A Rainy November Morning At Junction Creek

There is nothing like diffused, rainy day light

Junction Creek has been a significant part of my connection to Durango since relocating here from Pagosa Springs in 2018. The adorable stream flows right next to the elementary school my son has attended since before kindergarten. I remember many days after school when we hung out in and along the creek bed. As he got older, he loved hiking along the Junction Creek Trail from the trailhead at the Junction Creek Campground. So when I woke up on a rainy November morning, I decided to take my new Z 24-120 f/4 S lens to the trail after dropping Austin off at school and see what I could capture.

Love At First Sight

A Gambel oak leaf with pale tones ranging from green to brown with water droplets clinging to it.
A Gambel oak leaf with pale tones ranging from green to brown with water droplets clinging to it.

After parking at the Colorado Trail trailhead at the far end of the Junction Creek Campground trail, this Gambel oak leaf with beautiful muted tones ranging from pale green to pale brown immediately grabbed my attention before I even got a few steps away from the car. The gentle rain left beautiful water droplets on its surface. I knew the rest of the outing was going to be fruitful.

A leafless specimen of berberis fendleri, commonly known as Fendler's Barberry, bearing distinctive red berries and intimidating thorns.
A leafless specimen of berberis fendleri, commonly known as Fendler's Barberry, bearing distinctive red berries and intimidating thorns.

Rainy Day Light

It's hard to describe the contentful feeling being out there that morning brought over me. The diffused, rainy day light was making everything look beautiful. Armed with a circular polarizer on the lens to increase contrast and cut out the reflections from the wet surfaces, I hiked slowly along the familiar trail as if discovering it for the first time.

Gambel oak leaves and pine needles on the ground covered with water droplets.
Gambel oak leaves and pine needles on the ground covered with water droplets.

The trail hugs Junction Creek and provides many opportunities to get to the water. I took advantage on several occasions. My original motivation was to get out there and try to get some handheld long-exposure shots of the running water. And I did get a few images I liked of the creek.

Junction Creek adorned with wet fall leaf litter.
Junction Creek adorned with wet fall leaf litter.

But most of the day, I was distracted by the details along the trail, wonderfully illuminated by the veiled sunlight.

Hooded Tube Lichen
Hooded Tube Lichen.
Surprise! More Gambel oak leaves covered with water droplets.
Surprise! More Gambel oak leaves covered with water droplets.
Bracket fungi on a fallen pine trunk.
Bracket fungi on a fallen pine trunk.
Raindrops on green foliage.
Raindrops on green foliage.
Raindrops on green foliage nestled on the ledge of a large boulder.
Raindrops on green foliage nestled on the ledge of a large boulder.
A stump covered with moss and lichen.
A stump covered with moss and lichen.