Adding emotion or mood to an image can be a powerful tool. And mist or fog seems to appeal to nearly everyone. It provides a sense of quiet calm and a bit of mystery. Knowing when to expect misty conditions will help you find good shooting spots.
In general, spring and fall provide the ideal weather conditions for misty mornings. When it is quite cool overnight, but warm during the day, mist or fog will often form in the early morning in low-lying areas and along waterways. But it can burn off quickly once the sun comes up, so you have to make your best guess as to where to be before sunrise.
This shot in Jasper National Park in the Canadian Rockies was made at sunrise along a small lake. There was a slight breeze which moved the mist quickly along the lake surface and the scene was constantly changing. I shot many images as the scene morphed in front of my eyes, and this is my favorite. There is plenty of mist to provide that sense of mystery I mentioned, with a bit of an opening to allow the strong autumn colors to blaze through brilliantly.
To pick the mornings with the best chances of mist or fog, check the long-range weather forecast. Find the days that are predicted to have the coolest nights followed by warm days. Those conditions will set things up for you. The cool air overnight will drop below the warm air layer above, and will sit close to the ground. Then as the day begins, the air temperature will start to warm and the mist formed will rise. It will be a pleasant, quiet time to be out photographing, and with any luck Mother Nature will cooperate to provide a wonderful scene before your eyes.
TECHNICAL DATA
Shutter Speed 1/125 sec. Aperture f/5.6. ISO 3200. Lens: Canon 70-200mm f/4L IS, set at 100mm. Camera: Canon 5D Mark III. Gitzo tripod with Really Right Stuff ballhead and Wimberley Sidekick.
TODAY'S QUOTE: "Every morning is a fresh beginning. Every day is a world made new. This moment - this day - is as good as any moment in all eternity. This is my day of opportunity." --Dan Custer
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