Daisies are such a happy flower, don’t you think? Sun-soaked fields of these yellow and white perennials seem to scream, “summer.” So when I decided to go to a local forest preserve to capture the first day of summer’s sunset golden hour, I was thrilled to be greeted by these cheery perennials. And even more so when a little butterfly basked in the sun’s warmth on top of one.
I knew I would have to explore and capture images quickly since the combination of the tall trees at McDonald Woods and a low band of clouds threatened to shorten and dull golden hour. I usually have a preconceived idea of how I want an image to look, so it’s frustrating when the sun and clouds don’t cooperate. Imagine the gall!
Shade and light
After I made my way through a grassy path, the sun cast its warm glow along a fence. McDonald Woods is a beautiful preserve maintained by the Lake County Forest Preserve District. The gently rolling terrain and small hills throughout are very scenic. Lake County explains, “the dips and rises here were formed by the advance and retreat of immense ice chunks during the last Ice Age.” Suddenly, I don’t feel so old.
As I continued along my walk, many paths were darkened from tree cover. But at points, the sun burst through making groves of trees appear as if they’re on stage. The woods creates so many special moments of light and dark.
In fact, I’ve recently noticed how I’m drawn towards images that display this contrast. They seem to tug an emotional string. And think about it, how much more beautiful and impactful is a candle glowing in the dark versus the light? This is a skill I really want to work on.
A change in plans
The plan for this photo hike was to go as far as the first foot bridge, about a half mile into the preserve. Here, there’s a lovely view of the lake on both sides. Even though the cloud cover was spreading, I was able to catch a gentle reflection of the slowly setting sun.
But sometimes plans are made to be broken. The lure of the winding paths, tall pines and open fields ahead that I remember from my winter hike called for a change of plans. The forest preserve closes at sunset and with a few extra miles added on I needed to hurry.
Wildflowers begin to bloom
Along the way, I saw the beginnings of many wildflower fields. In just a few more weeks, it will be the most amazing sight. Yellow, white, orange, purple…I can’t wait.
Truth be told, after our six month Chicago winter, I’m thrilled to see any flowers at all. I only wish I knew their names.
One thing that caught my eye was the blue-colored berries dotting an evergreen tree, perhaps a Spruce. I’ve never noticed them before, but then again, photography has a way of opening your eyes to nature’s details.
As I rounded the final bend, I was once again greeted by summer’s daisies peacefully sitting on the hillside. With the last bits of sunlight shining across their petals, it was a pretty end to the first day of summer.
How about you? Do you have a favorite time of day you like to capture pictures or a favorite place? Do you go out with a plan in mind or wait to see what catches your eye? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below.