I’m excited to share photos I took on the last day of autumn. As a landscape photographer, I love foggy days in the Pacific Northwest. They create a mysterious and dreamy atmosphere that transforms any scene into a work of art.
But fog is also tricky. The thickness, height, and timing can vary between extremes. The duration can span from hours to minutes. It has the potential to be either a blessing or a curse.
I was thrilled when I woke up to clear skies and dense fog, ideal conditions for forest photography. I like foggy mornings with clear skies. Fog under blue skies allows sunlight to filter, creating beautiful rays and tones. Cloudy days with fog are less contrasty but also less dramatic.
I grabbed my camera and headed to one of my favorite spots along the Willapa River. Only a few miles upriver from Raymond, Washington. A Department of Fish and Wildlife boat launch provides a view up and down the river. I always drive to this location to check on conditions for photography.
When I arrived along the river, the fog softened the first layer of trees. Beyond, it obscured everything else in the distance.
The sun had yet to rise over the Willapa Hills surrounding the valley. I could see the blue skies peaking through the fog, hinting at what may come later.
I had the entire area to myself, with only an occasional vehicle passing by. Without interruptions, I wandered around the riverbank. Looking for unique compositions encompassing the river, trees, and fog, I experimented, trying to capture the mood and beauty of the scene.
The result was four images. Although each has a unique perspective and feel, they all revolve around the magic of fog.
This stop was a productive start to the morning of shooting photos. Getting a few compositions out of the way helped me get into the flow state, where I’m immersed and focused on my craft.
I continued my journey, chasing the fog and the light and making more photos along the way. But it’s best to save that story for later.
I hope you enjoy these four images as much as I enjoyed taking them. You can buy them as prints on my website, perfect for your home or office.
If you’re interested, click on the photos or view my entire collection of photographs at https://www.stevebisigphotography.com
Thank you for reading and for supporting my work. I appreciate your feedback and comments. Please share your thoughts on these photos and fog photography.
Further Readings:
Chasing Fog on the Willapa River: A Photo Adventure
Discovering Beauty in Black and White Foggy Forest Landscapes
Finding Inspiration Near Home, Pacific County, Washington
Below is a short video I captured while making these photographs.
