Autumn is happening
Vibrant golden leaves of a maple tree cast shadows over a leaf-strewn forest path.
Something I find really motivating about nature photography is that I get to take some time to document, notice, and feel each season. When I’m on walks looking for interesting subjects, I’m always struck by the small signs of what time of year it is. The longer I live in the same place, the more precious this becomes and the more I value the cycle. My memory of this place during this season last year and the season that just passed are now a part of my meditation as I practice seeing the world. Here are a few natural wonders I’m seeing this autumn.
The last time we walked in the woods, we came across two skeletons, one seemed to be a deer and the other was probably a mink. Bones are so evocative to me and I always take a moment to think of mortality and life cycles that I’m a part of too.
A spinal bone from a deer looking abstract on the forest floor.
The skull and spine of a small mammal skull among moss, leaves and pine needles.
A very spooky-looking white fungus is growing out of shadowy moss.
The black, white, and orange feather of a flicker rests on a mossy bed.
When the rains start, I get so excited to look for mushrooms and fungus. I don’t gather or eat them, but just catching sight of them and looking at their amazing forms from all angles is a thrill. And coming across a feather always makes me stop. They’re like small treasures in the forest. Flicker feathers are a special treat because each one is so unique and the colours are so dramatic.
I don’t suppose I have the right lens for really capturing the moon, but I can’t stop wanting to photograph it, just a light out there, another reminder of cycles turning.
A half moon in a washed out blue sky
An oak tree with moss and lichen adding colour to its gnarled bark and branches.
Silhouetted leaves along the shoreline with the moon peeking between the sparse branches.
Orange fall maple leaves stand out against a rainy, foggy backdrop of green trees fading into the distance.
For a post all about autumn, I know this was a little sparse on the fall leaf photos, but I did see this gorgeous oak tree covered in lichen and moss. And the orange maple above is something I can actually see right out my window as I work. That tree feels like a companion.
If you like these images, you can follow my nature photography on Instagram.
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