Photographing The Fog In The Cotswolds
Autumn came and went without a trace of the usual morning fog here in the Cotswolds at that time of year. After a few months of monitoring the weather apps, I was finally in luck!
Fog is one of the most unpredictable occurrences in nature. The weather conditions need to be just right overnight for fog to occur in the early mornings. Sometimes you can see it forming, only to dissipate moments later due to changing winds or atmospheric conditions. But despite the frustrations of having your kit bag packed and ready to go, only to see the fog disappear, it's the thrill of the chase. Because, when it happens, boy, does it make everything magical!
On the first chance I got, I threw my bag in the car and headed down the road to my local forest. Driving down the road, I half expected scenes from Sleepy Hollow to appear. Arriving at the forest, I grabbed my kit bag and, with no headless horsemen around, walked off in the direction of some compositions I've found during previous visits to the forest.
How To Predict Fog
As I mentioned earlier, I use two websites: Windy and Clear Outside. Another great website is YR.NO. Using all three websites should give you a clear indication of when fog is expected in your area.
Fog naturally forms when the air temperature and dew point are close together. Look for damp days followed by windless evenings and mornings. If the air temperature and dew point are close together, the chance of fog is high.
Preparation Is Key To Success
The previous night, I monitored two weather apps. Windy and Clear Outside are the two apps I've found to be most accurate for my area. When one app says there's a chance of fog while the other doesn't, I know the chances of heading out in the morning are slim. However, if both apps indicate a possibility of fog, I ensure my batteries are charged, my camera is packed, and my lenses are cleaned and ready.
The following morning, I checked outside to find a thick veil of fog, grabbed my kit bag and tripod, and headed out.
Preparing your kit bag the night before heading out is vital to a successful shoot, especially if you're planning to get up and go first thing in the morning. The earlier you get to go out, the better. Once the sun rises, the warm air will dissipate the fog, and you'll lose the window of opportunity.
Shoot Until After The Sun Rises
If you've been out since the crack of dawn, capturing some incredible scenes, it's ideal to wait a little bit longer, as the sun will cast rays through the fog as it evaporates. Just remember, thick fog helps you simplify your compositions. Once the fog starts to lift, choose your subject carefully, keep composition in mind, and avoid busy scenes.
Lens Choices are Key to a Successful Shoot
Wide-angle lenses in foggy woodlands do not always perform well. The fog takes up a lot of space, and the separation between the background and your subject isn't as clear as with a telephoto lens.
I almost always shoot with my Canon EF 135 mm f/2 L USM or the Canon EF 100-400 mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM II to simplify the composition and create a layering effect between the subject and the background.
The gear I’ll use specifically for foggy woodland photography is as follows (contains Amazon affiliate links):
Shoot Near The Water
Shooting near water increases your chances of fog, especially if the lake or river you're shooting at sits at the bottom of a valley, as these areas aid in the formation of fog. Ideal locations are in the forests around Painswick, such as Buckholt Forest and Broadway Tower. Other regions farther from the Cotswolds, such as the Forest of Dean and the River Severn near Bristol, also have a good chance of fog.
Simplify Your Compositions
Fog is an excellent tool for isolating subjects and creating a minimalist feel in your photography, especially when shooting in woodlands. Use the fog to your advantage, creating silhouettes of lone trees, or let objects disappear into it. The key is to use negative space to your advantage. If you're struggling with composition, download my free e-book on composition here.
Hopefully, your next adventure is fog-filled, and you get all the shots you wanted. If you want some quick and easy Lightroom presets, why not head to my store and download these presets, perfect for moody, foggy landscapes?
