Cloud Watching in the New Jersey Pine Barrens
I have always been fascinated by clouds. As a kid I would stare at them and my imagination would run wild with images inspired by the cloud formations. My fascination has continued into adulthood where it never ceases to amaze me how clouds affect the quality of light, the color in the sky and ultimately the mood of the day.
I recently went for an evening hike at the Franklin Parker Preserve in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. With rain in the forecast for the next day, the sky was becoming overcast. As the sun started to set, I was treated to quite a show as the clouds changed from the soft pastel colors of what I call a “Watercolor Sky” to deep oranges and yellows mixed with gray as dusk fell.
Under A Watercolor Sky by Richard Lewis 2015
Sunset In the Bogs by Richard Lewis 2015
Dusk in the Swamp by Richard Lewis 2015
Before I start quoting that Joni Mitchell song about clouds, I’ll end this post with the hope that you enjoyed a little taste of our New Jersey Pine Barrens sky. Take some time to look up at the sky where you live and let me know what you see.
Enjoy!
Really like the image Water color sky and the image and a great title.
Thanks Lou. When that sky happened I knew I was in for a treat the rest of the day.
These are superb!
Thanks, I appreciate it.
Great post and images Rich. The first with your ‘watercolor sky’ is my favorite in this set. Clouds sure do make a big difference in our photographs and I think I started paying more attention to them when I became obsessed with photography. (BTW, I think that was Judy Collins that sang about clouds… ‘from both sides now’. But maybe Joni sang it too.)
Trivia: Mitchell wrote it; Collins made the first commercial release.
Thanks for clearing that up Ralph.
Thanks Denise. I think being obsessed with clouds goes hand in hand with the obsession for landscape photography.
I enjoyed Under A Water Color Sky. I liked that the grasses on the right bank picked up the light. I thought Dusk In The Swamp was dramatic. Liked the grasses i the foreground and the light on the water at left.
Thanks Ralph. I’m fond of both of those images also. I was happy to be out and about on the trail to experience them. Those foreground grasses in Dusk were being blown about in a strong wind which really added some drama to the moment.
How about a book showing your great photos. Maybe people outside NJ should see we are not full of smoke stacks, The Jersey Shore (show) or a state-sized overcrowded city.