A Change of Seasons

The change of seasons is so to speak in the air. We are in the transitional phase from summer to autumn to winter. The vineyards are key indicators of this transition. Moving from dead branches in the late winter to early spring, rejuvenated beauty is instantiated by the new growth.

I walked past the vineyards on my daily walk and saw the gradual change of colors. The sunsets earlier each day, and I choose a somewhat overcast day to take some rather artistic-looking photographs of the vineyards. Some of them almost look like abstract pieces of art. Or so my mind lets me believe. But I might have a glass of fermented grapes in already! Alas, here is a series of photographs that symbolize the change of seasons. Please join me as I present you with various photographs that symbolize a metaphorical "bleeding" or the vitality of the leaves. Interspersed, I leave you with philosophical type aphorisms or musings.

"Bleeding Vineyards"

bleeding vitality, the leaves hang on their last minutes but with ever-increasing beauty until that last second when it tumbles down to the earth

growth ceased when the touch of winter's fingertips grazed the early night sky, vitality stops once the winter of our own lives overturn the security of summer

abstract beauty covers the view filled with vibrant yellow but intermixed with life absorbing reds blacks and shadows

drunk on our own assurance of waking up the next morning, we fall victim to the worst of all delusions: that we are more than just lucky and fortunate to be here

walking alongside us is the constant reminder that the seasons can change and our emotions can cast an almost eternal winter over us

breathing is so natural until we conciously think about it, the changing season is never felt until one sees the leaves changing color, bleeding does not stop if you do not look at the wound and give it the needed attention

but bleeding can also be metaphorically important: it shows that you are alive, just as the dead leaves that fall from the vines will show new growth in the next season

even if we are dropped into a pit of raw emotions, we can utilize this to our advantage: we can breath the hot air and work creatively to solve the problem that seems to be too big

in poison we find the cure or antidote, with the cure or antidote we can poison ourselves, so also our thoughts can get us out of the aforementioned hole, but so also can these same thoughts cement us shut

Postscriptum or the Setting Sun and Sleeping Mountain

Color is something life treats us with. We cannot study color without what they call qualia or subjective experiences of, amongst other things, color. Rather than see this as a problem (as does some philosophers of mind) we should embrace our subjective and personal experiences of appearances, like the change of color in the vineyards. For me, the color looks a certain way and it brings out certain memories and thoughts, for you, it might totally be different. How beautiful is that not?

All of the photographs were taken with my Nikon D300 and Nikkor f/1.8 50mm lens. The musings, albeit due to the wine, are my own. I hope you find joy in the simple things like the subjective experience of color and taste. How beautiful is life not? Stay safe, and happy photographing.