DECEMBER 2024 · ROAM
The mist
Powys, Wales
Presteigne at night in December fog. Every street lamp became a separate object — a warm island in absolute darkness, the light unable to travel more than a few metres before the fog consumed it. Four lamps in a narrow alley between brick buildings, each one a distinct halo, nothing between them visible.
Walking through it, the town was still there — I knew it was there — but it had become invisible. The architecture reduced to occasional details where a lamp was close enough to illuminate a wall surface. A whitewashed cottage wall with a barred window. A stone cottage beside the road, warm lamp at its corner, distant lights further down glowing faint orange in the dark.
The fog had reduced the town to exactly what light could reach.
Presteigne — December 2024
Three figures appeared, silhouetted against the stone arch of a building ahead. They were walking toward it, moving through the fog without apparent urgency. I framed them from behind. They didn't notice.
The traffic light in the street was functioning — red, then green. Multiple street lamps glowed around it through the fog, each at a slightly different distance, the halos overlapping. The square was empty.
An open metal gate, overgrown vegetation behind it, a single lamppost visible down the road. The gate was unlocked but I didn't go through it.
The best frame: frost-covered spider webs on a utility pole, backlit by a warm street lamp against total darkness. The webs were only visible because of the lamp behind them. Without the lamp there would have been nothing to photograph. The fog had reduced the town to exactly what light could reach.
Three figures in dark silhouette walking toward stone arched building through thick fog
Wet street with townhouses receding into fog, street lights creating halos in mist
Narrow alley lit by four street lamps glowing through dense fog between brick buildings
Stone cottage with warm lamplight beside road, distant lights glowing in dark fog
Whitewashed cottage wall with barred window, street lamp illuminating stone surface
Town square with traffic light and multiple street lamps glowing through heavy fog
Open metal gate with distant lamppost glowing, overgrown vegetation in foggy darkness
Frost-covered spider webs on utility pole, backlit by warm street lamp against dark sky