Thursday, October 18, 2007

Colors and reflections


Dying in color
London, ON, October 2007 [Click to embiggen]


I went for a walk yesterday, one of those rare occasions when I had an hour to kill while our son was at a bar mitzvah lesson. We were just far enough away from home that it wasn't worth returning to the house in the interim. So I found a nearby park beside the Thames River (don't laugh...it's barely a creek, but it's still pretty these days) and brought my camera along for some quiet introspection.

Every year around this time, I wonder how I'm going to find new ways to capture the color of the season. I hate cliche images and I hate repeating what's been done before. But there are only so many ways to shoot brightly colored leaves. Or not, apparently.

I was on my way back to pick him up when I caught a glimpse of this weird color on the far bank. There was a warm tone to the scene that made me stop and stare. I was thrilled when I got home and threw the picture onto my laptop that the tone seemed to have survived the trip through my camera.

The irony that this rich color is the result of leaves that are in the process of dying isn't lost on me.

Your turn: Quiet time to yourself and why it's so important. Please discuss.

21 comments:

Snaggle Tooth said...

Nice water effect!
Just getting foliage to translate is a challenge.
Without my quiet time I become too nervous to think straight n execute good projects. I crave space!
The water does that for me, luckily.

SzélsőFa said...

What a wonderful photo!

Leaves are dying to make material for the next generation.

A quiet moment is suitable for one to come to see truth like this.

Anonymous said...

So pretty....we don't get much of a Fall so don't see the turning of the leaves.

Gill said...

That photo is beautiful. I love coming here to see your photos.

Quiet time.... without it I would probably be a wreck. When everything starts overwhelming me I get angry and uptight and then I know, it's time for some peace and quiet... me time.

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful autumn shot. Is that the Thames river in Connecticut? I used to live in a house with a view of that river.

Cas

Jennie said...

I LOVE that picture. It's beautiful.

tommie said...

first, love the fall picture. This is my favorite time of year.

I love my quiet time because it allows me time to recharge once the babies are in bed. Time to have to myself without serving others. Obviously it it time I need and cherish!

Janet said...

That picture, for some reason, reminds me of a pair of worn, comfy corduroys!

Quiet time is very important to me, more so the older I get. I need it to recharge my inner spark!

Mike Davis said...

Captivating picture - you have an eye for these autumnal shots!

I just had oneof my favorite quiet times - a cruise through the backwater towns and coast roads - roof down.

Blows away the cobwebs.

Here from Michele...

Smiler said...

Hi Carmi, your blog seems very interesting with lots of beautiful images. I'll be coming back to visit soon enough.

Quiet time by myself: I couldn't live without it. I'm my own best friend and like being in my own head, making up stories, writing or just daydreaming.

And by the way... Hello, Michele sent me.

:-)

Azgreeneyes said...

Hey, Carmi. Gorgeous picture, I miss landscapes like that. None here in the desert. It looks so peaceful, which leads me into the quiet time by yourself. I don't require it very often, but when I do, it is literally a need. I have to shut down, and replenish my supply of peace and tranquility. Otherwise, I cannot function (as well) as mother and wife.

Sara said...

The photo is so pretty!

I have to have my quiet time. I need to be able to think and sort things out...

I'm lucky that even though I live in a city - I have plenty of space to wander in - and we are more rural than "big city".

Meeta Banerjee said...

That is an amazing picture!

It almost brings a quiet serenity to the picture that adds some sort of bliss. :)

Btw, it's Meeta, I'm back...I changed my URL

superchai.blogspot.com :)

Anonymous said...

This reminded me of Robert Frost's poem "Stopping by the Woods".

Need I say more?

I think Michele made me come here to uplift my dark mood.

Anonymous said...

I agree about not liking to repeat what I've done in the past to represent each season. But it's also true for me that reflections never get old. I still haven't found the right photos for this season yet, unless I count the fall wedding I went to. That was sort of a fairytale affair and fun to get images at. Michele says hi.

Pearl said...

Lovely sepiaed. The soul can reset when alone in nature as others said.

Creative-Type Dad said...

great picture! nothing like that happens out here where I live

David Edward said...

i love the water and the colors - great combo

Lori said...

I love this photograph. It looks like a place I'd love to go.

Quiet time is so important to me. It's a time when I recharge, think and gather strength. Everyone needs it, though many fear it. I think that some people believe that if they are still for very long, they will have to deal with things that are uncomfortable.

It took me 1 1/2 hours to get home tonight. I walked 5 1/2 miles along back, gravel roads and though tiring, it was a beautiful day spent thinking and being quiet.

Ginny said...

Nature is where I get my batteries recharged. I am passionate about hiking and backpacking and love photographing what I see while out there. It makes me feel complete when I connect with the world on that level.

Chatty said...

This is my favorite time of the year for pictures. Some of my best shots are with the fall foliage against a calm piece of water. We've had such amazing weather, that our foliage has lasted a long time this year.