autumn

All posts tagged autumn

Moonset, sunrise

Posted by Photonstopper on September 25, 2010
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Photo: The Moon about to disappear in the west. Photo by James Guilford.

The Moon is sinking in the western sky, about to disappear behind trees and into distant clouds.

As I descended the stairs Friday morning I glanced out the window to see a beautiful scene: the Moon, a day past Full, was setting in the west. Luna was set in a dark but brightening sky, framed by trees still in leaf. I grabbed my camera, cranked open the window, and recorded a few shots. Then I hurredly dressed and headed off for the office. Heading east the brilliant glory of the morning’s sunrise struck me in my eyes and soul. Amazing! I pulled into the first parking lot that afforded any view at all –conditions such as these are so very fleeting– jumped out of the car and produced my “travel” camera. A fine way to start a day: a beautiful moonset and sunrise.

Photo: A spectacular sunrise begins a day of changing weather. Photo by James Guilford.

A spectacular sunrise begins a day of changing weather.

Evening fireworks

Posted by Photonstopper on September 23, 2010
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Photo: Red flowers opening at the top of a plant spike. Photo by James Guilford.

Red flowers clustered at the top of a plant spike open for the first time in the evening sun.

She Who Must Be Obeyed doesn’t know what the plant is. She doesn’t remember purchasing it or planting it. For weeks, however, we have been watching what was a beautiful foliage plant sprout from the earth. As it rose the green beauty unfurled leaf after heavily veined leaf. Rain and dew beaded gorgeously on the waxy leaves. Over about the last week something different began to emerge. Our burgeoning stranger sent up a spike from within a roll of leaf, the spike marked by red edges. A flower? In the last few days it became apparent it wasn’t to be a single flower but a cluster of red blooms. Today the buds began to open and tonight the sun lit them wonderfully. We had evening fireworks at our back door.

Start and finish

Posted by Photonstopper on September 20, 2010
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Photo: First color of autumn trees stands brilliantly illuminated against dark, clouded sky. Photo by James Guilford.

First color of autumn trees stands brilliantly illuminated against dark, clouded sky.

I may not have the most beautiful or interesting commuter route to follow in my daily routine but it does have much to offer. This morning I was treated to trees, many of them with early fall color, brilliantly illuminated by morning sun against a dark, cloudy sky. I stopped in the outskirts of Stongsville to snap a few photos on my way to work. This evening, traveling home via the Cleveland Metropark’s Parkway, I caught a glimpse of a Great Egret I’ve been wanting to photograph. It seemed closer to the shore of Wallace Lake than normal. I swung into a parking space and hiked a short distance to the waters’ edge. My Canon PowerShot G11 is a terrific little camera but didn’t have enough telephoto power to capture the image I wanted but I got something. In fact, I noticed in the distance behind the big white bird, there was also a big gray bird… a Great Blue Heron. I moved closer but, each in its turn, the birds flew off before I could get in good range. Not bad: beautiful scenes at the start and finish!

Photo: Two birds fishing at Wallace Lake. Photo by James Guilford.

A Great Egret and a Great Blue Heron have neighboring fishing spots at waters' edge in Wallace Lake.

Fall is hard-set here

Posted by Photonstopper on October 31, 2009
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Autumn Sets In
Autumn Sets In

Finally, a good night's sleep! Between struggling with a cold, work worries, and noisy neighbors I've been severely sleep deprived for the better part of a week. Eight hours still wasn't enough to fully recover, but at least I woke rested. It had been a rainy and windy night and, as is natural this time of year, the world went from one robed in colorful leaves to gray gloomful skies stabbed by the dark, bare branches of trees. What a difference from one week ago! It looked like mid-November. There was the weekly shopping to be done so we headed out and completed that, then took a little trip west and paid an afternoon visit to the Rocky River Reservation of the Cleveland Metroparks. Walking in the woods and along the waters was invigorating and lovely. Some small gaps had opened in the overcast, allowing a few reassuring rays of sun through. Slow down and enjoy the season: fall is hard-set here.

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Best fall colors

Posted by Photonstopper on October 26, 2009
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Leaf Confetti
Leaf Confetti

The weekend of October 24 & 25 brought the peak of fall color to Northeastern Ohio. Saturday was mostly gray and windy sending many colorful leaves whirling and to the ground. Some trees now appear naked of the leafy covers they have carried since spring. It was a good day for errands and household checklists. Overnight the skies cleared and today dawned chilly and clear — a fine day for a fall color drive. Piling into the Insight we headed south.

Slightly past peak were the colors in North Central Ohio at Malabar Farm State Park. The entire area was gorgeous, nonetheless, decorating even the forest floor with a confetti-throw of leaves. We decided to follow a one-mile trail that headed uphill, through dense neighboring woods, for a loop back to the Farm. The trail had many wonderful sights to see and was fairly well marked until somewhat short of the half-way point. Seeing no trail blazes we continued on what appeared to be trampled leaves, began our turn back, and paralleled a road though still walking in damp leaf litter within the woods. In no danger of becoming lost we easily found our way back to the Farm's homestead. Then it was off on a cross-country trip over state roads (not freeways) towards home. The scenery was absolutely beautiful with groves of trees on low hills rising like islands out of a sea of brown soybean and corn fields. It was a fine rolling journey back under sunny skies.

It was a most excellent Sunday's sojourn experiencing the best fall colors.

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Another dose of aspirin

Posted by Photonstopper on October 22, 2009
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Yesterday (Wednesday) I stayed home from work. My cold had interrupted my sleep and drained my energy to the point where I couldn't do anything at all constructive even around the house. I just sat and napped all day. Sounds nice and restful but, well, it was a cold and I was fairly miserable. Oh, and it was one of those gorgeous fall days, too, wasted on me.

Stayed home today, too. Though much improved over yesterday, I still felt a little weak in the knees and had occasional coughs. If I feel up to it I may work on some photos later today or tonight but I can't count on that.

Today's a cloudy but golden autumn day. The wind is kicking up and swirling the leaves around. From the couch I can hear the weather changing.

I feel like such a wuss being decked by a little thing like a cold but there you are. Now, for lunch and another dose of aspirin!

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Beautiful day not entirely wasted

Posted by Photonstopper on October 21, 2009
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Rocky River Afternoon
Rocky River Afternoon

It's a shame when you're not feeling well and the day is absolutely beautiful; such days are often wasted on the sufferer. A head cold tightened its grip on me last night robbing me of long, quality rest and making the workday difficult to endure. The day wasn't a total waste, however. For several weeks I've been watching the light and the leaf colors changing along a stretch of the West Branch of the Rocky River I cross on my daily commute. Daily the view has become increasingly beautiful both by morning and evening light. Tonight was my first real opportunity to stop and shoot a few photos. I got several good ones but, if the weather holds, the views should only improve. I hope to stop a few more times before winter stomps its heavy foot down and the trees drop the last of their leaves. Above: The broad, shallow Rocky River flows along its shale banks and cliffs as it winds its way towards Lake Erie. The late day October sun falls upon the treetops while the waters lie in shade.

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Yellow leaf, red leaf

Posted by Photonstopper on October 1, 2009
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Red Leaf
Red Leaf

Please pardon this "group reply" to the kind comments from fellow Voxers: I spotted the leaf (previous post) in our parking lot yesterday –all those perfect beads of rain, the leaf so dramatically floating over black asphalt– and photographed it. I was so compelled to capture the image after glancing at that leaf that I walked through the rain to my office, retrieved my camera, and went back out in the damp to shoot. It felt like a sad image. This morning I learned my mother had a very serious medical problem; I posted the picture because it illustrated how I was feeling. It is beautiful and it is sad. Mom, by the way, though hospitalized, is doing very well and is constantly on my mind. Spike, after I shot the faded yellow leaf I walked about 20 feet over to a tree and photographed a red leaf wet by the same rains. Not really done for you but, what the heck!

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