I’ve walked these woods for three years now, and I’ve always felt there was something special about a section of oak and birch. Being on the southern edge, it receives lots of light, but I’ve always liked the atmosphere just before and just after dawn. This particular morning, on 1st November 2026, a thick mist descended on most of the country during the early hours. I arrived before dawn to find this familiar scene transformed into something resembling the set of a fantasy film. The mist rendered the light coming from above as more of a glow, and the autumn colors were muted.
I set up my tripod and camera and noticed just how still the conditions were. So still, in fact, I was able to shoot at base ISO, giving me a shutter speed of 1/10 second without having to worry about motion blur. The relationship between the oak and birch, I felt, just provided a simple yet compelling composition in a 16/9 ratio. The mist remained for most of the morning, but the light got stronger shortly after I took the image as the sun climbed higher. I could see as I collapsed my tripod that I’d shot this at the perfect moment.
When I look at this image now, it’s a reminder that it pays to keep revisiting your favorite locations close to home. It’s amazing just how the conditions can transform a place, and even more amazing that we have the means to record these special occasions!
