Four Days in Januaryat Yates Mill Pond Park

Day 4

Jan. 12, 2026

The fourth day of this series was notable for the bright sunlight that had returned to the North Carolina piedmont. The sunlight helped render the lead-off photo that is full of straight (and leading) lines, as well as diagonal lines and nicely spaced shadow patterns along the rail tops of the pedestrian bridges. 

The sunlight also played a role in several of the other photos you'll see in this post, beginning with the first photos below. 

And oh, about that sign on the orange cone on the far left ... there was absolutely no ice or treacherous footing there that day. 

To view a full gallery of images from this shoot, follow the link in this sentence.

Above and first four photos below: Shots I made from a second pedestrian bridge, not far from the main bridge shown in the lead-off photo. Some pretty dramatic contrasts, not to mention lines, angles and patterns. In the fourth photo, I made a shot of the bridge rail's shadow ... including my head sticking out as I took the picture.  

The above is probably my favorite shot of the day, a wonderful and dramatic vista of scores of trees, most of which are leafless, and their shadows casting a synchronistic pattern on the ground. An exception to the lack of leaves is the horizontal patch of golden leaves across the lower portion of the tree trunks. And all of this cast against a blue sky.

A photo that reminded me of an “other world” visual (above), and a nearly fully leafless tree amid sparse green vegetation (below). 

Above and below: More tall trees, golden leaves, a closely cropped tree trunk and an angular branch arched over the landscape (below).

 

Above: When I returned to the main pedestrian bridge, I saw a heron gliding across the small portion of the pond. I have no idea if this was my blue heron from the day before; I couldn't get close to it with the iPhone zoom. But I like the capture of it in rippling water just before it crosses the tree reflection ... with a duck in the background. 

 

Above: Another reflection in a slightly different section of the same area of the pond. 

Above and below: On the return trip from my walk, I stopped at a second pedestrian bridge (which isn't far from the main bridge) and took these photos of the shadows and lines there. 

When I made it to the original bridge (above and below) on the return trip, the sun had apparently shifted sufficiently to render the shadows to what you see here.