Autumn Morning Mist at Marston Moretaine

Click – A Monochrome Alternate View for a few shots in black-and-white

I am not an early bird, more a night-owl, which is my downfall when it comes to capturing the undoubted beauty of sunrises and the dew-laden webs of autumn spiders. Sunday morning I was up early – for me and by foregoing breakfast was able to be out with my camera before the sun had had a chance to burn off the heavy mist, so I walked along the road towards the Nature Reserve, trying to capture some of the charm of the glowing mist before the sun had claimed the day.

We have been lucky that this year the autumn colours have remained with us for longer, due to the absence of high winds alongside the rain, and so there was still colour to be seen in the hedgerows. I even learned of a plot of fenced-off land that will become a graveyard that explained something of the tarmacced walkways in the field opposite the Nature Reserve’s land – the wooden sign giving this information was festooned with the work of numerous spiders beaded with droplets bestowed by the dew.

I entered the Nature Reserve by way of the kissing gate and learned that I was definitely a late guest to the party, as there were cyclists and dog-walkers enjoying the warm morning mist; there was simply no chill to the air and all those I met were warm in their greetings too. I presume the lack of wind was allowing the low-lying mist to enclose the warmth from the previous day and the sun was definitely winning the challenge to clear the air and herald another pleasantly warm autumn day. I used the time to capture what I saw, even though there was nothing to make the heart beat faster, just serenity, and reminders of the year that was passing in the faded green and russet tones of the hedgerows.

Wilstone Late Afternoon Colour

After a disappointing morning, I felt disinclined to return without trying to capture something more meaningful, so went to Wilstone Reservoir, the largest of the trio of Tring reservoirs, it was as deserted as had been the canal, with just one pike fisherman on the promontory. Since the sun looked as if it would set in a sky bereft of clouds I decided I would stay down here till sunset.

The shots I managed to capture here at least meant my time was not totally wasted. I will now have several images that capture texture, and others that will make ideal cards that espouse peace and serenity. However, I do not find such serenity relaxing, I seek action, I enjoy capturing people at work and play, I enjoy seeing the fruits of people's labour progressing towards completion.