There are so many things we love in the Fall, and just to name a few:
4 o’clock Colors...Cameras are phenomenal when it comes to capturing the welcome fall change in season…well, any season, and any moment, for that matter! The skill is in choosing the right place and the right time to take your best shot. Anticipation and access become friends. Just a matter of easy alignment, right? “When the moon is in the seventh house, and Jupiter aligns with Mars, then peace will guide the planets, and love will steer the stars...” (Aquarius)
Our favorite color is October, so on a crisp October day we took a day trip to Stone Mountain, Ga , choosing a 3:30 pm arrival to stage and capture a 4:00 pm image. We set up beside the tranquil, reflective lake, nestled in brilliant fall colors, with the sunset toasting our backs. Yep, we mixed in the best ingredients for this perfect shot of afternoon fall color…and those leaves you see in the foreground of the picture were frosting on our cake! Don’t ya love it? Every time we look at this image, it gives us the feeling of being there. We aptly named it “4 O’clock Colors”.
In fact, this colorful reflection image turned out so well, we almost hung it upside down once or twice. Every fall, framed and hung in our living room, we relive the moment and smile, knowing we will plan a return trip with cameras in hand, ready to take on the seasonal challenge of capturing another impressive fall image.
Next day, on the other side of the lake… Looking up, we (well, specifically Bill) tripped over a few foreground roots. Rookie mistake, but perfect situation to use our photojournalist survival school training…click, tuck and roll. Sacrificing a body or two can save expensive camera equipment. Even better, Bill quickly popped up with another beautiful image that makes you feel like you are there. Great trip!
Stir and repeat; if it feels right and we are happy, we keep doing it! Pictures capture our moments, complement each season, fill our living room walls, and double our pleasure.
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Grow, Develop, Then Fly... Onward and upward! The fall, annual “Balloons Over Anderson” was everything it was pumped up to be when we first visited the event a few years ago. All different shapes, sizes and colors of balloons were on display. Fascinated, we lined up our next shot, and then waited for the countdown in expectation of a glorious launch. We had plenty of time to just sit back and relax…in fact, our “lunch before launch” gave us a much needed lift.
Hot air balloons attract positive attention. Recently, this festival began partnering with the Cancer Society of Anderson, renaming the annual event "Hot Air Affair: Rising Above Cancer – Anderson, SC”. Great place for the whole family. You can bring a picnic, your camera, and a friend. Remember to also bring great weather with you, as it takes specific weather conditions for the balloons to launch. You may even be able to catch a tethered ride if you’re up to it. And even better, it’s for a very worthy cause.
In retrospect, we realized balloons and people share a few other things in common. Balloons arrive wrapped up in a bundle and become functional when filled with life-giving air. In a fleeting time, they grow into their fully inflated shape. Then ready to launch, the cord is cut, and each balloon independently flies off on its own.
Sound familiar? Babies also arrive in a bundle, and then quickly take their first breath of air. After a short span of time spent shaping up (some take longer, and some end up inflated with more hot air than others) they are ready to go out in style “Gonna’ fly now. Getting’ high now.” (Rocky Theme, by Bill Conti).
Stages of growth are interesting subjects to observe and photograph, whether it be balloons, flowers, tall building construction, or everyday people of all ages. We’re still trying to locate Peter Pan for a photo shoot. Wonder if this fall is the season we will locate him—maybe we can capture signs of growth. As for us, we refuse to grow up!
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Clear Path... So how do you like your fall colors: over easy, hard to find, or scrambled? No matter your menu choice, it is always better viewing with a friend. Plan a day trip or a romantic weekend, where you can lose yourselves in color and splendor… and of course, always, always take a picture or two!
Ever get lost in the middle of a kaleidoscope? On one fall day trip to Stone Mountain, Ga, we were so busy shooting a gazillion colorful fall trees in their full glory, that we totally forgot to drop breadcrumbs. Why? Those gorgeous leaves once they hit the ground became a crunchy and near perfect camouflage, obscuring the path leading out of the woods…oops!.
Change in priorities: first take the shot (most important!), then work on finding civilization. Moss grows on the north side of trees, right? With a bit of meandering (think we found a fall maze or two built by mother nature!) we finally made it out before dark…whew!
The takeaway: When looking at the trees, keep sight of the forest—or don’t miss the forest for the trees? And as good hunter-gatherers (such as we two photojournalists), we always find our way home, ready to tell another photo story and share our colorful bounty of images. When the leaves fall off, we’ll encourage them to try again next year.
InOurView.com offers a collection of blog articles, original photography and original folk pop songs, inspired by everyday life from our positive view. Positively Speaking, “Sheri & Bill...Story Tellers in Word, Image and Song.”
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