The seasonal shift first becomes apparent in the change of light. As the sun rises later and lower in the sky, it filters through the trees with a softer, more golden cast than in the summer months. The wind starts to come out of the north more frequently, bringing down cool arctic air and flocks of migrating geese and gulls.
In the garden, the cooler nights slow down the ripening of the last tomatoes on the vine. The bumble bees disappear from the hyssop, off to their winter burrows, and the honeybees venture out to the few remaining blooms on only the warmest afternoons. Coneflower and black-eyed-susan drop their petals revealing brittle crowns of seeds that will be winter food for the birds.
“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.”
― Albert Camus
Along a fence shared with a neighbour, a rambling Virginia Creeper vine has produced countless clusters of dark purple berries on red stems. The leaves, so green and prolific on their reaching tendrils all spring and summer, suddenly turn yellow, orange and red at the first whisper of frost.
In my little sunroom studio I found these particular leaves to be a lovely autumnal still life subject. Held in a simple green glass vase and illuminated by a strong, warm shaft of sunlight, the colourful details and structural textures in each part of the leaf become almost sculptural. A quiet tribute to the beautiful natural transformations that mark this transitional time of year.
As one views this fall photograph, secondary details begin to emerge. Water drops on the inside of the frosted glass vase, the soft grain of the wood table top, the unusual sunlit shapes and shadows caught cast by the leaf into the water below. Evoking a sense of quiet observation, the colours and contrasting textures are captivating even as we know them to be fleeting, just like the autumn season.
This photograph is among a handful I have selected for my inaugural limited edition print release. To celebrate the colours and natural beauty of summer and fall, this batch includes traditional botanical still life images and some more abstract floral artworks. These are small editions, some offered in a couple of sizes and priced to be affordable for even the most casual art collector.
