I really enjoy photographing on a misty morning or evening. There is something mystical about a simple scene with mist present. Mist occurs when small droplets of water are suspended in air, and often arises when relatively warm, humid air encounters a cold surface or environment. (It is called fog when visibility is significantly reduced).

The photo on the left here was taken early one winter morning last year. Snow was everywhere, and looming from the mist was this beautiful old oak tree - almost in silhouette. I liked the way the foreground snow and background mist made the horizon almost disappear. (More photos taken during this trip can be seen on the Seasons/Winter gallery).

The photo of the horse in the mist was taken a couple of years ago when I was exploring a remote country lane in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan early one morning in late Autumn. As I got my tripod out to prepare to photograph the rising sun in the mist this horse, along with several others in the field, bounded over to see what was happening. I don't know who was more excited - the horse or me! Anyway, the ethereal quality of the horse appearing ghost-like in the mist is one of my favorite images.

On the same occasion as photographing the horse (above) I waited a little longer until the sun rose in the early morning mist. The mist diffused the lovely orange glow to give a real sense of a new Autumn morning - full of anticipation of the day about to unfold. The dew covered grasses in the foreground, the receding fence posts, the field beyond and the distant tree line - all saturated in mist and the sun's glow, made for a memorable moment captured in the camera (and now shared with you!).

Next time you see a mist appear - over a lake, in a woods, in a field - grab your camera and snap some shots; you may be pleasantly surprised at the magic of the scene!