Monday, March 19, 2012

The Fog (Could Have Killed Me)


Fog brings up so many memories for me. It can be pretty, pretty scary to drive in, and even mystical to gaze upon. This past week, I was lucky enough to encounter a kinder, gentler fog. Leave it to me to turn it into a story. It's air, for crying out loud. It's water. It’s vapor, mist, haze. It's purely precipitation, in its simplest form. Saying that out loud just made me slip into a daffy duck voice. Please note that I am totally okay with that. Go ahead, try it. Ith fun!

"Ith purely prethipitashun in ith thimpletht form." Now, wipe the spit off your screen and continue.

Mmm, back to the fog. I leave my house dang early in the morning to take the kids to the bus stop, normally an uneventful thing. The sun is barely up at 7 a.m.  It’s still wiping the crust from its eyes while I’ve been up doing laundry, showered and dressed, gotten my husband and kids going, and if I’m lucky, had time for a cup of joe. This particular day, I crested the top of the hill near the bus stop and let out an audible gasp at the scene before me.

The Ocean of Fog  ©  Cindy Brown 2012
“The fog! Oh, I need my camera! I have to go back and get my camera!”

Figures, the one day I didn’t have it in my purse, there is a spectacular display of nature awaiting me at the bus stop. In the valley below lay an errant cloud fallen from the sky. It reached as far as my eye could see, as vast as the ocean, rolling over the landscape and covering everything in its path with mystical beauty. I felt almost afraid, but excited at the same time. Would I drown if I descended into the ocean of white? Who knows what lurks in there? Wild animals? School buses? No, silly, you can't drown in fog... or can you? Muwah-ha-ha-ha-haaaa!
Luckily, the bus came quickly. I did not miss my date with the fog. It’s such a fickle lover, fog. There one minute, lifted and gone in the next instant, without so much as a goodbye. I had no idea if it would be there when I returned or if it would look or act the same, for fog changes quickly. It's a shapeshifter, and you have to catch it quickly before it disappears into thin air. Literally.

Foggy Road  ©  Cindy Brown - 2012
I stopped on my road no less than three times for photo ops, and then ventured on my way for the day. I could see plenty far ahead of me, so driving in it would not pose a problem. I had a long drive, so I was thankful it was not “the scary fog.” As a teenager, I once was sure I would be killed by a blind date who was speeding so fast in his car through the thick fog that I literally cowered in fear in the floorboard. I was skeered, as Oprah would say. And I'm practically fearless! Worst. Date. Ever.

This, in contrast, was the pretty fog, the enchanting fog. This, my friends, was the best fog I’d ever had the pleasure of being involved with.

Nevertheless, I had places to go and little time to be stopping every whip-stitch to take pictures. So, here’s the part that could have killed me. Flying at approximately 55 miles per hour down a two lane highway, I decided to photograph the fog through my window as I was driving. Never mind the fact that I was actually pulled over by a policeman once for AMWD (Applying Makeup While Driving – I actually made the cop laugh when I told him why I had swerved), I was taking my chances. It was too beautiful not to photograph the scene before me.

You’ll be happy to know that I kept both hands on the wheel (I’m covering my butt just in case there happens to be a law enforcement officer reading this post today) and I never took my eyes off the road (thank you, invention of the 3” LCD). Was it worth the risk of dying? I’m not sure, but I think it might have been. My little black box (gold box, in this case) would have told the story of my demise in pictures. What a way to go! I can see the headlines now, "Area Woman Killed by The Fog." It sounds like that old horror movie. But for real.

I don’t even know how to describe the picture that I’m about to show you. I did nothing to the settings. I didn't apply a filter. It was taken through the front windshield of a 2002 Ford F-150 Lariat, not clean of debris either, mind you. It was taken with my Canon PowerShot SX210 IS, not a professional camera. I don’t know where the sepia toned effect came from. I don’t know how the planets aligned. All I know is that the result is one of my favorite pictures of all time. I was very satisfied with my fog experience that day and I have pictures to prove it.

© 2012 - The Fog, by Cindy Brown

If you want to see the entire "The Fog" album, you may visit this public link to the album, but please remember to credit me for the photos if you share any of them: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3164396842091.142136.1630481512&type=3

22 comments:

  1. Beautiful writing. Beautiful pictures. You captured the ethereal nature of this morning well. Thanks for sharing, and for poking me on Twitter. I've been meaning to swing by and subscribe to your blog.

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  2. I live in an area full of creeks and the fog can be so interesting. And driving toward downtown on a foggy day and no tops to the buildings-cool!

    But your photo is truly a jewel.

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    1. Thank you! I love my creek area too. I've lived here almost two years, but this was the first time I'd seen fog like that out here. It was gorgeous in person!

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  3. Great photo, and I love the really cool effects that nature provided for you.

    Ever read Stephen King's short story "The Fog"? That'll take ALL the romance out of a fog bank.

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    1. Probably so. I used to be a huge King fan. It's the perfect concept for horror. Like I said, what could be in there?

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  4. Beautiful photography, can see why you wanted to shoot it. You are definitely a writer & you made me laugh! ;)

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    1. Wow, confirmation on my identity! I AM a writer! There are days when I wonder if I know what I'm doing at all... LOL! Thanks and I'm glad it gave you a chuckle.

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  5. There was a movie that came out in 1980, called "The Children," in which a school bus full of kids drives through a fog. All the children then turn into zombies with black fingernails who burn their parents to a crisp just by hugging them. Your delightful post has finally driven the bad taste of that C horror flick from my mouth. I love the photos, especially the last one - what serendipity!

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    1. Well, it's a wonder I didn't see that movie! I used to be a huge horror movie buff and that would have been right up my alley, but I have been cured of the Wild Turkey, so to speak.

      Glad you enjoyed the photos, Cara! I want to use my own photography whenever possible.

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  6. Gorgeous pictures, all, but like you, love love love that last yellowish one.

    A few weekends ago I was driving through central CA and one of the places Joshua trees grow. Very few cars, you can see 'em coming miles away, and there, standing IN THE MIDDLE of the (70 mph) road is this guy taking pictures.

    Now, I can appreciate that he wanted to get the exact best shot, and felt that's where he had to stand. But as my car approached, he didn't make any move to step back, forward, etc., just continued to stand there and take his pictures and let me slow and swerve around him. If I hadn't done so, he would've gotten an excellent close-up - of my WINDSHIELD.

    I admit, I've taken a few pics while driving myself, but more often, I will pull over, because I don't think my family would appreciate them as much at my memorial service. I also try to be cognizant of approaching cars, at least wave at them and step off the road.

    Do be careful, Ms. Cindy. One of my son's strong, athletic friends was killed at age 20 when he leaned a little too far on a narrow path to try to get a good shot of a waterfall.

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    1. Oh Beverly, that breaks my heart! I live my life to learn valuable lessons and I must say that I am working on my driving habits, namely distracted driving, and am constantly trying to improve myself in every way. I will be doing a post about it someday, actually. What a sad thing, but valuable to hear. It is now part of my walk through life. Thanks, dear ;0)

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  7. What an amazing picture you got - they all were wonderful. I can't count the many times I've shot pics of fog. It also brings a quiet to the area - the moisture just absorbs the sound. I wrote a little short romantic piece about fog once! Your trip to the bus stop will never be the same!

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    1. I'm thinking of writing a memoir and naming it "School Buses in the Mist." No, I'm not. That's a total fabrication. But the fog was really beautiful!

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  8. Congratulations, Cindy, I have nominated you for the KREATIV BLOGGER AWARD.

    Go to my blog to see your name in bright lights, then check out the rules for the award, which I've pasted below:

    The Kreativ Blogger award comes with the following rules:
    1. You must thank the person who has given you the award.
    2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
    3. Link the person who has nominated you for the award.
    4. Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting.
    5. Nominate 7 other Kreativ Bloggers.
    6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.
    7. Leave a comment on which of the blogs to let them know they have been nominated.

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    1. Thank you so much, Becky!

      I am so honored that you thought enough of my blog to bestow me thusly.

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  9. Good descriptions, kept my interest, funny, original photography.
    Good job,  Keep it up. 
    My problem is I want to put something controversial or childish in every story, like there was a naked person jogging or.. You don't have that problem.

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  10. Ha ha, Will! Nope, my life is funny enough as it is. Thanks for visiting and commenting!

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  11. Wow, Cindy the photograph is amazing!

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  12. I am trying to break my habit of driving while doing things like applying makeup and photography... but wow, that photo was pretty cool, wasn't it?

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  13. love love your work; I just discovered your blog and i am passionnate by photography too;now i will follow you and hope you will do ,the same with me;God Bless

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