The Autumn colours seem to have taken along time to really get going this year and in many places they are lingering even into December, clinging to their trees and providing a colourful show when the sun gives them chance to dazzle.
On Saturdays I work in the mornings and I had eyed up a spot on the edge of Walton Heath Common that is close to work, with some Autumn colour still remaining. The previous day I checked out the location on my way to work as it was about the same time I could be there on the Saturday. The sun was highlighting the vibrant colours at a pleasing angle at that hour, so I planned a return for Saturday. The forecast was for the sun to burn through the fog around lunchtime, so my plan looked promising.
Saturday dawned with a very chilly minus temperature and plenty of freezing fog around. I drove to work and the fog was there right up to work, with it lingering throughout the morning as I worked.
Lunchtime arrived and I finished my shift and drove to park at my chosen spot, heartened by the sight of a hint of sun induced brightness starting to appear above the trees.
The way the light was hitting and it appeared the fog could be lifting a little, made me grab my gear quickly as I reckoned my shotting time might be quite limited.
I started at a small tree that had plenty of orange coloured leaves under it and still had some attached, with the sun still trying to burn through the fog.
After a few shots with this tree, the sun was showing more promise of burning through the fog and I looked for further inspiration as I moved around the woodland.
The next stop was where the path was covered with leaves and the sun was hitting the golden colours of a tree in a particularly pleasing way.
Thereafter, I followed that path to the edge of the woodland as the fog lifted further and looked long the line of the trees thatnhad plenty of bronze coloured leaves and were now well lit by the sun.
Looking from this angle, I felt that I wanted a closer foreground and to looking straighter down the tree line. Walking to just under the tree with the thick trunk that is about two thirds of the way across the above photo, I was able to achieve a very pleasing composition (below). This one has become my favourite from this shoot, much as I also like the one with the path and yellowy tree.
This shoot was all about exprimenting with composition, as it was a bit different from my normal photos. It was a very enjoyable hour and a half before the sun faded and the fog rolled back in, with the hoar frost enduring throughout the day on some grasses and trees on the common as the temperature never climbed above zero.
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