Autumnal Infrared Splendor...grayscale glory!

October 31, 2020  |  Wildcat Mountain State Park

We have enjoyed many years of autumn hikes at Wildcat Mountain State Park in Ontario, WI. While the fall colors may be more or less brilliant in any given year, the experience of hiking this park never disappoints. And if I bring a camera along there is always a keeper or two in the images.

On a recent outing I decided to try something a bit different: infrared photography. The resulting images revealed both the warmth (lighter shades) and the chill (darker shades) that are found in an autumnal landscape.

The sunrise over Wildcat Mountain illuminates the trees on the opposite side of the Kickapoo River.

The sunrise over Wildcat Mountain illuminates the trees on the opposite side of the Kickapoo River.

Ice Cave - a natural rock shelter was used by Native peoples long before the arrival of European settlers. The relative coolness...

Ice Cave - a natural rock shelter was used by Native peoples long before the arrival of European settlers. The relative coolness of the shelter is touched by warm fingers of light from the mid-afternoon sun.

I happened to catch sight of this bird cruising by the overlook just as I was ready to move on - and managed one clear fame. Leaves on the trees glow white and a loop in the Kickapoo River (lower right corner) is dark. A field of green looks like a light bright stream through middle of image. The shadows on the corner of the image are from a lens hood that keeps pesky sun flares out of the shots. It is needed at times for certain IR photos.

Bird in flight over the Kickapoo River.

Bird in flight over the Kickapoo River.

Mount Pisgah - which provides beautiful overlooks of the Kickapoo River valley - is in the center of this image, framed by shrubs. It is part of a unique and beautiful state natural area within Wildcat Mountain State Park. It can be reached from a trail that begins in the parking area for the park’s canoe/kayak launch. Details about the hike can be found here (opens in new window): Mount Pisgah State Natural Area

This path is flanked by glowing trees in this infrared image.

This path is flanked by glowing trees in this infrared image.

Additional infrared images from this location and others can be found here: Infrared Gallery

Layers of rock are split across their grain in this outcropping near the Kickapoo River at Wildcat Mountain State Park.

Layers of rock are split across their grain in this outcropping near the Kickapoo River at Wildcat Mountain State Park.