There is a subtle change that occurs in nature when the hot days of summer eventually make room for the cool touch of fall. The lush green of the trees start changing, and the sun starts lowering itself into the horizon, creating shadows through its filtered rays. In one such evening walk, I realized how the changing foliage along with the overcast sky created a very reflective environment. I decided to capture this brief moment with my camera.
For the first picture, I was interested in photographing the season transition up close. I took one leaf that had fallen off and placed it right against the setting sun.
The light broke through the sky and touched the borders of the leaf, lighting up its veins which seemed like little rivers of gold. You can easily tell the change in color from faded green to amber at the borders of the leaf. It was amazing how such a small part of nature looked so spectacular against the large sky.
With the progression of our walk, the clouds turned darker and rolled higher in the sky, capturing this moment on the next photo. This photo represents a different, more expressive and monochromatic atmosphere.
The dark silhouettes of a leafless tree appear on a broad background of swirling gray clouds. Small clusters of dark berries grow on the tree, symbolizing the arrival of the harvest season. A ray of sunshine passes through a tiny hole in the clouds and appears as an almost luminescent circle, trying to warm up the cooling land beneath. Dark hills in the background form an impressive picture of the season's tranquility.
Finally, we come to the third picture that highlights the texture of the wild undergrowth once again. Peering through a thicket of wild bushes, one can see how the leaves create an incredible, intricate framework of dark silhouettes on the dimly lit golden background of the sky.
A round sun appears in the middle, desperately trying to make some way for its light through the cloudy evening.
Taking these pictures was a lovely exercise in mindfulness. Autumn makes us aware of the beauty of change and the beauty of the special type of peace that can be found when nature takes its time.
In times where my life becomes too busy and noisy, just looking at these pictures helps me recall the cool air, the sound of the falling leaves, and the comforting sun of autumn.
