Almost as if someone flipped a switch on the Autumnal Equinox, I have felt the days growing noticeably shorter, and a certain feeling of Fall in the evening air. It hasn’t necessarily been cooler; the thermometer at my house read 114ºF two days ago. Despite that, the signs of shorter days, cooler nights, grey skies, and rainy days are here.
Although its somewhat paradoxical, Autumn is my favorite season. Traditionally, in literature, it has been viewed with some melancholy: winter is on the way, summer is over, and people turn inward. However, I also view it as a time of new beginnings. I take advantage of the cooler days to scout new photographic locations, rainy days provide a chance make new prints to replace old ones in my house, and I really do love the invigorating feel of a cold Autumn day in the mountains.
Although I put time into new beginnings, so to speak, I also enjoy this time of year because I can turn my thoughts inward, taking on new photographic projects that I may not otherwise make time for, or catching up on the stack of books that’s built up on my bedside table.
What changes does this time of year bring in your life? Does Autumn evoke any special feelings or memories that influence your photography or work?
Autumnal Moonrise, November 2009
Cool post, Greg. What I like about autumn is the crisp air in the mornings. It just feels different than other seasons. I don’t know if that is actually the case or just my imagination.
Autumn is magic. Cool and crisp. The slant to the light is marvelous. The humidity is low and the air is fresh. Sadly it is too short.
Thanks guys, for your comments! Wesley, I can definitely agree that it doesn’t last long enough!
How does one capture the sound of autumn? Of course I’m infatuated with the rich golden light, deep blue sky, and soft morning mists, but it’s the sounds of fall that are my true love. Leaves crunching under foot, migrating geese honking as they pass by, and cottonwoods fencing each other in the wind with their thin wooden foils.