An Autumn Outing

[Mike Buckley]

My wife and I spent Sunday on Skyline Drive, which is located in Virginia's Shenandoah National Park. Brilliant autumn color was not pervasive (it never is like the fall foliage seen in New England) and we were there mostly during midday light. So, I mounted my 300mm lens onto my 1.5 crop-factor camera and looked for appealing details. They included colorful leaves, people and cars that would provide a sense of the stuff that we enjoyed.

Use of my backup Nikon D80 camera (because my D7000 is at the repair shop) reminded me that if I hadn't had a particular need for better high-ISO capability, I would still be using the D80.


Photo 1
As I captured this photo, the scene reminded me of The Last Leaf, a short story by O. Henry. As I look at the photo, I'm reminded that this is where my USD $150 polarizer unknowingly fell out of my pocket. Fortunately, I realized what had happened before we left the pullout and retrieved it from the deep grass in perfect condition.




Photo 2
Unlike in New England, red leaves are not prominent in Virginia. Even so, the occasional splash of brilliant color can be breathtaking.




Photo 3
I always enjoy watching the children. Despite appearances, this young girl did not know I was taking her picture. She seems more concerned that her hands have disappeared.




Photo 4
Every photographer that enjoys post-processing as much as I do appreciates a good S-curve regardless of the context.




Photo 5
I've seen books and Internet pieces that provide advice to put the camera away two hours before and after noon. This shot was made at noon, an ideal time to photograph a picnic lunch amid autumn color.




Photo 6
I'll end this series with a splash of intense yellow and orange leaves, though the image would be nothing for me without the the compositional element provided by the brown branches. By the way, I did not increase the saturation during post-processing but I did considerably decrease the brightness.

[AB26]

Beautiful. No 2 does it for me and the shot of the girl proves how naturally beautiful people can be when they are "unaware" of the camera, though she is looking straight at you.

[Digital]

Beautiful series Mike. Back in the 70's and early 80's I spent a lot of time in the Shenandoah Valley. It is a beautiful part of Virginia. My wife, at that time, traveled a lot of miles on I-81 between Kentucky, and Pennsylvania.


Bruce

[ajsmith]

Nice pics. I think I like the comp and colors in #2. I am still waiting for the trees to turn here in Boston... still spotty colors... maybe by next weekend.

[Wavelength]

Nice illustrated narration
Regards

[davidedric]

Hi Mike,

Great series, but number one is the one for me. It's both the vision and the execution which I appreciate.

Incidentally, we are heading for a vacation in your part of the world in late May / early June next year. Flying in and out of DC with a little over two weeks to spend. Obviously no autumn colours, but hoping for some good opportunities

Dave

[Manfred M]

It's nice to see that you are in the middle of the autumn colours, Mike.

Things are looking pretty bare up this way once you get out of the city, and even the trees in town are looking so-so. It has to be my favourite time of year to get out and to shoot; it's a pitty that it doesn't last more than a few weeks.

[Karm Redland]

Hi Mike. I like image two's composition and processing. It has a non photographic feel that I like.

karm

[Mike Buckley]

Thank you to everyone!

[Brownbear]

Amazing detail in that leaf! But my favourite is the image of the little girl... truly magical!

[pasusan]

Hi Mike - we've been doing some autumn outings also -- beautiful time of year. Thanks for sharing your shots. I especially like photo 6 - the colors are perfect and I agree about the branches. (Also enjoyed your commentary.)

[terrib]

Very nice series, Mike. I like the last one the best. I agree with you on the structure of the trees making the photo. It's beautiful.

[jprzybyla]

Nice series Mike... having lived in New England for 58 years I know of what you speak regarding the fall color.

[deetheturk]

Lovely set of images Mike,thanks for sharing.

[Mike Buckley]

It's always interesting to me to see that various people prefer different photos selected from among a series. Thank you to everyone for your detailed comments!

having lived in New England for 58 years I know of what you speak regarding the fall color.

Your mother taught you not to brag, Joe. Seriously, my wife and I took a fall foliage trip to New England a couple years ago. We timed it wrong despite that we followed all the information on the Internet and even the locals said that it was a bad year for color. We're very close to planning another try at it next year. I've seen fall in New England but my wife hasn't and neither one of us has photographed it.