Morning light, rain clouds, and lilypads at Holland Ponds, Image # WA-9644
I imagine a lot of photographers were out this weekend taking advantage of the start of Fall. I was no exception. I was out before sunrise both mornings for this past weekend’s start to this great season. Colors have yet to get started around here in any abundance, it will be another couple of weeks yet for that. I am starting to feel my creative funk starting to lift a little though. The crispness in the air, the final riddance of the pesky mosquito plague we have had, and the cooler temperatures were enough to motivate me to get out and explore.
There is a EPA Superfund cleanup site not too far from where I live that has been converted into a nature area. There are many ponds and wetlands around here, and part of the Superfund project was to install a massive water filtration station that runs 24/7. That keeps the area water from being contaminated. I know, strange place to photograph, but nature does surprisingly well here now. I spent the time around sunrise at the edge of one of these ponds exploring lilypads. I had some nice morning light that lasted only about a few minutes before some rain clouds moved in.
To escape some of the rain, I moved into the wooded areas where I found this great turkey tail covered log. I was examining clusters of these for quite awhile to work them into a panoramic macro. When I reached around to grab my camera, I got a bit of a surprise. The log caught my attention long enough for a half dozen turkeys to walk up behind me. Turkey tail fungus plus turkeys — imagine that! Well, my movement spooked them and they flew into the trees across another pond before I could do much. I continued about my business taking pics of the turkey tail that stands pretty still.
Leaf and turkey tail Image # LE-9646
While working this log, a couple of 8+ point bucks were making their way though some high reeds across a small river. They didn’t notice me, I just watched them move by and went on photographing.
On my way out, I stopped at another spot for lilypads and found a spot that might make for another nice landscape. However, it was already getting late in the morning, the skies had cleared, and the light was pretty harsh. I needed to be at this spot first thing, so I planned to come again the next day. The “good” lilypads were also about 5 feet out into the pond, so I would need to come prepared to wade in a bit.
Lilypads at sunrise, Holland Ponds, MI #WA9645
Unfortunately, the next day didn’t have the dramatic clouds in the sky as the first one. There wasn’t a single cloud in the sky. But I did bring my waders, and I didn’t want to let my preparedness go to waste. I walked into the pond anyways, sinking down to about half my calf in muck. Gas bubbles were released and the smell of sulfur from decaying vegetation filled the air. I imagined getting stuck here, and the difficulty in explaining how I got myself into this situation. A slow and steady step helped prevent that from happening, but also kept me from moving around a lot. I found my spot, shot some frames, and waited for some sun to hit the background trees.
I spent another hour or so just scouting around for locations that would be good when the colors hit, then called it a day. My wet waders and boots thrown in the back of my car, gear packed up, and headed home. I felt pretty good about my first engagement and experiences with the season.
Today I got into my car in the morning and noticed a funny smell…actually, it was more like “What the hell is that?!?!” I thought maybe I parked too close to the garbage cans in my garage, or worse, some animal crawled into one of my air vents and died. I rolled down the windows to let the car air out. It wasn’t until later in the day when I realized what it was. I never took those mucky waders and boots out from the back. Let it be known, that is not something you want to forget.
Aside from the smell of death in my car, all in all, not a bad start to the season.
Beautiful, Mark! That nature can rebound and thrive in a Superfund cleanup site is testament to a tenacity that almost transcends belief. I can relate to the sentiments about autumn. I’m still waiting for that final seasonal turn here in Seattle … to spark the creative energies. The leaves are falling but the sun still speaks of summer.
Beautiful shots Mark!
Thanks Alanna!
So…that’s what I’ve been smelling in my front yard the last few mornings. *Your waders!* 🙂
Fall is definitely my favorite season and I really like these images, Mark. Fantastic work. As I said on Facebook the first one feels very transitional to me, from summer to fall, and as a result is a very evocative image. Well done.
LOL Greg, I hope it wasn’t. Thanks for the kind words. I also saw a state of transitition in this scene.
Out of your funk, and out of the muck as well! Both pond images are beautiful, love the foregrounds.
A few years back, I went into a bog up to my waist without the benefit of waders. The bog was invisible, covered with dry leaves, looked like a puddle. I had a change of clothes, fortunately. Took a while to hose off my jeans when I got home….
I think it is still with me a bit, but thanks Tom. A hidden bog is a bit scary, no telling how deep on of those may be!
Thanks Paul. We actually have a growing wild turkey population around here. It was the first time I had seen them in this particular park, but I see them frequently along the road near where I work. Is this wariness of turkeys related to a childhood incident? 🙂
I guess I could have claimed some guy tried to mug me and I fell into the pond.
Yep, if you have ever stirred up the bottom of a stagnant pond, you know exactly the smell I am describing. 🙂
Dang! I forgot the most important part – You captured some lovely photos, man!
Great story, Mark. Had you gotten stuck in the muck and had to be pulled out, there’s just no way that you would have been able to claim that it was an accident. No way! You had waders on, probably a tripod, and most certainly a camera with you. LOL
That’s pretty cool that those turkeys snuck up on you. They’re so scary that it’s quite unusual to see them out in the wild. I’m not surprised that they made haste and got the heck out of there.
Remember! Next time you go wading, get the hose out and clean off those waders. I’m sure that they were tre-funk-ay! 😉
Interesting spot. It’s wonderful an EPA Superfund site looks so pristine with abundant plant and animal life. Gives a little hope to us nature lovers.
Really beautiful photos…you must have been right down on the water with that last shot using a wide lens. You can’t beat that early morning light for a dramatic photo.
Thanks Earl. I have a snapshot somewhere of one of the signs of some of the fenced off area – warning about contamination, etc, etc. If this place wasn’t being actively filtered by the pump station, I think my waders may have melted away. 😉 You are right, I was pretty close to the water level for that shot. I needed to be careful not to drop my cable release in the drink, or anything else for that matter.
The third image is my favorite, hands down. I loved the story as I want to know what others experience when out in the field. Well, I guess it comes with the territory for photographers to deal with dirty pants and smelly waders. Lily pads are not seen out this way very often. I’ve found them in the high country near marshy areas and beaver ponds but in the city there are very few. That’s one of the things I miss living because I live in Colorado. Glad to hear you creative funk is starting fade. I assume that to mean we can expect to see more awesome images. 🙂
That’s interesting Monte about the lilypads. I guess I never thought they wouldn’t be found as much out west. I think I would trade some mountains for lilypads though. 🙂
Great shots. I just bought myself my first pair of waders from Cabelas. Now you have me worried about trying to use them LOL!!!!
Nah, just learn not to leave them in your car! 🙂
Beautiful shots, Mark, especially the first one. But the smell in the car was worth the last shot, don’t you think.
Thanks Ken. Yeah, the smell is only temporary, the pics I’ll have forever. I still would have preferred some clouds though.
Very nice images, Mark. While the dramatic skies really do enhance the first image, I think the sunstar makes the second one really work!
Thanks Andy.