Apalachicola in the Fog

Issue #122 - Florida's Panhandle Coast

Highway 98 crosses the bay and makes a sharp right turn down the main street of Apalachicola, Florida, a fascinating place to explore. Weathered ruins of old building are scattered among beautifully-restored examples of classic Florida coastal town architecture. Walk the three-block-long waterfront between Water Street, Commerce Street, and Market Street where Highway 98 passes through the center of town. Galleries, bookstores, and restaurants slowed me down. I still found so much to photograph that I stayed all day to explore the town and its side streets and then waited for a sunset over the bay. I found a room for the night at an Apalachicola riverside inn on Water Street with a great view over the water.

​The next day started early when I awoke to see a dense fog over the bay. I grabbed my camera bag and headed for the riverside dock where a few shrimp boats were tied up. Old fishing boats make great subjects in foggy morning light. The working boat marina can be found one mile north of town, upriver at the end of Market Street. Twenty-four boats were in the harbor where I spent several hours wandering around looking for the best locations for my tripod. I walked to the far end of the harbor where some wrecked hulls had been hauled onto the beach. There were no luxury yachts or fiberglass pleasure boats there. Working fishing boat harbor scenes are always improved by a dense fog. Exposures are more consistent no matter where you point your camera. Background distractions are lost in the mists.