Awash in Color

Around every corner, behind every shrub, waits another feast for the eyes. Sunlight peeks through the trees and touches the leaves, announcing their presence in shades of red, orange, yellow, and green.

Early Autumn, Late Afternoon

As the day draws to a close and the sun angle approaches the horizon, a gentle light filters through the changing leaves, flooding some with light while others remain quietly in the shadows.

Scenes like these are repeated all around. Gentle breezes bend and creak the branches. Distant dogs bark and coyotes howl; crows and ravens call. Spider webs abound. Sunset passes and a full moon rises in the distance casting its eerie glow upon the scene.

It's not hard to imagine how earlier peoples living in environments like these conjured mythologies of spirits, ghosts, and demons. Today we are more enlightened and can see these scenes for their tranquil beauty without the need for such fanciful explanations. But somewhere deep down in our beings lives a memory of earlier times and we may be forgiven if occasionally we succumb, however briefly, to a sense of mysticism in the air.

Foggy Early-Autumn Morning

Autumn gently announces its presence this foggy morning, leaves tinged with color, a preview of things to come.

Autumn in the Air

Autumn is in the air. Overnight low temps dipped into the upper 40s; chilly but not yet cold enough to freeze water. The resulting dew on the leaves coupled with the low-angle sunlight streaming through the crystal clear morning sky provided the elements for this pretty picture. The warm sunshine on my face in the chill morning air awakens my mind as no cup of coffee ever could; the physical effort of the walk awakens my body to the coming day.

'Shrooms for the First Day of Autumn

Squirrel's eye view. Yes, it's that big.


The large one on top is about 8 or 9 inches across.

Waxing Gibbous Moon

A little clearer than the Waning Gibbous Moon shot from August. This moon announces the end of Summer 2007.

Caterpillar

Milkshake

Late Summer Sunset

Smoke

Smoke-filled San Joaquin Valley Sierra Nevada Foothills.

Moonlight Fire

Moonlight Fire Aerial View from 37,000' MSL.
September 4, 2007, 8:26AM-PDT

Location: Plumas National Forest, northeast of Greenville, CA.

Incident Information [California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection]

Glad About the Sunlight

Gladiolus in the intense sunlight.


Another one up close.