This was the second year in a row that I went out in the woods on May 1. Last year it seemed like I had picked the perfect day. The whole forest was exploding in light green colors, the weather was sunny and warm, and everything lined up nicely for me.

This year started out differently. Well, it was a different location, and maybe that was the reason. The fact was, the forest was nowhere near at its peak green, and compositions were few and far between. At least that’s what it felt like for the first hour or two. Sure, there were green patches, and I captured a few good images, but they seemed to be the exception.

And then all that changed. At one point I could see what looked like water in between the trees. I walked in there, and sure enough, the most beautiful forest lake appeared. It turned out I had been there once before, in March a few years ago, before the leaves came out. Sure, it was pretty back then. I got some decent shots. But what a difference green leaves make! From one moment to the next, the whole day changed from meh to majestic. I spent a lot of time at the lake, but moving on afterwards I kept finding great spots, turning the day into a complete success.

When

May 1, 2026