Fragments From Floyd

Sometimes you just pick a day and do it, and fate does not cooperate. Yesterday was one of those days, and it wasn't. But it was the only day I could have climbed to the top of Buffalo Mountain before the soft greens of spring turned to a sea of chlorophyll as far as the eye can see. It was the thin translucent green of early spring I wanted to experience from Floyd County's highest peak. If it had to happen yesterday, I would see it through the haze of a lingering warm front that would weaken the colors like too much water in a painter' brush. But I've scolded myself many times before for condemning a day for some imperfection, only to find that it turned out far different and better than I'd predicted, and I was sitting home wishing I'd just carried my rain gear or extra-warm clothes and gone ahead to see what the day would offer. And so, yesterday, I went expecting little and was pleasantly surprised.

The last several ridges along the 360-degree horizon were barely visible in the pale blue haze. Later in the day as the sun began to drop, the winds picked up smartly and it was hard to stand on the exposed summit. We stayed until the sun sank through that blue veil that had washed out color more and more with each ridge into the distance. Now, that water vapor and dust did just what we had hoped it would ultimately do to the setting sun.

I'm very happy with my catch of the day and will be processing them and showing them to you (probably in a slide show) in the next day or two. I took all RAW files (in fact I filled up my 512MB card with them for the first time ever!) and there ARE some keepers. Wish I had more time to get them up this morning, but, because I played all day yesterday, I have school work before today's lecture. Sigh.