Auden Johnson's Blog, page 7

Novel Writing Tips: How to Write a Setting You Can’t Visit

Often novel writing, especially with fantasy books, is about using a setting you can’t see. Some people are fortunate enough to plan a trip for their novels. I’ve never been that fortunate. I have traveled a lot, though. 

In The Sciell’s Legacy, the 4th and final book in The Merging Worlds Series, some of my are characters are transported to a ship, a city on the sea. At first, I was going to make it a transformed cruise ship, But, I like the idea of a shipping container town on the sea. 

I’ve been on a cruise ship. I’ve toured large ships but I’ve never been on a container ship. Doubt I’ll have the chance. With COVID going on, I doubt I’ll accept the offer even if, by some miracle, I get the opportunity. So, how can I write about this city on the sea? To Google!

Ask Someone

I know someone who worked at the Department of Transportation in Washington, DC. They’re far more knowledgeable about ships than I am. I’ll be picking their brain and they’ll be reading The Sciell’s Legacy once it’s finished to give me comments. 

If you don’t know anyone, ask #writingcommunity on Twitter or start a discussion on a Facebook novel writing group. 

Search YouTube

There’s probably a YouTube video about the location. I found a few tours of container ships.

Do a Pinterest or Google Image Search

If we’re writing a fantasy story set in a fictional location, we can’t visit it. Usually, I’ll base the setting on an actual place or use fantasy artwork for inspiration.

An image search is my go-to when researching settings. I often find fantasy artwork depicting exactly what I need. Like this shipping container cafe on ArtStation. 

I usually collect my images on Pinterest.

Find Books or Articles

If your location is well-known, you may find people who’ve written about it. You could even watch documentaries as well. I don’t know if I’ll find posts about living on a container ship but I’ve found a few about living on the sea. I’ll include those in another post. 

The magic of the internet. When you can visit a place without traveling. Do you have any tips to add? Comment below. 

8 Things To Do The Night Before Your Nature Hiking Trip

Nature hiking is rarely getting up in the morning and deciding you want to go on the trail that day. You can do that. But, there’s a good chance you’ll leave something behind. And, you may encounter something unexpected on the trail. You should prepare the day before. 

Check the Weather

I made the mistake once of doing everything on this list only to check the weather and see it would be raining the next day, all day. You could get some nice photos in the rain but still, I’d rather not hike 5+ miles in a storm. 

Clean Your Equipment

Usually, the night before a hike, I’ll clean my camera and lens. For some reason, I hadn’t done that the past two times and I lived to regret. 

You see that spot near the upper left corner of this photo? 

It’s on all 200+ photos I took on my last trip. The spot’s easy enough to remove in Photoshop.

I rarely use all my images but I’m still left with a lot of photos to fix. All because I didn’t clean my lens the night before. 

I usually carry a cloth in my bag but it wasn’t enough to clean that spot. I needed my kit. And I don’t carry it because it doesn’t fit in my bag. I’ve been using the Altura Photo Professional Cleaning Kit for about 4 months and I love it. I was finally able to clean the spot. 

Research Your Nature Hiking Trail

On one of my first trips, I researched the trail in the sense that I knew how to reach it and the views I could expect. I knew the trail would be steep at the beginning.

I didn’t know how many miles the trail was or that it wasn’t only steep at the beginning. On the trail, I kept walking and walking hoping to reach the summit without knowing how far I had to go. The path was far steeper and rockier towards the middle. I didn’t reach the summit the first time because I hadn’t expected it to be so tough. 

Print a Map

A few weekends ago, I had planned a hiking trip to a place called Madam Brett Park to photograph a waterfall. You can reach it from Beacon’s Long Dock Park, which I was familiar with. I didn’t think I needed a map, assuming it was a straight shot. It wasn’t. A small forest with two trails stood between Long Dock and Madam Brett Park.

I hadn’t known that. I had to guess which trail would get me to the waterfall. I didn’t even know how many miles the trail was. Fortunately, both trails were short and one led into the other. 

You can often get a trail map on site. But, a few times, I couldn’t find one and I nearly got lost. 

Do a Google Image Search of the Trail

I chose trails based on what kind of photos I can get. The app AllTrails has photos people took on the trail. Do a Google image search of the mountain or park’s name. See what kinds of photos people took so you can capture something different. 

Pack Your Non-Perishable Food

I usually give myself enough time the morning before my nature hiking trip to pack food. On rare occasions, I underestimated how much time I needed and had to run out of my apartment to catch my train. I never worry about food because I pack dried fruit, grains and a granola bar the night before.  

Charge Your Devices

I make sure my portable charger, camera battery,  headphones as well as my phone and tablet are fully charged the night before. 

Check Your Bag

I rarely fully unpack my hiking bag but before each trip, I look through it to check that I have everything, first aid, map, tripod, hand sanitizer, compass, spare mask and gloves…

It’s best to give yourself enough time to prepare for your nature hiking trip. Far too often, I’ve been on the trial and needed something, like a map, and I didn’t have it. 

Happy Halloween. Download a Dark Fantasy Horror Book for Free

Happy Halloween. To celebrate, download a new dark fantasy horror story, The Wailing Town. It’s free today only. 

Halloween is kind of bittersweet. All month, horror lovers have been looking forward to this day. But after today, the Month of Horror will be over.  I’ve been reserving a few horror movies just to binge today including Blackwell Ghost 5. What are your Halloween plans?

At night, everyone screams.

Kiran Ava hears ghostly calls all the time. Spirits drag her out of bed in the middle of the night. She only wants to recover but they won’t give her peace. Her partner, En Libore, suggests they need a vacation. 

Shida, with its wards, history and isolation, was supposed to be safe. Why do the residents scream when darkness falls? Kiran is curious but in no condition to investigate. Spirits, though, don’t care. They guide her away from everyone into the Dark Hills, a mountain range haunted by an old monster. Kiran sees things, hears things that could drive her to madness. 

She is by herself in darkness but she is not alone.

Excerpt

The nurse guided her to a room. Blood replaced the taste of ash in her mouth. A smell like old unwashed bodies and rotting meat chased her to the bathroom. Rinsing her mouth didn’t eliminate the coppery taste. She emptied her stomach of everything she ate since she was ten. Still, the smell lived in her nose. It expanded in her throat. Kiran raced out of the room. She kept running. Kiran didn’t know why. She had to get away. Then, her energy was gone. She dropped to the floor. En and the nurse were beside her as soon as she stopped.

“What did your coach say to do when things like this happened?” The nurse said.

Kiran took a slow deep breathe through her nose and released it through her mouth. 

“There you go.” 

Gentle power ran across Kiran’s skin as the nurse examined her.

“Keep breathing.” She handed her a piece of candy.

Kiran took it without looking. It was sweet enough to chase away the bitter taste. If only it was strong enough to destroy the memory. 

“We researched that room beforehand. We thought it would be safe. I apologize.”

Kiran nodded.

“Do you feel well enough to stand or do you need more time?”

Kiran reached out her hand to En. He helped her up.

The nursed led them to an empty room that smelled like a flowery perfume. It brought up memories of long summer days relaxing at home. A motherly voice hummed a sweet tune in the corner.

“Ms. Ophelia used to stay in this room. Everyone loved her. She was a sweet woman.” The nurse guided Kiran to a bed. “We had wanted to put you somewhere with no spirit attachment but that seems to be impossible.”

“The Mother of Morningside,” En said.

The nurse smiled. “This place felt darker after she left us. But she returned a few days later and refused to leave.”

The nurse pulled a chair seat in front of her and hovered her hands over Kiran’s torso. A slight warm sensation rolled through Kiran’s body.

 
The nurses tapped her ears. Kiran sighed and took off her ear muffs. Sounds blasted through her as though annoyed at being quietened. A child wailed but a sweet humming seemed to calm it and other voices.

Download Now

The Wailing Town is Book 2 of the dark fantasy horror series The Other Investigators. You can enjoy it without having read the first book. The Unburned Island is Book 1 and it’s now available.

Indie Horror Movies to Watch on Amazon Prime

Indie horror movies are hit or miss, mostly miss. In general, it’s difficult to find a good scary movie. I lean towards indie because Amazon Prime has more of them. Some are also better than blockbusters. If you have Amazon Prime, here are some movies for you. 

Grave Encounters

For their ghost-hunting reality show, a production crew locks themselves inside an abandoned mental hospital that’s supposedly haunted – and it might prove to be all too true.

One of my favorite horror movies. The sequel was okay but not good enough that I’d watch it again. Still hoping for a third one, though. 

Man Vs.

A mysterious stalker plagues a reality tv survivalist during his five days alone for a new season of his show in the northern Ontario wilderness; and the figure may not be human.

I mostly started watching Man Vs. to have something playing in the background. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. 

The House on Mansfield Street

Nick Greene is a documentary filmmaker recording his move from London to a smaller city. As he films his life he starts to notice paranormal activity in his new house and a possible demonic presence. The House on Mansfield Street is a chilling found footage to keep you awake at night.

I reviewed this movie in an earlier post.  The House on Mansfield Street has some issues but it’s still pretty watchable. I return to it often.

Leaving DC

After 20 years of living in Washington, D.C., Mark Klein seeks much-needed solace by moving to the remote wilds of West Virginia. To ease his loneliness, he sends regular video updates to members of his OCD-support group back in the city. But Mark gradually realizes that despite his new, isolated setting, he may not be alone. From the endless woods surrounding his home, something else is watching

I usually avoid movies with only one person on camera mostly because I assume it would be boring. Leaving DC is definitely not boring. I wish I remember what led me to watch this movie. The poster design isn’t the best. 

Taking of Deborah Logan

An elderly woman battling Alzheimer’s disease agrees to let a film crew document her condition, but what they discover is something far more sinister going on.

Another movie I usually don’t watch. I like haunted location stories but I don’t gravitate toward possession movies. The Taking of Deborah Logan is so good. 

Hell House LLC

Five years after an unexplained malfunction causes the death of 15 tour-goers and staff on the opening night of a Halloween haunted house tour, a documentary crew travels back to the scene of the tragedy to find out what really happened.

Another favorite. Until recently, you could only rent it and I was totally okay with that. Hell House LLC is super creepy. 

If you feel like renting movies, I highly recommend these. 

The Blackwell Ghost

A journalist goes on an adventure to prove that ghosts exist.

Right now, this series has 5 movies. The 3rd one is probably my favorite. I didn’t want it to end. I just found out about number 5 and I’m so excited to watch it. I love this movie series. If I had the money, I’d buy all of them. 

Hell House LLC 3

Hell House LLC 1 and 2 are free with an Amazon Prime membership but you have to rent 3. I loved the third movie far better than the second. I’d own it if I have the funds. I barely remember Hell House 2 but I had no trouble following 3. 

Survive the Hollow Shoals is another scary low budget horror movie. I didn’t include it because I feel it goes on a bit too long. No matter how many times I watch it, I usually tune out at around the 3rd act. The first half has some good scares. The Kaos Brief is a watchable alien horror movie. 

I had to include this. Silent Hill is not an indie horror movie but it is awesome and it’s now on Amazon Prime. It’ll be free to watch with a Prime membership until November 1.

Landscape Photography: Start Your Hike Early in the Day

Landscape photography may turn me into a morning person. The mountain had some beautiful conditions over the weekend. I missed them because I was on the trail too late. 

In the last post, I said to hike late or early to capture the best scenes. Got proof of that on Saturday. Cloudy skies got me hoping for some nice foggy condition on the mountain. This was the view on the way there:

I was practically begging the train to go faster hoping the clouds would remain this low by the time I reached the trail. Did my best to photograph through the window. 

Of course, that would be the day the train kept getting delayed. Kept. It was so irritating how often we just sat there on the track. At least it moved slow enough for photos. 

This was the view when I arrived.

Not the mountain I’d be hiking but I’d see it on the way. My mountain wasn’t cloudy. Still, I thought I’d get some nice foggy picks from neighboring landscapes.

But, it had all cleared by the time I reached the top. The sky was still beautiful. I got some people shots. But, I wanted to hike in a cloud.  Those autumn colors on a foggy mountain would’ve been amazing. 

On top of that, the trial was packed with a lot, a lot, of none-mask wearing people. I hike, mostly for the photos, but because it’s a relaxing social distancing activity. Unless the trail’s so crowded you’re hiking with people to the summit. 

At first, I figured I wouldn’t take this trail anymore, at least until winter. Now, I’m wondering if it would be less crowded if I arrived at the trailhead at 8 am or 9 am. I wouldn’t have missed my low clouds if I’d been on the trail that early. But that means leaving my apartment at 5 am. 

If you want to do some nice landscape photography on the trail while social distancing, start your hike as early as possible.  

Follow me on Instagram for more photos from the trail.

How to Take Beautiful Hiking Photos on Your Next Trip

Ever see beautiful hiking photos of enormous waterfalls? Photos from the top of a mountain. People often walked miles to reach those scenes. How can you capture dream-like images on your next hiking trip?

Protect Your Equipment

My $200 lens hangs off the front of my hiking bag. When I’m at the end of my trip, I’m so tired I get a little careless. Often, I’ll drop my on the ground, forgetting I’m also dropping my lens. Fortunately, it’s in a Powerextra Lens Case. The cushion keeps it from breaking.  

My newest hiking backpack came with a cushioned cell phone case that straps to the front of my bag. 

You can’t take photos without a camera. Make sure yours is properly protected during your trip.

Consider Investing in ND Filters

This tip only applies to people with a DSLR camera. Because I solo hike, I’m not on the trail at the best time of the day. Midday photography is a challenge because of the harsh sun. Consider adding ND Filters to your hiking bag. In the Fall Photo Ideas post, I talked more about ND Filters and which one I use. 

Hike Early or Late

What are the best times to be on the trail? Sunrise and sunset. If you can be out during that period, I’d suggest you do it. I can’t right now because that means hiking in the dark. Invest in a headlamp. I grabbed one from my local pharmacy and keep it in my hiking backpack for emergencies. 

Research Sunset Times

You may have noticed it’s getting dark earlier. Before you leave, research sunset times. If you don’t plan on hiking in the dark, you need to be in a comfortable place by sunset. I make sure I’m at the train station by sunset. 

Bring a Tripod

You’d want photos of yourself on the trail. You could have someone that the picture for you. But, what if you’re hiking alone? I bought my tripod for long exposure photography but I’ve used it more to capture myself on the trail. 

Wear Something Bright For Your Hiking Photos

You want to stand out in your photos. Something bright will do that. My hair’s blue and so is my bag. Some people will wear bright shirts.  

Be Observant

I have a tendency to look down while hiking to make sure I don’t fall or step on a snake. But, if you look down all the time, you miss the beautiful scenery. I try to strike a balance between watching my feet and observing the scene.

Cut out the Sky

Is the sky cloudless? Crop it out. A blue sky is boring. If there’s a reason you want all the blank space in your photo, by all means, keep it in. If the sky is interesting, feel free to photograph it. 

I don’t like rain during my hiking trips but I dislike even more checking the weather and seeing no clouds. 

Search For Lines

Try to find some natural lines that will lead people through your photo.

Try Black and White Hiking Photos

As I mentioned before, midday is not the best time to photograph. But, you can get around that by using ND Filters or turning your photos black and white. 

Get Low

Most people take photos at eye level. Simply kneeling will give you a unique shot, especially now with all the pretty leaves on the ground.

Above all, have fun. Don’t be so focused on taking sharable hiking photos that you miss the joy of being outdoors. 

Best Horror Movies and Shows to Watch on Netflix

A movie is giving you serious nope vibes and you are loving it. Ever have that experience? What are the best scary horror movies to watch on Netflix? What are some bingeable TV shows that’ll get you in the Halloween mood? Here are my favs. These are in no particular order.

Castlevania

I debated on adding this to the list. Castlevania is one of my horror series but I don’t find it scary. Still love it. 

Haunted

If you’ve seen and enjoyed Paranormal Witness, you may like Haunted. This docuseries, though, doesn’t only deal with “true” paranormal stories. They talk about serial killers and cults.  

As Above So Below

You’dd think the Paris catacombs would inspire some scary supernatural horror movies. I’ve only seen one good movie set in that location. As Above So Below is one of my favorites. I watch it over and over. 

Dark Skies

It’s rare for me to find a horror movie I love but have trouble rewatching. The Descent is one. Sinister is another. Now, I’m adding Dark Skies to the list. 

The Haunting of Hill House

Most of you have probably seen The Haunting of Hill House. This horror series knows how to tell a good story. 

The Autopsy of Jane Doe

I enjoyed this movie. Is it a masterpiece in horror? Not really. It’s watchable. If you’ve see enough horror movies, you know most of them are just the worst. As in, so bad you can’t make it to the ending. I wouldn’t have paid to see this movie but it’s good for a night in. 

Sleepy Hollow

Do you remember DVDs? I loved Sleepy Hollow so much I bought the DVD. Still have it. Now, it’s on Netflix. 

Love Death and Robots

It’s kind of trippy but it works. I’ve been meaning to rewatch this series. It’s mostly a collection of sci-fi, fantasy and horror shorts. Still waiting for a second season. This series has some nudity and sex. If you don’t want to see all that, I’d suggest skipping it. 

The Haunting of Hill House is included but not Bly Manor because I haven’t seen it yet. I had planned on watching it until I learned it was based on The Turn of the Screw. That’s not my favorite story but, I’ll probably still watch the series because I love The Haunting of Hill House. 

Also, I mention in my post on the Winchester House that I hadn’t seen the 2018 movie based on that house. Winchester‘s on Netflix. That too is not on this list because I haven’t seen it yet but I plan to. 

Devilman Crybaby seems to be an interesting horror anime. It’s on my watch list.

Spectral is also a pretty good sci-fi horror movie but it’s not scary. 

What do you think are the best horror movies on Netflix right now? TV shows? Comment below. 

Haunted Location: The Winchester House

Spirits still roam the Winchester House forever working on “the house that fear built.” Ghostly footsteps, loud sighs and dark figures are a few tales surrounding one of the most haunted places in America.

 The Winchester Mystery House has inspired stories like Rose Red and episodes on the anime Ghost Hunt. Not to mention graphic novels like House of Penance as well as a number of plays. I didn’t see the 2018 movie but given its reviews, I may rent it on Amazon. 

The Curse

In 1862, Sarah Pardee married William Winchester, heir to the Winchester rifle fortune. Stories vary but during her life, Sarah lost her husband, father-in-law and infant daughter some say within months of each other. Another source said her mother also died. Sarah was afraid her family was under a curse put on them by victims of “the gun that won the West.”   

The House That Fear Built

After their deaths, Sarah moved into an 8-room farmhouse in San Jose, California. Grief-stricken, she consulted a medium who told her to build a maze of a house to confuse the spirits. The medium said Sarah would die if she ever stopped building. Another version said she needed to keep building to appease the spirits. 

By the time she died, the house had “950 doors, 160 rooms, 52 skylights, 47 fireplaces, 40 staircases, 40 bedrooms, 6 kitchens and 2 ballrooms.” 

Ghosts of the Winchester House

The Winchester Mystery House is now a tourist attraction. Visitors and staff have reported a number of paranormal phenomena. One notable spirit is a black-haired man pushing a wheelbarrow. Years ago, a man restoring the building felt a hand tap his shoulder but when he turned, no one was there. 

People have heard music playing from the ballroom. They’ve seen red balls of light and doorknobs turned by invisible hands. People have also spotted Sarah’s ghost still trapped in her own twisted creation. 

Added to the creepiness is the number 13 carved into various places throughout the house including windows, stairs and even chandeliers.

This is only a sample of the paranormal things said to happen at the Winchester House. Sarah was, supposedly, haunted even before she started building stairs to nowhere. I understand now why it’s one of the most haunted places in America. 

To read about other haunted places, check out my post on the Hoia-Baciu Forest, a paranormal doorway. 

Sources

— Nickell, Joe. “Winchester Mystery House: fact vs. fancy. (Investigative Files).” Skeptical Inquirer, vol.26, no. 5, Sept.-Oct. 2002, p. 20+. Gale Academic OneFile

—Stollznow, Karen. “Bad language: a maze of myths: The Winchester Mystery House.” Skeptic [Altadena, CA], vol. 18, no. 4, 2013, p. 6+. Gale Academic OneFile

–SILVA, L. A.; SILVA, S. Winchesters Won the West and Also Made the Winchester Mystery House Possible. Wild West, [s. l.], v. 14. 20, 2001.

—Three ghost stories of the Winchester Mystery House

—Winchester Mystery House: A Haunted History

Your Guide to Writing a Haunted House Story Ghost or Monster

Many things can make your haunted house story fail? Flat characters. Bad writing. Boring spirits. Bad pacing. 

People like to bring up The Turn of the Screw as the ghost story to read. But, I really don’t get it. I was about a third of the way through the book and saw no signs of ghosts, or anything really. No conflict. I got bored and read something else. Check out Shirly Jackson or Richard Matheson instead. Maybe with The Haunting of Bly Manor hitting Netflix, I’ll give The Turn of the Screw another chance. 

You can’t guarantee everyone will like your book but you can give it a fighting chance. How can you write a haunted house monster that’ll scare or even fascinate readers?

Research Myths and Legends

I listen to a lot of haunted house/myths and legends podcasts. For different blog posts like the one about Mont Saint-Michel, I’ve researched many haunted locations and mythical creatures. There’s a lot of paranormal information in my head that comes out when I write. You can base your ghost/monster or an “actual one.” I take bits of pieces of all the information I’ve gained to create something new. For inspiration, try the podcasts Lore, Myths and Legends and Haunted Places.

Broaden Your Idea of Monster

In one of my stories, Devdan Manor, characters get trapped in a Rose Red style house. For a good portion of the book, the house is the villain. Or you could go the American Haunting route where your ghost is trying to save the daughter from a real-world threat. In Hunter Shea’s Sinister Entity, a family was haunted by two ghosts. One was evil, the other was trying to save someone. In some stories, the villain isn’t a monster, it’s a curse. 

Why's Your Ghost Haunting the House

Sometimes a straightforward, vengeful spirit can be interesting. I like to make my monsters complex. Yeah, they’re doing bad things but for good or relatable reasons. In The Unburned Island, demons are terrorizing people but they’re doing so because they’re desperate. Generally, in my stories, I like to play with that gray area between good and evil.

Flesh out the monster’s backstory and motivation. Don’t just say they’re haunting because they’re mad. Why are they mad? What do they want from their victims?  If they just want them to suffer, why? 

Be Unique in How They're Haunting the House in Your Story

Objects moving on its own and dogs barking at darkness are scary. They’re also cliche. How about having your dog play with a friendly spirit while it’s protecting your character from a bad one? In The Dead Smile by F. Marion Crawford, people are haunted by a creepy smile. Don’t focus on objects moving, focus on how that’s affecting the person, family or team.

Do you have any questions any tips you want to add? Comment below. Check out my other post on The Characteristics of a Haunted House Story.  

Fall Photo Ideas: Capturing the Beautiful Autumn Colors

Apparently, fall is hiking season. The trail was packed on Saturday. The weather’s not too hot or too cold and tress are all colorful. Certain areas gave you an otherworldly feel. It’s magical. This is photography season as well. YouTubers I’m following have started releasing videos with fall photo ideas and tips. 

I’ve also been following hashtags on Instagram like #tree_magic for inspiration and fall photo ideas. Scrolling through landscape photos on Behance helps as well. 

Fancy Gear Helps But It's Not Required

I have a Canon EOS T5i camera. It sits at the low end of the DSLRs. I l also have a $200 telephoto lens. Also sits at the low end. My phone’s at least 5 years old. I don’t use it to photograph mostly because it’s right on the edge of death. I’m surprised it’s lasted this long. Feels like it takes me 2 hours just to photograph with my phone. Eventually, I hope to upgrade my equipment but I don’t have the money for it. 

Make Sure They're Sharp

I’ve been struggling with this lately. When editing, I’ll zoom into my photos and they just fall apart. Those nice sharp images are the best. I’ve gotten into the habit of zooming into the photos as I take them, before I continue hiking, to make sure they’re sharp. I don’t want any surprises when I get home. Even then, I still miss something but it’s less likely now. 

Look Up

I was surprised just how many hikers were taking photos at eye level. The pretty colors are often all at the top of trees. When you’re on the trail, look up.   

Go Where No Photographer Has Gone Before

At the beginning of my hike, I spotted a tree with an interesting mix of colors. I could’ve stayed on the trail and photographed it. Getting under the tree would’ve be better. But, it was off-trail. A large rock sat right in the spot I needed to stand. So, I climbed on the rock. And got this shot. 

It’s one of my favorites. 

Only climb if you feel safe to do so. The rock I stood on was fairly small and it took a bit of maneuvering to comfortably balance on it. I hike alone but I’ve climbed enough boulders to know my limits, at least for now.  I wouldn’t have done this at the end of the hike when I’m hot and tired. 

Go Off-Trail

If you feel comfortable, step off the path to get under a tree.  I wanted to capture these mix of colors but I couldn’t do that on the main trail. 

When I first started hiking, I wasn’t too comfortable walking off-trail. Even now, I don’t go too far. But sometimes, that’s how you get a magical shot. 

Be Observant

Certain parks will have trails that don’t look like trails. I’ve hiked to a Breakneck Ridge Overlook in Hudson Highlands State Park several times. But, I noticed something interesting on Saturday. An easily-missed dirt path that took me here.

I had the spot to myself because the path was so well hidden. I’m rarely so blown away by a view that’ll I’ll stand there and stare. I don’t normally curse but a few slipped out of me when this scene opened. 

Look for Contrasts

I’ve seen photos of beautifully isolated trees. I couldn’t wait for fall because this season’s the perfect time to get those shots. 

I was taking a snack break but this tree kept calling my name. 

Just Try it Anyway

If you spot an interesting scene but don’t know if it’ll make a good shot, try it anyway. You may stumble across a happy accident. Experiment. 

I spotted some leaves sitting in a small stream and thought the colors looked pretty. I sat by the water to get a good shot when I noticed something even more interesting. A reflection. 

Remember what I said about checking your shots? Clearly, I missed one. I love this composition but I don’t need to zoom in to tell it’s not in focus. 

When you’re on the trail, you already need to pay attention to your surroundings. May as well look for things to photograph. You’ll find scenes most people didn’t notice. 

Follow me on Instagram. Check out my photography page for more of my photos.