Season of mists... Photo

Photographer’s Note

Autumn is here once more. I was up and out early this morning, driving in the Dumfriesshire countryside. There was a mist that quickly burned off as it has been a sunny day but there was definately an autumn atmoshere first thing.I parked up in the tiny village of Dalston, which represented a rural idyll so early in the morning. The sun and mist together with the gentle cooing of wood pigeons created a delightful experience.
I would have preferred a POV slightly further left but there was deep ditch that stopped me stepping that way.
The title is from a famous line in a poem by the Romantic poet John Keats:

To Autumn

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,
Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;
Conspiring with him how to load and bless
With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run;
To bend with apples the moss'd cottage-trees,
And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;
To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells
With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,
And still more, later flowers for the bees,
Until they think warm days will never cease,
For Summer has o'er-brimm'd their clammy cells.

Who hath not seen thee oft amid thy store?
Sometimes whoever seeks abroad may find
Thee sitting careless on a granary floor,
Thy hair soft-lifted by the winnowing wind;
Or on a half-reap'd furrow sound asleep,
Drows'd with the fume of poppies, while thy hook
Spares the next swath and all its twined flowers:
And sometimes like a gleaner thou dost keep
Steady thy laden head across a brook;
Or by a cyder-press, with patient look,
Thou watchest the last oozings hours by hours.

Where are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they?
Think not of them, thou hast thy music too,--
While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day,
And touch the stubble-plains with rosy hue;
Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mourn
Among the river sallows, borne aloft
Or sinking as the light wind lives or dies;
And full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bourn;
Hedge-crickets sing; and now with treble soft
The red-breast whistles from a garden-croft;
And gathering swallows twitter in the skies.

aurora_borealis, Janice, graffer, Kielia, tyro, gaby, Royaldevon, rasto1893, ed_galagan, anto95 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

lasscor (7623) 2008-08-23 13:08

Hi Bev,
Lovely misty landscape.
A nice composition, full of softness.
TFS,
Corinne

AROBN54 (10653) 2008-08-23 13:13

Oh, Bev,
that is SO pretty! I love the way the road curves into the shot, the lovely dark green foliage with the bright red flowers in the FG and then that soft mistiness further into the shot. Wonderful soft color, lovely detail, beautifully composed and balanced. That is a really superb shot! Many thanks and warm regards,
Shelly

aurora_borealis (309) 2008-08-23 22:27

Hello Bev,
Very nice compo with the little road and the house.
Even though you couldn't get the POV you wanted I think this one works quite well too :-)
Nice how the red berries and the heather, situated in the corners, add some touch of coulour.
Misty mornings are just wonderful...
Thanks for sharing!
regards,
Laura

pablominto (39872) 2008-08-24 0:49

Hello Bev,

The haze helps to create this fine atmosphere, just as the sun is about to win!
Attractive composition, where the curving road is an eye-catcher and taking me to the house on the hill...
Fine light, and the splashes of red berries add excitement!

Greetings,
Pablo -

jonathan_hart (22564) 2008-08-24 2:57

nice combinaison mist & sun,
great framing and composition, the house, the path, the flowers, well seen
regards
jo

Janice (4386) 2008-08-24 3:30

I like this one too Bev. The eye follows the road to the house, and those beautiful red flowers are so noticeable. The pink ones too.
The fog give a very good look to the whole scene
TFS
Janice

graffer (1764) 2008-08-24 3:40

Hello Bev,

A fine contrast of sunshine and mist. The curving lane is a good lead in to the picture, and the touches of red at the bottom left - the old masters' trick - helps the depth of perspective nicely. You have even included a "huggable" house!

Kind regards,

Peter.

Kielia (8159) 2008-08-24 3:49

Hi Bev,
I like your POV! And the light on the house is really beautiful. You captered the atmosphere described in this lovely poem perfectly. Wonderful shot!
Warm regards
Harriet

tyro (2578) 2008-08-25 14:26

Hello, Bev.

One of my favourite poems of all time and a lovely picture to go with it. Just a pity that autumn seems to be upon us almost a month too soon!

The mist has given the picture a wonderful depth and it's nice to see that there's still some colour and shade in that sky - all too often, skies like this tend to be pure white and "blown out".

The road with its fences either side really leads the eye into the picture and round to that lovely house.

Excellent!

Best Wishes,

John.

jasmis (49589) 2008-08-25 22:47

Amazing atmosphere. Something romantic and something mysterious.
Regards.

gaby (19793) 2008-08-25 23:36

Hi Bev,
Just beautiful -
love the atmosphere and the POV
the curve of the road is really superb
Well seen
Regards
Gaby

feather (49848) 2008-08-26 6:11

Despite the early morning mist there is a lovely light o the scene. You have composed it extremely well making excellent use of the perspective, as the track leads the eye into the scene. Both bottom corners with the red berries catch the eye nicely along with the pink of the fireweed.
I'm in denial that autumn is on its way, and am still awaiting summer. Perhaps there will be an Indian one!?
Kath

holmertz (9242) 2008-08-27 12:35

Hello Bev,
This is pretty much a perfect composition. Great atmosphere with the haze and the sunshine, the dirt road curving gently between the fences, the tree beside the house, the dots of red in the foreground. What more could one ask?
Best regards,
Gert

Royaldevon (5784) 2008-09-01 1:13

Hello Bev,

You really have picked the best spot to capture this scene! We cannot help following that beckoning path! And what a scene awaits!
I like how the scene moves from sunlight to a deepening, misty mystery! Excellent!

Kind regards,
Bev :-)

scalerman (25607) 2008-09-08 14:22

Bev: I think your investment in the new camera was a good choice - it would seem you're already quite adept with DOF and f/stops - very nice ambience here. regards, c

marietom (31766) 2008-09-09 2:20

hello Bev,

Superbe paysage, avec cette brume en arrière plan, et ces très belles couleurs devant !
Bonne soirée
Marie

rasto1893 (1685) 2008-09-27 13:04

Hello Bev,
What a mystic moment you have captured, good composition, colours and sharpeness, nice presented , nice landscape
My best Regards
Rastislav

JLG (2086) 2008-11-04 8:55

hello Bev
cette photo est formidable !!!super atmosphère avec des couleurs douce
c'est tres poetique
congratulation
jean louis

ed_galagan (370) 2008-12-15 11:19

Hi Bev!

Pleasure photo! It is possible to see it long time! For the good mood and feeling of atmosphere of this poetic landscape!

Regards,
Edward

Graal (57208) 2009-01-09 0:03

Hi Bev,
very nice misty landscape. Good composition with the flowers on FG. I like it a lot.
Gr., Aleksander

Uhu (7326) 2009-02-18 2:53

I like fog! Or rather a mist here, I agree!
Great work, very - romantic, that's it!
Perfect note.

ilDottore (3962) 2009-03-20 3:38

Hi bev,
This is my favourite kind of photography.
Wonderful foggy, mysterious landscape.
Just perfect composition and stunning colours.
Good work, indeed.
Greetings from Dublin!
Chris

anto95 (1744) 2009-03-23 7:10

Hi Bev,
Excellent framing and composition, great light management, beautiful colours, but I wanted to make a workshop.
Antonello

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