Thank you

Thank you for taking a moment to look a little deeper.

Every photograph on display has its own story. Some were years in the making, others lasted only a fraction of a second. Together they represent moments that caught my eye, places that moved me, and pieces of Melbourne and beyond that I felt were worth preserving.

Rather than simply displaying the finished image, I wanted to share the story behind it. I hope you enjoy the journey as much as I enjoyed creating it.

— David Pleydell

Autumn trees in fog

The Story

Not every photograph begins with a detailed plan. Some begin with a feeling.

After finishing an 11-hour shift at work, I stepped outside just after 11 o'clock that night and immediately noticed the fog. Fog has always fascinated me, and I knew I couldn't simply go home and call it a night.

I quickly changed out of my work clothes, grabbed my camera gear, and headed to one of my favourite places to photograph—Highlands Lake in Craigieburn.

I'd been trying to capture these autumn trees for several years. I'd photographed them many times before, but I'd never quite found the combination of colour, light and atmosphere that I had imagined.

By now it was well after midnight. As I wandered around the lake in the cold, the scene suddenly came together. The autumn colours glowed beneath the lights, the fog softened everything around me, and for a brief moment the world seemed completely still.

This was the photograph I'd been waiting for.

Whenever I look at this image now, I'm taken back to that quiet night. More than anything, it reminds me how peaceful the world can feel, even after a long day, if you simply take the time to stop and look.

Thank you for taking the time to read the story behind this photograph.

If you'd like to explore more images and the stories behind them, you'll find them throughout the Light & Life Photography website.