Praying for the Return of the Fog

When I first moved to the Redwoods just inland from the North Coast of California in 1989 I remember the fog rolling in from the ocean at least three to four times a week. It's beautiful to behold and it provides nourishment for the Redwood trees to be healthy through the summer. The incoming marine layer hits the tall trees and ridges causing fog drip that falls like rain around the bases of the trees. Within the last five years or so I have noticed the fog rolling in less and less. Now it seems like the fog only comes in three or four times a month robbing the redwoods and the rest of the forest of the moisture that it needs to be healthy. I wondered if my empirical record keeping had any validity? Today I did a little research and there are plenty of studies that show this to be true. The lack of fog is impacting the health of the Redwoods in California in a negative way. Hopefully the last few weeks mark the beginning of a change in the fog patterns. The marine layer has been rolling in almost every night as of late. That would be a wondrous change and something good we can pray for. God's love and blessings to all, chris This image wascreated with a Canon 7D MkII camera and a Tamron 18-200mm lens, #TeamCanon, #WithMyTamron

Waiting for the Birds

This morning I was waiting for the birds to fly into the frame to add some interest to the foggy redwood composition I was creating. When I checked my Facebook account this morning I was reminded in my memories that I was photographing the same exact subject two years ago. Either I'm still being creative or I'm stuck in a rut. Time to go on a trip! God's precious love to all, chris This image was created with a Canon 7D MkII camera and a Tamron 150-600mm G2 lens. The camera settings used were AV mode, ISO 800, F8.0 at 1/500th of a sec.#TeamCanon, #withmytamron

Mystical Mountain Morning

Sunday morning the fog rolled in over the ridge top where we live creating some soft beautiful light. I quickly grabbed my camera and ran out to the end of our driveway and made a few images of the forest before we dashed off to church. This image was my favorite. God's love and blessings to all, chris #teamcanon This image was created with a Canon 7D MkII and a Rokinon 8mm manual lens. The camera settings used were avmode, ISO 800, F 11.0 at 1/200th of a sec. the camera was supported by a ground pod with a Bogen 3055 Heavy Duty ballhead placed on the ground.

Morning Snapshots

When I woke up this morning the fog had rolled in over the ridge top last night from the coast. The forest must have been sighing with pleasure. I grabbed my camera and a wide angle lens and took a walk down the ridge from our house. I was hoping for some angel's breath (Crepuscular rays) but the fog was just a little bit too thick. Here are a couple of snap shots I found along the way. God's love and blessings to all, chris both images created with a hand held and braced Canon 7D and a Canon EF-s-10-22 wide angle zoom lens at 10mm. Camera settings used were AV mode, ISO 800, f 16.0 at 1/30th and 1/25th of a sec.

Roll Back the Fog

I have noticed over the years that my photography goes in spurts. Something will catch my interest and many times I will stick with that theme for a little bit. The birds always seem to be a constant but other things come and go and stay for a little while. Right now it must be the fog because this morning I found myself photographing it again. I was up early today due to the time change. When I looked out our bedroom window I noticed that the fog had rolled back to reveal the valley floor covered in fog with tendrils of mist reaching up into the mountains around it. I grabbed my camera and photographed it with a telephoto lens and then went for a walk. When I returned the fog had rolled back in and covered the valley back up again. Thank you Lord for the incredible view, chris Images created with a Canon 7D and a Tamron 150-600 mm lens.

Clearing Away the Fog

This morning arrived with heavy fog and the bright morning sun trying to push its way through. I dropped Lenore off at work and by the time I got back home there were angel rays breaking over the ridge top. I grabbed my camera and photographed the sunshine peeking through the branches of the tan oak in our front yard. Now I'm off to varnish the woodwork in our house. God's light and love to all, chris Image created with a handheld Canon 7D and a Canon 28-105 lens at 40mm. AV mode, ISO 800, F 16.0 at 1/200th of a sec.

Angel's Breath in the Morning

This morning the fog has been drifting back and forth across the ridge top where I live. Whenever I see this I know it will make for great photography. I grabbed my camera and walked down our foggy road looking for images and I found some really nice ones of the crepuscular rays beaming into the forest. Crepuscular rays is just a fancy name for sun beams or as we like to call them, Angel's Breath. Crepuscular rays are caused by the scattering of light in sunlit areas from water droplets (fog), dust or other fine particles in the air. Whatever you want to call them they are pretty cool and make for some beautiful images of the forest. All images were created with a Canon 7D and a Canon 17-85mm lens. The exposures varied. May you have a blessed day, chris #TeamCanon,#canonbringit

Morning Mist

I'm still keeping it simple as I am still fighting the cold/flue and I have been catching up on a lot of reading and sleeping. Here is this mornings view of morning fog in the Little Lake Valley below me. Image captured with a Canon 7D and a Tamron 150-600 mm lens at 375mm. AV mode, ISO 800, F 18.0, 1/500th of a sec. +1 exposure compensation. The camera was braced upon my window sill.

Magical Misty Morning

I love the ever changing landscape the fog creates for me in the Little Lake Valley most mornings. The layers of fog rise up, lower down, thicken and thin out. It never seems to stop moving. It's almost as if it is alive. Here are a few images from yesterday morning. God bless, chris all images created with a canon 7D and a Canon 100-400 IS lens braced upon my window sill.

Light in the Forest

We awoke to heavy fog that crept in on little cats feet last night without a sound. It was the perfect morning for an image I have been wanting to try out. Lenore grabbed her red hoodie and the candle lantern and I grabbed my camera. I think this will be fun to try again sometime when it is even darker out. I love the moody feel of this image. God bless, chris Image created with a handheld and braced Canon 7D and a Canon 28-105 lens at 100mm. Camera settings used. AV mode, ISO 1600,F 4.5 at 1/25th of a sec.

Morning Fog

This morning I woke up eager to get started a bird photography project I have in mind. As soon as I stepped outside I noticed the fog drifting through the trees. What a beautiful sight! I ran back inside and grabbed my camera and put the viewfinder to my eye. Where did the fog go? It was gone in the short time I had taken to go inside and get my camera. Oh well I thought to myself perhaps another day and I went back to work. I hadn't been working for less than five minutes and the fog was back. I practically sprinted into the house to grab my camera. Once back outside I composed a beautiful image and pressed the shutter release. Absolutely nothing happened except for the silence of the camera. Dead battery! I rushed back indoors and quickly put in a fresh set of batteries. By the time I had returned outside the fog had already cleared again. AAArgh! By now I was frustrated and as I headed for the backdoor of the house I looked back over my shoulder to see a wall of fog pouring in from the coast. I calmly put on a pair of sandals and walked down our road. I braced my self against a tree and created the image you see below. Patience, patience,patience. God's precious light and love to all, chris Image created using a Canon 7D and a Canon 10-22 lens at 13mm. Camera settings used were AV mode, ISO 400, F 16.0 at 1/10th of a sec. No tripod was used the camera was braced against a tree.

Fog Rolling In

One of the incredible things about the Redwood Coast is watching the fog rolling in with its life giving waters. Fog drip from the trees provides a substantial amount of the moisture required for the forest. Tonight I watched it roll in over a few ridge tops and stop. God's blessings to all, chris

Camera Equipment Used- Canon 7D, Canon EF 100-400 f/4.5-5.6 IS USM , Camera Settings- AV Mode,ISO 400,F5.6, Shutter speed 1/400th of a sec.

Gray Day

We awoke to cloudy gray skies and a light fog coming in from the coast this morning. I went out and watched the fog flow through the Little Lake Valley in, around and over Little Darby Peak on the eastern edge of the valley. It's amazing how fast it can change over the course of ten or fifteen minutes. Right now at a little past eleven in the morning the sun is making a brave attempt to try and break through. We shall see by this afternoon who shall have the upper hand. God's loving embrace to all, chris

Camera Equipment Used- Canon 7D, Canon 100-400 IS, Manfrotto 055XPROB Tripod with a 3055 Ballhead. Camera Settings- AV Mode,ISO 400,+1 E.V., F16.0, Shutter speed varied

The Breath of Angels

I was planning on doing some bird photography this morning but alas the rain has defeated me. It looks like I'm going to be stuck indoors working on cleaning up my office/studio which is always an ongoing project. On Sunday when I went out to photograph the birds the fog was starting to roll in and the at first the front yard was foggy and the backyard was clear and sunny. Gradually fog spilled over into the back yard creating beautiful patterns of light and fog that we call "Angel's Breath". The fancy schmancy scientific name for this effect is crepuscular rays. I like Angel's Breath better. It's a lot easier to remember too. Here are some images from the Redwood Grove in the backyard. Have a blessed day, chris

Ever Changing Valley Down Below

One of the first things that I do most every morning is look out our back window to check out the valley down below. It is ever changing with shifting shadows, fog and light. Many mornings the fog is so thick it looks like a large white lake. It can change from minute to minute as the fog flows from changes in heat from the rising sun. Some days the fog can linger all morning and on others burn off in less than half an hour. Over the years I have taken thousands of images of the valley down below. Thank you Lord for giving me such a beautiful example of your creation to wake up to each day. chris

The Fog Came Marching In!

This morning the sun arose bright and cheery into the sky. I thought I was looking forward to another really warm day. God must have had other plans! Within about fifteen minutes the fog came marching up the ridge fully engulfing our house and blotting out the sun. It didn't burn off until close to eleven o'clock. My original plan was to drive down into the valley and photograph spider webs in the early morning light. Change of plans. I went down the ridge from my house and photographed the trees. I had a splendid time. God's plans are always better. Love and God's blessings to all, chris

Misty Mountains

Quite a few times a week I'm treated to watching the magic of the fog. The sun rises and starts climbing upward in the sky and the fog responds by shifting and flowing around the mountains and valleys. This creates a multitude of layers of Redwood Tree tops,fog,mountains and bands of light. It's just amazing! The following images were created during about a ten minute time period of watching out of our back window this morning.The Little Lake Valley slowly revealed itself from under layer of fog. Have a blessed day, chris

Working My Way Down

I love wide angle lenses! I haven't had the good use of one for awhile now due to the fact that my previous one took swimming lessons in Pyramid Lake in Nevada a few years ago. At the time I dried it out in an oven and it worked well for awhile but the image quality of the lens has slowly been degrading. I finally retired it this week with the purchase of a newish lens. This morning I took it out for a work out as I worked my way downward in the fog off of the ridge top.With the ever changing fog there were always new compositions to seek out. I hope that you enjoy these. God bless, chris

Along the Ridgetop

We awoke to a gorgeous, cloudy and layered sunrise. I dropped Annika off to school and then had a doctors appointment. I possibly have some type of viral infection. Got meds and headed home. Stopped and photographed a couple of spots along the ridge top as I drove home. Just a perfectly beautful day to lay low. God's love and blessings to all, chris

Light in the Forest

This morning on my way home from dropping Annika off at school the fog began pouring out of the valley up over the ridge top where we live. This made for some fantastic lighting in the forest.It was a beautiful interplay of shadows and light that shifted as the breeze pushed the fog along. The fancy ten dollar word for the rays of light is"Crepuscular Rays". In our family we just call it "Angels Breath". I feel it is a much more fitting name for something so beautiful that God created. Have a wondeful day, chris