The woods are really chaotic - stray twigs, dead leaves, random rocks - a mess of living and dying. It's been raining a lot so there are also swampy areas and standing water where I might sink almost to the top of my wellies. It's beautiful and intriguing to explore but really difficult to photograph. Often it is clarity and simplicity of composition that appeals to us in a landscape photograph - there's no clarity or simplicity obvious in this teeming environment! So when it's foggy I can't wait to get out, in a rush to check batteries and pack up my camera gear. Fog makes for great woodland shots, dimming the busy background so that one tree or a group of trees might stand out, adding mystery and atmosphere to the still winter woodland.
But, in spite of my hurry, the fog is clearing by the time I arrive. I manage one shot and then it's grown too wispy to be helpful. So I took a few shots of a favourite gnarly tree and one of the chaos - with those beautiful muted winter golds and greens.