’s mood at that time (just like Mother Nature’s), one could even say such conditions are arguably even better…
“Happy When It Rains” - Green Mountain National Forest, VT
I recall from this week in early October of 2018, that the mood you see here pretty much sums it up. I was on my traditional backpacking week between two Art Festival weekends up in Vermont, and I had chosen this little nook of the Appalachian/Long Trail near Killington. (If you read my “In the Heart of Autumn” spotlight on October 1st, yes that same stretch of trail!)
“Often, people will say what a great day to be out taking photographs on a bright, sunny day. And while, yes, I enjoy a lovely sunny day out on the trail as much as the next person, it doesn’t always exactly resonate with stunning photography outside of the wee early hours and then the latter hours of the day. But clouds, on the other hand, contribute to nice, even light, even during times of the day when light can typically be too harsh. And storms, well, they can create otherworldly conditions and atmosphere!
As I’m sure I mentioned in that other post, this stretch of forest is filled with towering Old-Growth Sugar Maples, not to mention Red Maples, White and Gray Birch, Beech, Aspen, Hemlock, and well, you get the idea - it is a magical place to find yourself lost in for a time!
And this time that I was given was wet. Multiple storms hovered over the region for most of that week, but you know what? I had such a memorable time filled with wonder just kind of hanging out for a few days. I had made a lovely little campsite hidden well off the trail, nestled in amongst some of the Giants of the Forest. And there I basically holed up in my hammock, rain fly, warm clothes and good rain gear. I can vividly recall how relaxing it was and the strong smell of the damp Autumn Woods. And when the rains weren’t too drenching, I would head out with my camera and explore…
Of the uncountable incredible scenes I came across on these early days of Autumn - the forest still lushly green, dappled with those Sugar and Red Maples beginning to vibrantly glow in their oranges and reds, veiled by mist and fog - this one made me stop in my tracks and ponder it for some time. And when that happens, it usually means it is time to break out the beast (aka the large-format 4x5 view camera).
Those soaked and saturated heart-shaped leaves just jumped out of the scene before me along with the downed birch trunk and foreground green, while everything else - hints of orange and the forest you know is back there is kind of cloaked in another world by the misty atmosphere. I just love how the image oozes with earthiness and mystery. You can just feel the dampness and smell the Earth! And one can’t help but wonder what other treasures lurk just beyond sight, out there in the fog…
After exposing my sheets of film, I meandered back to my little hammock cave and would soak in another night of rain drops falling through the forest, beading off of my rain fly and the Old-Growth Giants swaying in the breeze. I eventually would really get a good drenching on my backpack out, the kind that even solid rain gear can’t withstand forever haha, but I wouldn’t have wanted any of this rain soaked adventure to be any different. What a healthy, refreshing reminder to slow down and absorb the world around you.”
https://www.brandonklinewnp.com/printpurchasing/happy-when-it-rains
Take care and be on the lookout again tomorrow, I have another Treat lined up for this Halloween Weekend, because why not have a little excess goodness during this Spooky fun time of the year!
All my best,
Brandon
P.S. - It also recently hit me to get back to showing this when I do a photo spotlight to give you an idea of how the image could look in one of my Custom Curly Maple Frames!
