Autumn Photography

Autumn Colors, copyright 2014, Stephanie Maatta Smith

Go, sit upon the lofty hill,
And turn your eyes around,
Where waving woods and waters wild
Do hymn an autumn sound.

The summer sun is faint on them --
The summer flowers depart –

From Elizabeth Barrett Browning, “The Autumn”

I love making images in the autumn, especially during the month of October. The light is beautiful and colors are spectacular. The crisp, fall air (at least in the north and upper Midwest) adds something magical to outdoor photography. With less humidity, the sky seems clean and bright.

Autumn Pond, copyright 2014, Stephanie Maatta Smith

In the Midwest where the weather is brisk, autumn is not a subtle season. The color of the leaves cast a bright golden orange glow before they drop to the ground, curling upon themselves and blowing away. Decorations of mums and pumpkins appear on doorsteps and porches.

Native Grasses & Wildflowers, copyright 2015, Stephanie Maatta Smith

In central Florida, however, autumn slips in quietly and less obviously. Air is lighter, and wildflowers begin blooming in earnest. Wild grasses we hardly notice in summer turn a brilliant pink, and migrating birds begin to appear from the north.

For me, it’s time to pull on the hiking shoes, grab the camera and binoculars, and head to a state park or preserve to capture some of the autumn offerings. We put in 5 miles on hiking trails last week, and plan to put on 5 more miles this coming weekend.