Amid the tall trees
I took the new toy to one of my favourite places yesterday. I didn't expect there to be a lot of autumn colour yet; it's still far too mild. I just wanted to have a play.
And autumn colour there was not. If you're planning any trips to darkest Gloucestershire to see the pretty trees, either wait a couple of weeks or be happy with pretty green trees.
I wasn't about to complain. There's always plenty to do and see if you don't mind getting off the path and take a good look around.
This little chap to the left. No idea what he was, other than greyish and tiny. And camera shy. This was the best I managed (it's a crop from a much larger frame). Not bad for hand-held. If you look at it, you'll see quite a lot of digital noise, which is one of those things you just have to put up with. When someone comes out with the digital version of Ektar 25, let me know.
Even without the colour, you can tell it's getting on for autumn. Or at least, very late in the season of fruits and mellow mistfulness. I was standing just here, minding my own business and suddenly became aware of a series of click... click... plop noises around me. So I looked down.
It comes to something when the trees start pooping on you. (The pic on the left is reduced, the one on the right is a crop of some detail. Not as sharp as I'd like, but in practice, I doubt it's going to matter all that much.
And you know what? If you look closely enough, and in the right places, there is some autumn colour after all.
Back lighting is where it's at, folks, and getting under things. Too many people stand backs to the sun, hold the camera at eye-level, and shoot down. I guess it keeps your knees tidy.
You know what, with a couple of frosty nights and a couple of weeks, it could all be rather good this year.