5 Minutes in the Fog: A Quick Adventure with My Son

Written By James Kelly

Date: 11th December 2024
Location: Sandvik, Faroe Islands

You know those days when cabin fever sets in, and you just have to get out? That’s been my life recently. Weeks of relentless wind and rain in the Faroe Islands have kept me indoors, staring longingly out the window. Then, just one day of calm—no wind, no rain—but thick, beautiful fog draped over the fjord and village. A perfect setup for a minimalist, moody shot.

Standing at my window, I could almost see the photograph before I even lifted my camera. A dreamy scene of the harbour, softened by fog, with a long exposure smoothing out the water. That’s it—I had to get out there. I told the other half I was going for a quick photography session. She suggested taking my eldest son along. My first thought was, No, I need to move fast, but then I remembered how much he loves fishing. A plan started to form: he’d fish while I took photos. Win-win, right?

We threw on jackets and boots, grabbed his fishing rod, and headed straight to the harbour. Fifteen minutes later, I set him up with his fishing spot. By then, the fog had already started to lift (just my luck). Still, the scene was stunning, and as he stood there, his figure completed the composition in a way I hadn’t anticipated.

Setting the Scene

Out came the trusty Nikon D850 and my Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 lens. Stability was essential, so I mounted it on my Gitzo tripod. I worked around the harbour to perfect the composition. Minimalism was the goal: soft, foggy layers balanced by the starkness of the fjord and harbour.

Initially, I thought shooting at f/13 and ISO 100 would give me a slow enough shutter speed. Nope—not even close. The light was low, but not that low. Time to break out the filters. Except, here’s the kicker—my beloved NiSi 6-stop ND filter met its untimely demise back in September. All I had left was my 10-stop filter, which wasn’t ideal but would have to do. I really need to upgrade to the NiSi JetMag Pro Magnetic System. (Santa, if you’re reading this, take note.)

With the 10-stop ND filter in place, I dialed in 30 seconds at f/8 and ISO 800. Not my favourite settings—I’m not a fan of grain (or, as some insist on calling it, “noise”)—but I’d live with it. The fog was lifting quicker than I’d hoped, and the foreground looked too bright in the test shot. Time to add the NiSi 0.9 soft graduated filter. That did the trick, balancing the bright fog with the darker foreground perfectly.

Adding Mood and Balance

This is where the fun begins—balancing tones and textures to create a harmonious image. The lifting fog revealed subtle layers in the fjord, giving the shot depth and dimension. The contrast of black and white tones was key here. I’ve been leaning into a more minimalist aesthetic lately, and this scene was a dream come true. The fog provided a natural gradient, softening the edges of the frame while isolating my son’s figure for a striking focal point.

Speaking of my son, he was an absolute star. I shouted over, “Stand as still as you can!” and he nailed it. I’m pretty sure he was more focused on catching fish than following my directions, but it worked. Having him in the frame added a personal touch to the photo. It’s rare that I include my kids in my shots, but after seeing how this turned out, I might do it more often.

The Gear Rundown

Here’s what I used to capture this fleeting moment:

If you’re shopping for any of these, please consider using the links and codes below to help support a creative:

Final Thoughts

This quick five-minute outing turned into one of my favourite photography sessions. It’s a reminder that sometimes, all you need is a few spare moments and a bit of inspiration. The weather may not have been perfect, but that’s the beauty of it. Photography isn’t about perfection—it’s about capturing the moment. And sometimes, that moment comes with a little help from your fishing-obsessed son.

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James Kelly
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