I had originally intended to title this “Mount Pollux Twins” but in posting it on Facebook I was excoriated for that as they are different ages and have dissimilar shapes as well. Ah well, it was only intended as a bit of humor at the Greek mythology of Castor and Pollux. Humor is never very good if it needs explanation, I guess.
Mount Pollux is a favorite spot of mine and I may have said that in a prior posting. It is close to home and affords a nice view of the valley here on three sides. There are often mists in the lower lying spots which are very helpful at this time of bleak autumn bareness of forests and meadows. I was hoping to find a nice vantage point for the sunrise.
While waiting I looked up the hill and saw that the dawn pastels to the north made a lovely backdrop for the two maples that sit on top of the hill.
A short time later, the sky to the southwest began to brighten and the sun broke above the trees in a lovely orange ball of light.
One of the drawbacks to this view is the settlement of the valley. I have framed this to hidethe homes below behind the trees although some still are visible behind within the low-lying fog. It is getting increasingly difficult in most of southern New England and much of the north as well to find wide landscape views without some hand of man in sight. I need to start traveling more, I guess.
Stephen Gingold Nature Photography Blog 
Steve, I enjoyed the images and the humour. I think the excoriation wasn’t so much Pollux as………….. well you know what I mean. As long as you have views like these nearby I don’t see any compelling need to travel.
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Thanks Andrew and, yes, I do know what you mean. Yeah, I just grumble about things. I really do love our valley and its surrounding hillocks. We call them mountains but they are just little bumps compared with the real thing. 🙂
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Beautiful images of the two maple trees. That is my favotite one. The colors of the sky are so delicate. It is a shame when there is so much intrusion from man to spoil the landscape. I can’t take a pic of the sunsets from where I live- too may power lines. I can not uderstand why the companies could not put some of the lines in the ground. They bury them in the very rich developments that are all around me yet the lines are hanging along every road. It’s depressing to me.
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We are fortunate that they are buried in our neighborhood (not rich….actually the most affordable neighborhood in town), but most are airborne. Add to that the cell towers and almost no vista is free of some form of man-made distraction. And the majority of hillsides have some homes that are noticeable in the landscape. Sometimes it is possible to hide things behind trees or by shooting at a good angle but that is not always the best vantage point to show off the landscape at its best.
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Steve, as always it’s a pleasure to witness your pictures. If you want isolation without unnatural interference, I always recommend North Quabbin. Not always necessarily the Reservoir (although that’s a great start), but surrounding parks/forests. The East Quabbin also offers depth and solitude. However, the Reservoir does not normally offer a lot for sunrise, as I’m sure you already know.
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Thanks quabbinite for the compliment and the suggestion. I do spend some time in North Quabbin but not nearly enough on the east side. The west is where I go most often. I’ve seen some nice color at a few spots along the north. I have a couple from New Salem like this on my website: http://stephengingoldphoto.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/Landscape/G0000RD78mGTOW5Q/I0000yZI4hKJ8BU4
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Maybe the humor is just so advanced no one else gets it. At least that’s what I keep telling myself. 🙂
I do like the “twins”–it almost looks as if they are dancing with one another. Well captured!
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I like you attitude, Greg. :-
I am glad you like the “Twins”. I have been looking at them for a while and thought this was the best light I’ve seen them in so far. They are fairly exposed but have weathered the strong winds we have received the last few years without much ill effect.
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That top photograph is magnificent. I like the shapes of the trees and the colors behind them.
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Thanks very much David. I appreciate you taking a look and the nice comment too.
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Great picture. Mt. Pollux is also named Two-Tree Hill. One of my favorite spots in S. Amherst.
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Thank you for the comment. Two-tree Hill is a good name and this has become my favorite spot in Amherst as well. So many wonderful views as the seasons change.
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