When I went to bed last night, the forecast was for a clear night followed by a sunny Saturday. There is a scenic near High Ledges I have wanted to capture at sunrise for a while and that was the plan.
Looking east (of course) from The Patten.
Missed it by that much….. 🙂
Anyways….High Ledges is a gift from the late Ellsworth (Dutch) and Mary Barnard.
photo from UMass Magazine Online.
I have mentioned it here before (along with showing some Yellow Lady’s Slippers) and this sanctuary is a wonderful place in Shelburne, Massachusetts. I am still looking for Fringed Gentian (I have been given a couple of sites to try but haven’t gotten there yet) and have seen Bottle Gentian here so figured I would take a look. Not where I looked.
The Barnards had a small cabin at a scenic overlook by the Ledges, which are quite High, that unfortunately burned down a few years back. Here is what they would have seen from their front door this morning in this less than exciting weather.
Stretched out below is the town of Shelburne Falls most of which is hidden behind the foreground bushes. In case you like celebs, Bill Cosby lives nearby. It is also home to the Bridge of Flowers.
As I looked out there, I liked the distant hills and clouds, so got out my 300 and 1.4 tele and made this image. Probably not a wall hanger, but I do like to get images of scenes that are interesting but not necessarily wowzers.
According to my iPhone App PeakFinder, the prominent hill here is Brier Hill. I have not been able to find it on Google maps or Google search so am not 100% on that ID. I will see how this looks in autumn, but I have a feeling there are a lot of houses below those clouds. And then there is the tower near the left edge on that hilltop.
There’s my morning. We had a frost in some spots yesterday morning and the colors are starting to slowly get brighter. I am on vacation beginning 10/2 for 1 1/2 weeks and I think the timing will be right.
And in case you can’t quite place the title…..
Stephen Gingold Nature Photography Blog 
What an amazing spot and outlook. Maybe not a wowzer, but I love looking down on the clouds.
I’ll take a look at Max when I’m back in wifi land. Closing up the cabin for the year. The colours are spectacular right now. Oranges and yellows against the greens. Look wonderful even in the rain.
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Sounds like a great time to be there, Rod. Lucky you. 🙂
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Yes. But all work closing up tomorrow. Then home. Back again next spring. Have a good vacation Steve
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If you have to work, that sounds like as good a place as you could find.
Thanks, Rod. I’m sure I’ll have another post or three before then plus it’s a local vacation so home every night.
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Sorry you plans fizzled … these things happen. I too was expecting a sunny day and we had heavy cloud cover through late afternoon instead. Perhaps tomorrow will be better – it’s supposed to be. High Ledges, Shelburne, and your entire area impress me as being quite photogenic … you are lucky. Or, perhaps I’ve simply been here in Pennsylvania too long … it’s all looking the same … BORING. We’re still pretty green and only hints of the coming change in particularly dry spots. Morning lows in the upper 40s … not quite cold enough for frost, but we’ve had one of the oil heater on in the kitchen several evenings this week. Hang in there … the sun will shine tomorrow. D
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It has been in the lower 40s here also, but we’ve managed to build enough heat gain during the day to avoid running the wood stove at night so far. Nope. The sun won’t be shining tomorrow…..at least not in the morning as some rain is due in overnight and in the early morning hours.
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Such a tiny sliver of the sun. At least there was a bit of it.
Today, I knew the waning moon would be directly south at 10:30 AM. Jupiter was to be 8˚ above it and slightly to the right. It was a chance to see Jupiter in the daylight. I’ve done it several times along with Venus and Saturn. I went out to look for it. It was too hazy to find the moon, let alone Jupiter. There will be another time.
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Not too much we can do without Nature’s cooperation sometimes. I usually just enjoy the moment and say the same as you, Jim.
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I like your second and third photo the best. And, about that sunrise. Well we all have our days when we miss something by a few minutes or make the wrong turn. But you really are an inspiration for being so faithful when “going after” a subject. I admire that quality of pursuing something until you get whatever scene you want.
Speaking of the weather. Cold already where you live and it’s still September! In “these here parts” we continue to run our acs but tonight I have some windows open since it’s cooler at night for the past few days.
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Thanks, Yvonne. I always try to get out earlier than needed. I’ve had way too many instances of seeing the perfect moment as I am driving to my location, only to see it fading as I arrive.
We’ve had our hot days, but it is hard to complain when hearing about what hot is out your way.
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Super scene with the mountains and clouds, well done.
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Thanks, Phil.
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Frost already?! NOoooo, that’s not good. I really like the clouds photograph. It reminds me of early morning scenes here in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. I love how the mist settles into the pockets of the valleys and hills. It’s ok to have a timing failure, in fact, if you’d said that it was a fluorescent pink, flying saucer I would have believed you 😀
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There were such heavy clouds that maybe you are onto something there, Lottie. 🙂
I also enjoy the fog in the valleys, And it’s a good thing since that is what we have most days this time of the year. Warm days and cool to cold nights give off a lot of ground fog.
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Happy partly-overlapping vacations, and may we both find plenty of photo-worthy subjects.
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You are on vacation also, Steve? For part of my week, I take it. Interesting. I thought you were a teacher/professor but not if you are on vacation during the school year.
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Greetings from Lubbock, Texas, from which we’ll continue heading northwest tomorrow. Hope you have as much fun on your four-day weekend.
I used to be a teacher, but I haven’t taught for a few years now. That’s why I’ve had so much time to take pictures.
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There is a peak near us called Cloudy Hill. Could that be your subject, Steve. You might just get it with a telephoto. I like it, wowza or not.
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Thanks, Andrew. Hmmm….maybe I could pull that off if I mounted the 2.0 tele.
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What a beautiful place for a cabin. I especially like the rock wall. It makes me remember Robert Frost’s “Mending Wall,” and think of all the rock walls and buildings in Kansas. Just lovely.
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It is a great location, Linda. I visited High Ledges while they were still alive and the cabin intact, although I did not meet them, but I do not remember if the wall was part of the cabin itself. It would have to have been a one room cabin, it is that small. We have a lot of rock walls and stone cellar holes here in New England, something the land is known for.
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Very funny~ you’ve started my day with laughter 🙂
It sure is beautiful where you are.
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There is a lot of natural beauty in New England, although there is a lot of developed areas as well. We are fortunate that, for most of us, a short ride gets us away from civilization and in to an area with just nature for company.
I am glad that you enjoyed the post and it gave you a smile, Melissa.
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