River To The Sky

Photography by Doug Couvillion of clouds reflected on the James River at Huguenot Flatwater

Sunrise on the river is one of my favorite ways to start the day.  When the water is calm it’s hard to image a more peaceful place.  Approaching the river fills me with a sense of wonder and a profound appreciation of what lies ahead.  Soon I’ll be out there among the herons and geese.

Autumn Morning Fog on the James

photograph of the James River in early morning fogThis photo was taken about 30 minutes after sunrise on an early December day.  Our neighborhood was shrouded in fog and I hoped to capture it hanging over the river.  Normally fog clings heavily to the river but this day was different. I was a little disappointed but enjoyed this view from one of Richmond’s many bridges over the James River.

Doyles River Upper Falls

Photograph of the Doyles River Upper Falls in Shenandoah National ParkWhen I reached the upper falls on the Doyles River in Shenandoah National Park, the lighting was horrible.  The foreground and most of the photo above and to the left of the falls were bathed in bright, direct sunlight.  The falls and most of the photo to the right of them were in dark shadow.  So I bracketed like crazy and combined two of the resulting photos to produce this HDR image of the scene.

Pace Line

photograph of cyclist riding in a pace lineCyclists ride in a pace line to save energy.  The first time I drafted another cyclist it was immediately obvious why birds fly in formation.  These riders are about 15 miles into a century ride in Richmond, Virginia.  With 85 miles remaining they are, no doubt, attempting to retain as much of their energy as possible.

Fall Morning in Deep Run Park

photograph of trees reflected in the water at Deep Run ParkEarly Saturday morning I walked through Deep Run Park in Henrico County, Virginia.  I wanted to be there while that magical, early morning light blanketed the trees and whatever I might find beneath them.  I nearly passed this scene but fortunately stopped long enough to notice it.

Gold and Red

photograph of yellow wildflowers with red leaves in the backgroundThese wildflowers already lost most of their pedals before I took this photograph.  I wanted to capture the bright yellow of the flowers against the backdrop of the red vine leaves climbing the tree in the background.

Magnolia Fruit

photograph of a magnolia coneThe magnolia fruit is always an early sign of fall.  The bright, warm color and soft texture of the cone contrast sharply with the dark, cool, shiny leaves of the tree.  This one was framed almost perfectly between two leaves.