Day 2: Rain and Wind

The day turned out just as predicted by Weather Underground. It rained most of the night and the wind blew hard. And by 6:30 this morning, it was still rainy, cold and windy. But we drove to Bond Falls anyway, with the rain coming down all the way.

We got out of the cars grumbling somewhat, since most of us didn’t want to get our camera equipment wet, but after shooting for about 30 minutes, the rain stopped with only a short drizzle here and there, and we were able to get some pretty nice photos. My only problem with them is that since there is a mist or fog around so many of the scenes, certain images don’t look clear in spots. Can anyone tell that’s it’s mist or fog and not a defect in the photo? I don’t know. Maybe when it’s printed it will be easier to tell. We stayed at that point for a couple of hours and then left for yet another spot. The wind has kicked up and it got colder. This time it was along a road and lake and we were supposed to look for “intimate” landscapes–closeups and the like. I think I got a couple of nice ones. It’s hard to tell on my laptop. Will mostly have to wait until I get home.

We went back to the motel to rest up and/or get prepared for the afternoon shoot and for the coming days. Had to go to the grocery store to get things to eat for long days out in the field. Then back out shooting by 3:30. This time we went to Sturegon Gorge Overlook. It was a beautiful overlook, but foggy, and really no foreground, so nothing to shoot but a mass of trees in reds, yellows and greens. It’s hard for it to mean anything if there is nothing to give it perspective. Then back along the roads to stop by the wayside for intimate landscapes again. I need to practice that because I do have trouble “seeing” the odd thing that might make a good photos.

Tomorrow is supposed to be a clear day so we are going to Lake of the Clouds and not leaving until 7:00 a.m. That’s late for photographers so everyone is happy. Although we were told we would probably be out all day.

Not very good news about the tour

We met with the tour leader tonight and he sounds very pessimistic. He says that the color has peaked and is on the downhill now. It’s hard to believe that they’ve already had the cold weather they needed for the leaves to turn. The weather today and yesterday was short sleeve and shorts weather. And, he tells us, that a storm is coming in early tomorrow with high winds and it will probably knock most of the leaves off the trees. Sounds really good, doesn’t it <sarcasm> He seems scattered, but he and his buddy have been scouting places for 3 days, so I guess he probably has it together–just doesn’t seem to be as organized as Don or Scott is, for instance. He did finish up, though, with the news that they are very happy with the areas they scouted and think we will be happy even if we didn’t get the color that we had planned on.

Since I had the whole day to kill, I walked down to the beach of Lake Superior, but without great light, didn’t get much. So followed it up with a trip to Bond Falls. They are beautiful falls, very large and spread out. The problem was that the falls were in shadow so the pix aren’t the best, but I was glad to walk the trails and see them anyway. The color on the way there was really pretty and now I’m sorry that I didn’t take time to park the car and take some shots from the side of the road. Darn it, shouldn’t wait when I see it–should just take the picture.

We’re planning on the worst–bad weather–so not leaving until 6:30 a.m. and will probably only shoot in the morning and come back to the rooms and hope that it clears enough to shoot in the late afternoon.

Here I Go Again!

“Autumn…the year’s last, loveliest smile.”

[Indian Summer]”
― William Cullen Bryant

     I love Autumn!  It’s probably surprising to you who are my friends, since I live in a sunny clime all year round. But maybe that’s why it’s so special and why I go on photo trips in the fall to try to capture how I feel about it.

     I’m in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in the  Porcupine Mountains close to Lake Superior. Tomorrow I will be meeting our group leader and the other 8 people who are taking this photo tour with me.  We will be taking photos of autumn scenery and waterfalls, and it looks like the weather is going to be just fine.  Not too cold and not to warm.

     The place is off the beaten track.  I had to fly to Detroit, take a puddle jumper to Marquette and then drive 2-1/2 hours to get here. The cabins are rustic, but I enjoy that sort of thing as long as it’s clean and the beds are comfortable.  Our host says it’s supposed to get cold by Monday–that’s okay as long as it doesn’t snow.  I’m not too fond of winter.

     I actually enjoyed the drive here. I headed west from Marquette about 6:30 and it was a glorious sunset with a huge golden orb, the like of which we sometimes see in Florida. But this one is surrounded by trees, lakes and rivers–quite beautiful.

     I may not post every day since I’m sure talking about my treks through the woods looking at red and yellow leaves would get monotonous but I’ll post a few pix along the way. In fact, I will post two from my previous trips.