Autumn Road Trip

The forecast looked dreary - the next 4-5 days would bring clouds laden with rain and gusty winds. And autumn colours don't wait for the perfect weather forecast. Not only would the light be dreary, the wind would hasten the undressing of the trees.

I've learned through the years that in photography 'carpe diem' is a motto to live by. So, equipment in car and off on a road trip to see what effect autumn had had on areas I'd made mental notes to re-visit when I saw them in summer. I wasn't disappointed - here's a small sample of the hundred and some-odd scenes I captured.

(For some music to put you in that autumn mood, click on the link below).

Fallen Leaves

Why should I be the first to fall
Of all the leaves on this old tree?
Though sadly soon I know that all
Will lose their hold and follow me.
While my birth-brothers bravely blow,
Why should I be first to go?

Why should I be the last to cling
Of all the leaves on this bleak bough?
I've fluttered since the fire of Spring
And I am worn and withered now.
I would escape the Winter gale
And sleep soft-silvered by a snail.

When swoop the legions of the snow
To pitch their tents in roaring weather
We fallen leaves will lie below
And rot rejoicingly together;
And from our rich and dark decay
Will laugh our brothers of the May.

[Robert William Service 1874 - 1958]

Reflecting on autumn

"I loved autumn, the one season of the year that God seemed to have put there just for the beauty of it." [Lee Maynard]

“No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace as I have seen in one autumnal face.” [John Donne]

“There is something incredibly nostalgic and significant about the annual cascade of autumn leaves.”  [Joe L. Wheeler]

“Time remorselessly rambles down the corridors and streets of our lives, but it is not until autumn that most of us become aware that our tickets are stamped with a terminal destination.” [Joe L. Wheeler]

Open up your heart - let the Son shine in

When the cares of the world weigh you down, it's hard to be optimistic. But listen to the song in the link below the last photo - it's a little video I put together - and imagine the 5th Dimension singing about the Son (as found in Revelation 7:9-17, and especially v.15-17). And join me on my stroll continued from last week through a little part of creation, when the sun came out.

Have a blessed Sunday.

How can I keep from singing

It's that time of year again here up north when the creation starts bedecking itself with a multicoloured coat. Like so many opportunities that come by in life, you need to grab hold of it before it disappears.

We were having a typical fall day of blustery winds pushing along threatening clouds alternating  with momentary flashes of bright sunshine and blue skies. I set out for what I promised would be a quick trip to a favourite nearby spot to check how fall colours were coming along. I pulled myself away after 'only' two hours, knowing there'd be more opportunities. soon.

It's amazing how such peaceful beauty can be found so close to home. Reminded me of a song from another of my favourite artists (yes, I have many), Eva Cassidy - click the link below the photos and sing along while you enjoy the good creation given to us by our faithful Father:

you might recognize this road if you've visited my blog before

we've had an abundance of rain this summer/fall and the wetlands were, well, wet ...

 as you can see from the first photo, there's still a lot of green, however, there's also lots of fall colour

 while leaves are starting to fall, the grass is still green

 looks like Monsieur Monet also stopped by

October's Party

"October gave a party;
The leaves by hundreds came -
The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,
And leaves of every name.
The Sunshine spread a carpet,
And everything was grand,
Miss Weather led the dancing,
Professor Wind the band."
 
     [George Cooper, October's Party]

I trust you're not tired of autumn quite yet. Why not take a moment out of your day (since you're here anyway) and listen to one of my favourite singers (click on the link below the photos). Then walk along these country roads with me and marvel at the Creator's handiwork.

Emblems of Autumn

An Autumn Thought
  by: Albert Laighton (1829-1887)
   
They're speeding on--the weary winter hours;
These are thy emblems, thou departing year:
The falling leaves, the fading of the flowers
Laid by fond Autumn on the Summer's bier.

Soon will the song of lingering birds be still,
The streamlets lose the music of their tone;
For hid with pallid brow behind the hill,
stern Winter waits to mount his glittering throne.

Well, let the flowers decay, the dead leaves fall;
Hushed be the birds, and stilled the streamlet's flow;
Let hoary Winter cast a blight o'er all,
And bind his withered brow with wreaths of snow.

We know that May will come, and glad rills play,
And flowers along their emerald borders bloom;
Though our next spring-time may lie far away
In some fair clime of light beyond the tomb.


Autumn is creeping in, we've had frost several times, and the wood stove has banished the chill from our home. temporarily. Here's what autumn is starting to look like in our neck of the woods.

Coming to an end

There's a trite but true saying that all good things must come to an end, and so it is with the spectacle of autumn's magnificent colours. I'm sure that there are still places where the rain and strong winds haven't left barren limbs reaching for a gray sky, but those are disappearing quickly. I had a last opportunity to load up a memory card with autumn memories this past weekend. Accompanied by one of my daughters, who has recently taken up photography, and 3 canine friends, we braved sullen skies and a steady drizzle to make a trek into the woods.

The leaves will continue to fall and carpet the ground until a hard frost is followed by the first snowfall which in turn will cover everything under a soft blanket. Then life will slow down and rest for several months, until the cycle begins again. And we can be as assured of that as of His faithfulness.

The world through rose-coloured glasses

First off, a Happy Thanksgiving to all my fellow bloggers here in Canada. May we never take for granted all that we're blessed with in this great country.

Today I had the opportunity to see first hand what the world might look like when seen through rose-coloured glasses. A few of us went for a walk down a small dirt road which wanders through the woods just a few miles from our home. As I was remarking on the fall colours (first photo), one of my daughters suggested I look at them through her sunglasses. After recovering from optic overload I decided to shoot the same scene through her sunglasses (second photo).

(both photos made with an 18-55mm lens at f8.0, ISO200 and shutter speeds of 1/50 and 1/25 sec respectively)

Savour the season

"Come said the wind to
the leaves one day,
Come o'er the meadows
and we will play.
Put on your dresses
scarlet and gold,
For summer is gone
and the days grow cold."
(A Childrens' Song of the 1880's)

"A tangerine and russet cascade
Of kaleidoscopic leaves
Creates a tapestry of autumn magic
Upon the emerald carpet of fading summer."
(Judith A. Lindberg, Shades of Autumn)

You might want to listen to this while you view the photos ...

click on images for a better view

Are we there yet ?

I have some favourite areas I like to go and visit, particularly when fall colours are at their prime. Yesterday I decided to go on a test drive to gauge how the Master's fall decorating was progressing, before I visit a few of my favourite places. I'll let you judge.

(these were made with an 18-55mm lens at f11, ISO200, and various shutter speeds)

click on image for a larger view

Phriday Phun in Phall

I recall that Scott over at 'Just Used Pixels' used to post just-pher-phun shots on Phridays up until some time ago. I'm not sure if he's giving the concept a rest for a while, but I hadn't participated in several months. Today while I was having fun meandering out back with the photographic arsenal and Sasha in tow, that thought struck me. So, in addition to the pleasure of capturing some more seasonal images, I decided to create a few pher-phun shots. Hope you enjoy them too.

(all shots made with a 18-55mm lens at f22, shutter speed of 1/4 or 1/5 sec and ISO100)

click on the images for a much better view

Signs, Signs, Everywhere There's Signs ... Part II

As a follow up to my last post, I found some more signs in our yard of the impending and inevitable change of season. I've noticed that along our roads the colours are starting to become more vivid in the bushes and trees. I feel a photo shoot coming up soon to capture the blaze of glory with which God paints his creation before He lets it go quietly to sleep beneath a blanket of white. 

I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in.
(George Washington Carver)

(60mm  f8.0  1/20 sec  ISO200)

(60mm  f10  1/40 sec  ISO200)

(60mm  f11  1/15 sec  ISO200)

(60mm  f7.1  1/25 sec  ISO200)

(60mm  f7.1  1/200 sec  ISO200)