If you’d prefer to read an ad-free blog post, or listen to an audio version, then head to my patreon page. Check my privacy policy for further information.
Many will argue that the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, is meant to be seen under a cloudless sky, giving the best opportunity to see the famed blue-haze; a sort of natural pollution that fills the valleys.
Whilst there’s no arguing the blue makes a beautiful contrast against the green eucalyptus trees in the foreground; some of my favorite photos, have been taken in heavy mist, which blocks out all but the closest objects. Wentworth Falls Lake can often disappear in thick fog and forget seeing the Three Sisters or distant valley views.
So why bother taking photographs in misty weather?
It’s images like this black and white scene of a house in a valley, in Mt Wilson that become almost ethereal with fog. A scene that might be missed on a sunny day.
Misty Cabin in the Woods, Mt Wilson (Digital Download)
Purchase a stunning photograph, direct from the photographer. Click on ‘add to cart’ to purchase a digital download (to print at home) or click ‘Buy Print’ to see printing options, or to send a free e-card via Fotomoto.
So what is it about mist that is unique?
It’s the blank background, that allows you to focus on a single object, one tree, one leaf, one rock. There is nothing else in the background to distract you. Not everything is clear, sometimes your brain has to look all over a photo to figure out, what it should be looking at.
Mist moves quickly, so taking photographs in mist requires quick thinking and a little pre-planning (have some spots you’d like to photograph in the fog, in mind first so you can go straight there). You might find that it’s foggy in the mid mountains, but then clear in the upper mountains. However, be patient because in another ten minutes, everything might be shrouded in mist once more.
My favourite album to listen to when it’s cold, rainy and misty is the Piano Cloud Series. You can listen to it now, or download free for three months with Apple Music.Mist is difficult to predict, hard to know how long it will last and fast moving which makes photographing in fog, challenging, but the results can be mesmerising. I generally take fog photos without any lighting, so as not to cause bounce back from particles in the air, but if you have sunlight streaming through fog, it can cause the whole area to take on a surreal orange glow; a photographer’s dream.
You won’t find any crowds on misty days so there’s a high chance you’ll find parking easily and you’ll potentially have lookouts all to yourself. Even if it’s raining, there are plenty of lookouts that you can experience from the warm confines of your car. You’ll find a list of the best Blue Mountains lookouts for a rainy day, here.
An easy lunch idea when the weather is cold and drizzly is a pie from one of the many outstanding bakeries throughout the mountains. I taste-tested every single one and here’s my final list of the best pie shops in the Blue Mountains.
I’ll probably regret giving away my secret spots but some of the best places to visit in the Blue Mountains when it’s misty are:
- Mt Wilson – tiny village, lots of gardens, excellent in autumn, historic buildings
- Mt Victoria – A couple of shops, an old pub and a classic cinema
- Katoomba – Lots of Art Deco buildings, big hills and laneways
- Leura – Gardens, beautiful houses and beautiful village shops
- Wentworth Falls – Lake with an easy circumference walk
- Bullaburra – Bush views from the pedestrian overpass
- Lawson – Castle looking ruins, historic houses and easy bush walks
It’s unlikely you’ll get fog much lower than Lawson and if you do, then part of the fun is exploring, and finding unique photo opportunities caused by the fog.
Hints and tips for taking photos in fog.
Your camera may have trouble focussing in thick fog because there’s so many water particles in the air, and no object is clear to look at. If you’re camera has manual focus functions, then use it, otherwise focus your camera on an object, hold focus (if that’s on option) and then move your camera to the area you wish to photograph. As a last resort, you could try using an additional light source (phone light, torch or car headlights) on an object to see if that helps your camera focus.
Using time-lapse mode (be sure to use a tripod) can be an effective way to capture fog moving through the trees or along a road. Bring props and costumes for creepy portrait shots. Having someone a few metres (or feet) away in thick fog, causes them to appear as just a shadow. Make the most of the plain background, wear bright colours, flashy makeup or black and white photos work particularly well in misty conditions.
As fog is best early in the morning, why not stay the night?
Most of all, don’t hesitate to take the shot because it may not appear that way again. If you want to learn more about photography, check out my blog post, improve your travel photos.
Recommended reading:
- The Cloud Spotter’s Guide
This is the only decent cloud book I’ve found that turns science into an hilarious secret club. Okay that came out wrong. It’s good, and you’ll impress your mates with your newfound cloud knowledge. - Read This If You Want To Take Great Photographs Of Places
This easy to follow book gives you examples of famous photos, why they work and how you can replicate them. It’s a simple but effective way to quickly learn how to take great photos. - The Essence of Photography
This was the only photography book I found that mentioned fog and mist. Every other photographer avoids it, but until you see the photos that come out, only then will you understand how fog can make everything better.
If you’re interested in mist and fog, then you might also be keen to read my post on clouds; if that’s how you can across this post, then you can find other fascinating articles about travel and photography on my blog, or listen to my podcast, Travelosophy.
Become a Patron!
If you love the content I provide, then consider joining up to Patreon for more exclusive and ad-free content, or head to my shop for a print of my incredible travel photos.
Check out a selection of fog photos to get you excited about taking photographs on misty days.
Would your friends like this? Share it with them.
Say hi and what you’d like to see more of on this site.
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
[…] Of course, the Blue Mountains are ever popular as an escape, anytime of the year. It’s close to Sydney, it’s peaceful and there’s plenty of jaw-dropping look-outs you can visit, many without even getting out of the car! […]
[…] actually written an entire post about The Blue Mountains in Mist, as there’s so many photo opportunities; it practically writes itself. Wentworth Falls Lake in […]
[…] one of my favourite times to be in the mountains. Mt Wilson becomes other-worldly. My post on the Blue Mountains in Mist. is useful for discovering the best places to photograph the mist and […]
[…] mist you should be jumping at the opportunity to take photos. I’ve written an entire post about photographing mist which includes the above image. Set against a foggy sky, I was able to capture the details of […]
[…] Mist covered mountains Improve Your Travel Photos Clouds are Like Sky Paintings Advertisements __ATA.cmd.push(function() { __ATA.initSlot('atatags-3-5d1dccefd65a4', { collapseEmpty: 'before', sectionId: '1388554811', location: 120, width: 300, height: 250 }); }); __ATA.cmd.push(function() { __ATA.initSlot('atatags-4-5d1dccefd65b7', { collapseEmpty: 'before', sectionId: '1388554814', location: 130, width: 300, height: 250 }); }); […]