Fog and Quiet Streets
An Early Morning Journey Through Yellow Springs
Happy December! Can you believe how quickly the year has flown by?
I usually wake up around 4 a.m., not by choice, but because that’s just how it seems to go. Some days it’s a bit later, other days earlier, but I typically try to fall back asleep for another hour or two. On this particular morning, I woke up and noticed the light coming through the window had a different glow. I got up and peeked outside—and found it was foggy. Not just any fog, but thick, dense fog—the kind that feels like you could cut it with a knife.
I remembered there had been a weather alert about fog, though I hadn’t given it much thought. As I lay back down in bed, I swore I could see the fog creeping up to the bedroom windows, wrapping me in its thick, cool embrace. It almost felt like I was encased in it. My mind began to race, and suddenly I found myself thinking of the Stephen King novella, The Mist. That eerie, unsettling feeling lingered, so I shifted my thoughts to something more familiar: photography.
I’ve always enjoyed being out in the early mornings, when most people are still asleep, and the world feels quiet and still. It’s a peaceful kind of solitude. When I was an avid runner, I used to head out in the pitch-black hours for my morning run, with only my headlamp to light the way. I’d watch my light reflect off the eyes of animals off in the woods, and though it was a bit unnerving at first, I learned to enjoy it. My biggest fear was coming across a skunk—something that did happen from time to time. But I found that if I just slowed down and walked by quietly, they mostly ignored me.
As I lay there, restless in bed with thoughts swirling in my mind, I started to think: maybe I should get up and shoot. I wasn’t interested in waiting for daylight; I’ve captured plenty of foggy mornings before. I even made a short reel of one such morning. The village could look really interesting, with the shops closed but still lit, the lights diffused by the fog, giving everything a mystical feel.
The more I thought about it, the more I felt compelled to get up. I haven’t done much personal shooting lately, just commercial work. It felt like a sign: the thought of shooting wouldn’t leave my mind, even though the warmth of my bed was hard to resist. So, I gathered my things and headed out into the darkness.
My first disappointment came when I realized that many shops had turned down their lights. Still, there were plenty of interesting shots to be had. The first was of the laundromat, followed by a delivery taking place. I wasn’t sure where the delivery was headed, since nothing was open.
As I turned the corner, I was pleasantly surprised by the glow coming from the Post Office. It wasn’t on my original list, but it had such a warm, inviting light, backlit by the BP station behind it. The BP station, though, was on my list. I had known it would be well-lit, and I had a hunch the wet pavement and fog would make for a colorful shot.
Rounding the corner, I noticed the empty street, with only a lone car heading toward a red traffic light. The glow of the lights reflecting off the wet pavement immediately caught my eye, and the holiday-decked light poles added a nice touch.
A few shops were getting ready to open, brewing coffee and warming up grills for the morning rush.
My last stop was the hardware store. I had hoped to catch Wilbur the cat hanging out, but sadly, he wasn’t around. Still, the store itself had an interesting look in the fog. Fun fact: the hardware store hosts after-hours performances, including comedy, improv, and blues.
As I made my way home, I passed a church. The statues inset into the building immediately reminded me of the Doctor Who Episode - Blink, where statues move every time you blink. Thankfully, these statues didn’t move, but the way they seemed to emerge from the shadows gave the scene a subtle, eerie vibe.
As always, thanks for reading!
-Karl
P.S. Don’t forget my BOGO Sale is happening now!
I loved this - I understand the pull of the foggy mornings, and it was great to see the images you captured.
Great read and great shots Karl!
The Mist, oh yes. That laundromat fits perfectly in a scene of a post apocalypse series.
I also like this time of day. When I was a teenager, I was a newspaper boy and I just loved to do my round in early morning, misty times (not windy, rainy, cold days though 😄).
Meeting the early birds, off to their jobs, nighthawks returning from a party or the bar. The eerie cries of peacocks from the local zoo … the cawing crows that reminded me of Pink Floyd’s Echoes … wonderful