Hidden Valley

Washington, Connecticut

Earlier this afternoon. Might be the end of the season.

Sun Chips

Waterbury, Connecticut

Serious Padlock

Waterbury, Connecticut

I wonder if someone broke in. This is behind a building that houses a still-going business concern, surrounded by empty or abandoned similar buildings. I'm sure there was a lock and chain of about the same vintage as the fence and gate before. Not so heavy duty, though.

Monument and Staircase

Naugatuck, Connecticut

Still in the Woods

 Washington, Connecticut

Well, the blog is still in the woods. Yesterday was too rainy to work there and I'll have to see what's left of the autumn leaves.

Back in the Woods

Washington, Connecticut

Two more from Sunday's almost-rainy session at Steep Rock Preserve's Hidden Valley.

Urban Autumn

Naugatuck, Connecticut

Deep in the Rainy Forest

Washington, Connecticut

Actually, the rain had stopped but the stormy light and soaked colors made everything seem quite magical in the deep forest. All the land in the Steep Rock Preserves is steeply furrowed, carved by the ice age glaciers. Here the camera is looking down a steep ravine and across to the opposite hill, while an even higher ridge behind the camera deepens the cloudy skylight and makes it more directional.

About an hour and a half later and miles back toward the Hidden Valley main entrance, the clouds were breaking and reforming, changing the light quality constantly. This is looking down the ridge on the east side of the Shepaug River, and across to the steep ridge to the west.

Shepaug River at Hidden Valley

Washington, Connecticut

This is more or less where the mist was rising from in yesterday's shot from The Lookout. Overnight and morning air temperature was much colder than the water temp. While there's a lot of autumn color still in the woods the season has been subdued rather than spectacular. That doesn't necessarily make for less interesting pictures.

From the Hidden Valley Lookout

Washington, Connecticut

Earlier today, after the rain stopped but everything was still wet and glowing. Here's a view with The Lookout included: