21 May 2012

Autumn in the valley


At this time of year the last half hour of sun fills the valley with the kind of light unique among the seasons. How can something that looks so warm feel so cold —or something that looks so cold feel so warm? Like my mixed emotions about autumn, I suppose.

These are the sycamores at the edge of the terrace in front of my place.


[20 May 2012, Panasonic Lumix GH1, 100–300 mm at 300 mm, ISO 800, 1/400 at f8]

All content © 2012 Pete McGregor

9 comments:

Ruahines said...

Kia ora Pete,
Ataahua! Keep that warm down jacket handy e hoa.
Cheers,
Robb

Zhoen said...

Not the kind of autumn colors I grew up with, but just as stunning. Even to these eyes, under the strangeness is a rightness. I want more ice blue in my falls from now on.

Barbara Butler McCoy said...

I'm not sure you'd believe all the WOWs this photo prompts in my mind ;0 Absolutely, totally, rocking' excellent. As to the weather, we're heading into my least favorite season, sultry, sticky, summer ... sigh.

leonie said...

i can almost hear the noise those leaves are making as the wind moves through them :)

Relatively Retiring said...

How lovely, and how strange. Nothing like the russets and ochres of an English autumn.
There are a few winter days of the year when for an hour at mid-day light floods through the ancient windows of the church we lived beside. A unique light-show like yours.

Lisa said...

I exclaimed out loud about this picture - Pete, it is perfectly beautiful. Exquisite. It evokes all the haze and colour and temperature shifts of Fall. My very favourite time of the year.

Lisa

pohanginapete said...

Kia ora Robb — I live in a down jacket much of the year!

Zhoen, this is a particular type of light characteristic of autumn in this part of the world, but we also have the kinds of colours more typical of the season (admittedly not as spectacular as the New England displays, though).

Barbara, I'll trade some of our cold for some of your summer, even if it is sultry and sticky ;^)

Leonie, autumn's advanced to the point where a good strong wind would transform the place — the leaves are hanging on and looking beautiful, but it wouldn't take much to strip them from the trees.

RR, we do have the more usual colours too — they're all from exotic trees. New Zealand has only one truly deciduous native tree (? maybe a couple?).
    I love that idea of light reaching particular places only at certain times of year.

Thank you Lisa :^) Autumn in the valley can be very beautiful, but I don't enjoy the cold!

Anonymous said...

Those few yellow leaves clinging make me COLD! That sky reminds me of forest fires. Hot and cold..... Mixed feelings. -Maureen

pohanginapete said...

Maureen, that's exactly it.