Imbil Island floats in the Fog before sunrise

guiseppe, on May 24, 2009, said:

Hi Ian, please map the foto. Greetings, Sepp

gezginruh, on May 24, 2009, said:

Perfect! GGR.

Mira Paskota, on May 24, 2009, said:

Dear Ian, this is the type of perfection I would so much like to achieve in my photography. Something I would like to always have in front of my eyes. So I can rest my mind, still being busy with contemplating many different things... Is there a way for me to have a bigger file, so I can make a print? The more I watch, the more I see. And I am learning all the time.

Thank you.

Best wishes, Mira

Ian Stehbens, on May 24, 2009, said:

Dear Friends,

Thank you Sepp for drawing this to my attention, for I had mapped it but the local server has been having short interruptions every now and again. I am in a college guesthouse in Bali at the moment, and there must have been many students online last night for it was painstakingly slow to upload. I tell you this just to let you know that I am on the move again, and where I am. There will be more images from here in due course.

And GGR and Mira, let me describe my "perfect" morning with the camera.

This photo was taken recently in my childhood home village where my mother still lives. We arrived home about 10pm that night. As we drove towards the village, we went through light wisps of fog that had formed already, in the low areas. So knowing the area well and loving it, I decided to rise at 5.30 next morning and head out with the camera before sunrise, as I thought I would like to take some foggy images - especially in the first hour of sunlight. But with digital camera, I was able to receive this first light illuminating the valley even before sunrise.

For this image I was at the top of Elizabeth Street where, with my 300mm lens, I could look down on Imbil Island. The island is a farming area on the edge of the village, and there are some trees scattered across the island. Hidden in the fog, in the vicinity of these trees is a farm home that is clearly seen on the GE image. The family of one of my cousins lives there.

Above the fog, in the dark area of the image you can see the wooded ridge beyond the creek, where Mary Valley Road is located. This road connects Gympie with the farms and villages of my Mary Valley.

I had a wonderful morning of photography, accompanied by my wife and mother. I drove east to Bollier and Bergins Pocket, other flat dairying areas gently blanketed with fog, for the accompanying images. It was special to watch and record the white fog changing in the sunrise to a glowing pink and then a golden atmosphere.

The dew dripped from the fences; the cobwebs were like diamond jewellery; the derelict dairy buildings seemed to be touched by Midas; and the hills floated above the fog; and stillness and peace saturated my soul.

Joyfully we returned home to mother's warm kitchen for breakfast at 9am. I am pleased you like the results.

Mira, the file that is stored here can be downloaded if you click on the image on this page: it is approx 1Mb and is sufficient for a print. But if you would like a larger image around 5Mb, you would need to send me your email address. Perhaps you could send it on one of 'our lakes' pics, and as soon as I see it I will delete it so it doesn't remain public for long. I am honoured to share this with you.

Most appreciatively,

Ian

vendavid, on May 24, 2009, said:

Wow! Too beautiful!

Ian Stehbens, on May 24, 2009, said:

Dear Vendavid,

Thanks for your praise. I thought of traditional Chinese landscape art when I was out in the white mists that morning, especially some of the art from the karst landscapes of the beautiful south.

Greetings from Australia,

Ian

A.Lebacq, on May 25, 2009, said:

Very well captured this great mood Ian, beautiful and creative composition too, nicely done.

Greetings Arthur

Luca Rigato, on May 25, 2009, said:

Great atmoshpere. Another great photo.

Leo Laps, on May 25, 2009, said:

What a great moment to presence. You are certainly a great photographer and a very lucky man, my friend. Well, welcome back to Brisbane, a beautiful city that will always b in my heart. And I hope you and Margareth have a nice time in Tonga!

All the best wishes

Nick Weall, on May 25, 2009, said:

A wonderful capture of the sort of swirly fingers of mist we'd all dream of taking ~ if only !!! ~ great light and a wonderful composition ~ I loved all the info freely given out in the comments above too ~ Bravo ~ Ciao nick

Oh and a Golden Star Award as well of course :))

Amelia Royan, on May 25, 2009, said:

Dear Ian, this is magic at its most magical, almost too good to be true. Your description too, is wonderful, and the cobwebs of diamond jewellery reminded me of this photo. You are a gifted photographer and raconteur my friend.

Greetings, Amelia

Craig Ward, on May 26, 2009, said:

Great atmospheric image Ian on many levels ,well done Y Star from me ,Cheers Craig :)

Andrey Bogdanov, on May 26, 2009, said:

Foggy photos are always filled with a wee bit mystery and this one is something special. Awesome dawn landscape! Regards from Russia, Andrey.

guiseppe, on May 26, 2009, said:

Thanks, Ian !

Ian Stehbens, on May 27, 2009, said:

Dear Arthur,

Thank you very much, arthur, for your generous praise and appreciation. It was a special morning out with the camera. Best wishes,

Ian

Ian Stehbens, on May 27, 2009, said:

Hi Luca,

I am travelling and working in Bali at the moment, so forgive my slow response to your appreciation. Thanks, my friend.

Ian

Ian Stehbens, on May 27, 2009, said:

Dear Leo and Caroline,

Thanks for the welcome back to Brisbane - your 2nd city I believe!! Hope to see you back before much longer. You didn't visit my Imbil while you were here, so that's why you missed this moment.

Thanks for the best wishes for Tonga - I return to BNE in a week, then a week later we leave for Tonga. That will put us closer to you guys! You two will always be in my heart!

Thanks for the encouragement.

Ian

Ian Stehbens, on May 27, 2009, said:

Hello Nick,

I really appreciate your comments and your valuing my comments and stories. It is mutual, my friend. Thanks too for your generous 'award'.

I have often said to myself, "Ian, you may have some good photos in your collection, but you have nothing that is any good of your home valley." It seems that a Skipton photographer should have something good of Airedale, so I should have something to reveal the unique beauty of my valley, and then this morning it began to happen for me.

Appreciatively,

Ian

Ian Stehbens, on May 27, 2009, said:

Dear Amelia,

I suspect that you thought that Shropshire is the home of mists and fogs! Now you see we have something else in common: roots lost in the mists of time!!

Thank you for the link to Leo's amazing image!!! It is a remarkable image, indeed. I assure you in advance that my diamond jewellery does not come up to that level. And I reckon that I could thoroughly enjoy many hours in amongst your art and photography, walking beaches with you and spend many special hours with 'morning coffee served all day' just sitting and hearing your stories, in the warmth of a Norski or Brit hearth.

Ian in Bali

Ian Stehbens, on May 27, 2009, said:

Wow Craig, you are generous and I am pleased. Thanks mate.

Ian