Fall and Water

“What keeps my heart awake is colorful silence.”
― Claude Monet

This past weekend was the weekend that I finally saw the types of colors that I had been seeking and always associate with fall.  Although on land, things looked vibrant, all really came to life as soon as I made my way to the water.  Water has a way of taking something beautiful and magnifying its magnificence.

I have found that I do my best photography when I am in a “quiet place”.  It is not always easy to get into that quiet place with others.  I am thankful to be able to get into that comfortable, quiet place while with my husband Randy, my son, Jeremy (when I get the chance now that he is grown), and with some of my close friends.

Sunday morning, two of my dear friends in photography and I spent some quiet time exploring fall color on a small lake.  This is not the first time we have photographed together.  Although we were in close physical proximity, we were each in our quiet places as we took in the splendor of the explosion of color before us and worked to interpret it in our own ways.

I first began by photographing the scenes as they presented themselves to me.

These blue chairs certainly looked like a place where I could enjoy the scenery.

It is important to take in one scene in a variety of compositions and orientations, so I make sure to take a vertical as well as a horizontal of this scene.

I am always so drawn to reflections, so I made sure I paid attention to the colors as they danced across the moving water.

The trees, while stunning on the shoreline, took on a magnificent quality as they rippled through the water.

Each new location provided a new look at the water.

Whenever you are photographing, it is always important to look behind you.  If I had not, I would not have seen this paddler, also enjoying the early morning light on the lake.

The day ended in a very quiet place, where my friends and I found drifting, colorful images.

I am so thankful for the miraculous color and beauty of nature, the love of a supportive husband who takes me to so many places to photograph things that don’t interest him as much, and the peaceful feeling I have while photographing with others who “get” me and enjoy the beauty just as much or more than I do.  Life is truly a gift!