It's Fall... It's Not Supposed to Be Hazy!

Last Sunday, we went down the Blue Ridge Parkway to the Peaks of Otter. We had a fun hike up Sharp Top Mountain, but (again) the weather was terrible for photos. I just wanted to share this shot so you could see the gross veil of haze that's been hanging around lately. Most years, this particular hike is simply amazing throughout the entire fall season. This year, not so much.

 

I feel like I should write a letter of complaint to someone about the crappy weather this fall. Something a bit like this:

 

Dear Mother Nature,

 

I've been out there every weekend (and a lot of weekdays, too), trying to capture your reputed beauty. I hate to tell you, but you're just not doing your job. First of all, I'd like to point out that Skyline Drive didn't really have a fall this year. What's up with that? The leaves dried up, turned brown and fell off the trees by mid-October.

 

You've given us next to no rain, so autumnal waterfall scenes are pretty much nonexistent. I know everybody likes sunny, blue skies... but seriously, would it hurt to throw in a few big, cottony clouds or even some nice wispy cirrus clouds? Don't you know how flat cloudless blue skies look? And no... haze does not count as clouds. Haze just looks like someone poured milk into the sky. On the rare overcast day you provided, couldn't you have held back the wind, or at least given us some interesting fog?

 

I really like taking photos of nature, but lately you've just left me feeling disappointed. You just haven't been worth carrying 35 pounds of gear up and down the trails this fall. I'll give you another chance this winter, but you're totally on notice.

 

Love, Christine

 

Don't get me wrong... I enjoy the outdoors whether I have my camera or not. We've gone lots of great places and had lots of fun this fall. I just feel pretty let down about this season for photography. I had so looked forward to shooting fall this year, and it just didn't pan out. Maybe next year?

Done