Monday, April 18, 2011

Misty Monday - Ancient Mountains

Budding Tree, Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina  © Doug Hickok


Right about now, Spring is inching its way up into the high ridges of the Appalachian mountains, some of the oldest on the planet, dating back to the Ordovician Period. On a misty mountain day, early leaf buds waken on this mossy limbed tree. 
Some things never change. This scene of vernal transformation could have appeared millions of years ago. The cycles of the seasons continue, like the flow of time. Gladly, Spring is easing into the colder reaches of the Earth. And gladly, pterodactyls no longer terrorize the skies.


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18 comments:

  1. AnonymousApril 18, 2011 at 6:52 AM

    Beautiful B&W photo. But I think it wouold be very good in colors as well :)

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  2. LauretteApril 18, 2011 at 6:53 AM

    A lovely capture and very intresting information about the mountains. Thank goodness pterodactyls are no longer terrorizeing the skies but what an intresting period of earths history it must have been.

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  3. LeoviApril 18, 2011 at 6:55 AM

    Impressive and poetic silhouette of the tree-covered mountain to the clouds. Excellent shot.

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  4. OlaApril 18, 2011 at 8:38 AM

    Amazing view, and the fact that they are so old...

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  5. AlexandraApril 18, 2011 at 9:57 AM

    Oh, looks like you, like us, are still waiting for the buds to appear never mind, open! These look like they're reaching for the puffs of clouds! :D

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  6. RobApril 18, 2011 at 10:48 AM

    Mysterious B&W image. But imagine the photo opportunity to capture a pterodactyl on film...or pixels as it is.

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  7. Martina EgliApril 18, 2011 at 11:52 AM

    I love the mist around the mountain tops... it gives the image a mystical and poetic atmosphere. The black and white treatment works here wonderfully. I love it!

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  8. Michael ValčićApril 18, 2011 at 12:15 PM

    Dramatic tones here. Well done!

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  9. Marie LCApril 18, 2011 at 12:51 PM

    Très joli et tout en douceur ce noir et blanc

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  10. AnonymousApril 18, 2011 at 1:34 PM

    These mist covered mountains..
    Have a great new week :)

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  11. AnonymousApril 18, 2011 at 3:25 PM

    pretty photo :) x

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  12. London CallerApril 18, 2011 at 4:51 PM

    Where are the gorillas?
    Are they in the mist? Ha ha...
    Have you seen that film?

    Pterodactyl? I always cannot remember how to spell that word out properly!
    Likewise, I have to double-check the word, diarrhoea!

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  13. OKApril 18, 2011 at 4:55 PM

    really lovely feel to this B&W.

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  14. franzApril 18, 2011 at 5:02 PM

    wonderfully moody and evocative monochrome of a favourite region of mine!
    thanks for your encouraging words on my holy week procession! it was indeed a spectacle worth seeing (though the hoods have nothing to do with the KKK, of course!).

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  15. Michael RowlandApril 18, 2011 at 9:15 PM

    the buds are growing, the mist is blowing,,,M

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  16. john4jackApril 19, 2011 at 12:40 AM

    lovely. mystical

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  17. ChristopherApril 20, 2011 at 1:00 AM

    Beautiful shot and a cool post Doug!

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  18. OlegApril 21, 2011 at 1:26 PM

    My favourite photograph among your recent ones. This soft and quiet picture of nature is very close to me.To my mind in this case your choice of B&W version is most correct.

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