Mornings on the Lake: Douglas Mist, Autumn Hues, and Why I Chase the Light
remembered why I moved here when I crested the ridge above Douglas Lake at 5:45am this morning. The mist hovered low, the water was glass, and the forest on the far bank glowed in copper tones. The kind of moment that feels like it’s made just for your camera.
When I shoot around Morristown / Newport, I’m not chasing dramatic peaks (though they’re here). I’m chasing transitions — mist lifting, first light touching leaves, reflections split in half, silhouettes emerging from shadow. The lake gives me a new layer.
What I tweak when shooting lake mist in fall
Underexpose slightly — mist can blow out against sky. Pull shadows in post but protect highlights.
Use a graduated ND (or digital bracket) — keeps the sky from blowing while preserving water detail.
Foreground interest — a branch, leaf, rock in the water helps lead the eye.
Shoot wide + tight — wide to capture expansive mood, tight for details (leaf trails, ripple texture, reflections).
Watch wind / timing — mist vanishes fast. Be early, shoot fast, shift angles.
I shot a few frames from the dock, then walked upstream a little, laid on a rock with my feet in water. My dog (if he comes) might jump in; that’s okay — real beats perfect. Back at the car, I brewed coffee, stood in the cold air, checked the images. That’s content. That’s life.
If you’re here and chasing quiet moments in East Tennessee, don’t sleep through the morning. Don’t skip the small frames. And always bring an extra battery.
