Sunfish Pond

I had it in my mind last week that I was going to go for a hike (dammit).  Not just a walk, or a stroll, but a real hike.  It had been years since I last made the trek to Sunfish Pond, a beautiful, woodsy place along the Appalachian Trail, and that was where I would make tracks to.  And again, I decided that my camera was going to come with me.  Due to a recent promotion, I am both energized and stressed out.  Although I woke up on Saturday morning sore and tired, I knew that if I didn't toss aside all responsibility and get lost in the woods, I would be worse off both mentally and physically.

The weather was cloudy and unusually warm for early November as Leo and I took the first steps along an eight mile long loop.  I had hoped for sunnier conditions- better lighting for the camera, you know.  I took my first few shots with a rather resigned feeling of documenting our journey rather than  of creating art.  Most of the trees up north were bare, but what foliage remains is exceptionally vibrant in its coloration.  We followed Dunnfield Creek, a noisy and swift-running stream with plenty of little waterfalls along the way.  Its valley is humid and excellent habitat for moss and other moisture loving plants.  I'm inclined to say that the photo below is the best shot of the expedition, due to its composition and interesting focus on the middle ground.

While I'm out and about in the great wide world, I'm always looking for beauty in the details.  As I commute to work, I'm forever noticing neat cloud formations  and other beautiful scenery.  I can't help myself, and I'm grateful that this is such a prominent part of who I am.  Being outdoors in such great and natural loveliness is nearly a religious experience for me.  "This is great," I said to Leo over and over.  "It's so good to be out here."  It's immersive- the musky, exciting scent of leaf-mould, the sharp, fresh autumn air filling my lungs, the chilly breeze rustling the few leaves left on the trees.

The pond is a popular spot.  I'd say we saw about thirty other hikers total in the area of this, our halfway point in the hike.  Sunfish Pond is the result of a glacier carving a deep, broad depression in the mountain itself.  The water is clear and calm, and sound carries far.  One day, Leo and I are going to hike the entire Appalachian Trail.  This is one of many beautiful precursors to that end goal.  Get out there, take a good camera or sketchbook with you, and let the outdoors fill you with wonder and inspiration.

Halloween Hike Photos

I was determined to get outside and go for a long walk, so I drove to Merrill Creek to admire the autumn foliage.  Almost as an afterthought, I brought along my camera.  I wasn't sure what sort of lighting I would get, since it was quite cloudy when I left the house.  Many leaves have fallen since the one day of hard rain that we've had in the Northeast this fall.  I was pleasantly surprised by the surplus of gorgeous golden foliage set against a lovely blue sky streaked with wisps of white clouds.  Despite the cloudiness, it was bright, and slanting sunlight poured through the trees.  I had a difficult time reviewing photos on my camera's screen due to the brightness of the light reflecting from the clouds.  

I used a variety of f-stops and shutter speeds, but what seemed to work best were shutter speeds ranging from 1/100-1/250 and apertures from f12 to f18.  The photos required minimal editing, as I was satisfied with the composition quality; I adjusted the exposure and contrast here and there.  I was using my Nikon D300 with a Tamron telescoping lens (28-300mm).  I've only just started using the Tamron (it sat for a number of years in my camera bag), and I regret not trying it sooner.  It's a versatile piece of equipment that takes sharp photos, and is a little lighter than my other telephoto lenses.  As I hate carrying a large amount of weight around my neck, this is a huge plus.  It was a pleasure to be out and about in the beautiful weather this past Halloween afternoon.  I can't wait to get out there and take more photos!