GRABBING AUTUMN BY THE TAIL

I joined some friends for lunch at the local golf course. 

This view of Mt. Si from that place is different from

our front-window view:

What a day it was!

After lunch, I checked out a close-by waterway.

I was all alone, relishing the freshness of what was our last sunny day.

Here, I was leaning right over the pond to catch the reflections:

Ducks' wakes put a nap to the water's surface, but I like the rippled look of this reflection:

This is not great photography, but to me it represents all that is exciting about

this season. Wild things at leisure, brilliant colors, still waters, and (what one can't get from a photograph)  most importantly: the feel and smell of the air in a completely private place. 

I think I am going to have to have a talk with my new Fuji.  It gives back colors that are so blatant it looks as 

though I have "duded them up".  I do not like an artificial approach!

On the other hand, Fuji is right on, because this is what I saw with

my eyes, so I will be grateful.  There are other weaknesses with the camera, but they are mine, not Fuji's.

Again, from the golf course:

This may be it for autumn ramblings, as the wind and rain storms have started in earnest.

We even have our first "winter storm watch" for tonight.

RAMBLE TO RATTLESNAKE LAKE

 I keep wondering how long the mild weather will hold off. 

Then, a couple of mornings ago, the dawn was foggy.

I rushed up to Rattlesnake Lake, hoping to see it muffed in fog.

It was not, but the weather changed several times while I was there!

Raining:

A sun break on Rattlesnake Ledge:

The sun turned the water very green:

Suddenly I heard a surprising sound. Since I was totally alone at the lake, 

it frightened me a little at first.

Right next to me, several robins jumped right in to have

a community bath.  But the first one was so puffed up that he didn't even resemble a robin.

I waited for the water to recover from the riotous bathing

at the very same spot:

After the rain and sun, the water turned sort of aqua:

ALMOST GOT AWAY FROM ME!

When I think of the ultimate in autumn tree colors, I think of the Northeast and upper Midwest , not really about this part of our country.  We have too many evergreens.

However, what we DO have are the same vibrant colors; they are just isolated from each other.

I always show our personal view of Mt. Si, but this is the first time I have pointed my camera across the pastures behind us, in the exact opposite direction:

Down the trail a bit:

Every autumn I return to the very same spot on Railroad Avenue, not far from where we live.

These grand old beauties put on a show year after year, and I can't resist recording it, even though I have multiple shots from the same vantage point.

I guess it is a rite of the season for me:

And so is walking on down to the railroad museum cars:

Same 'ole/same 'ole every year.

But I don't ever have the "same 'ole" feeling.

I LOVE making photos of this place.

I can hardly believe the intensity of the color taken by my new Fuji.

I am strictly a no-enhancement photographer, and I am almost embarrassed 

by the shock of orange in these photos.  But, that is what was there,

and that is what Fuji presented back to me:

I visited the railroad station area during a rainfall,

and I nearly stepped on this little scene when I got out of the car;

I thought it looked as though the leaves were preserved in plastic:

FRUSTRATED FALL FINDER

Last week I was sure Autumn was simply going to dry up and blow away.

We had very little leaf color; due, I am sure, to the record length of time here without any rain, and with higher than average temperatures.

So, before  the season faded - literally - away, I went to a  couple of local nurseries 

to at least find colorful pumpkin displays to photograph.

On the way.  I love autumn color even more when it is paired with weathered wood:

I was very disappointed.  These 3 photos were all I could make.

The patches and usual display places were bare:

But I do like to try to make a pumpkin photo with mixed textures in vignette when I can.

Here I also moved around in order to try to get some shadows.

Again, color and old wood. Mt. Si makes the backdrop:

On to the next nursery in which I am usually never disappointed.  

This time it was closed that day!

I had to content myself with what was around the perimeter of the field "parking lot":

While we lived in Hungary, we learned a lot about sunflowers.  There they are grown in immense fields all over the countryside, as far as one can see in every direction.  They are left in the fields until they are completely black.  They are harvested in that form, the easier to extract the seeds and then the oil.  Hungarians use a LOT of oil in their cooking.

These are not that far gone, but they reminded me of Magyar sunflowers:

Down the road:

The Northwest might be the only place where fall color can grow from a farm fence post:

GOING COASTAL Part 9: Westport in Reflection

 One thing that is new since I have been there is an extensive "Fisherman's Walk".

This is a narrow walkway built across the bay which connects many of the piers at the marina.

By strolling along this, Pat and I were able to get closer to more boats. Since this was in the afternoon, most of  the fleet had returned for the day, which made us quite happy.

We were excited to look down and see all the colors and patterns reflected next to the boats, which identified the boats almost as clearly and individualistically as looking at their hulls resting on the water.

I am always thrilled with abstracts.

 Note the accents of orange too:

This one is just plain black and white, but I like the fine lines:

 I like that the rust shows up as perpendicular lines:

Abstract for sure:

More identifiable as a boat: 

This one has a red stack:

Very identifiable, but with nice lines:

And a couple of geometric reflections:

Our little cottage just at sunset:

At last, the final posting: