Fall Ritual – Leaf me Alone!

Glorious Oak, with branches on fire

We’ve oohed and aahed,

Maple leaves, as golden as the sun

and had our fun.

Leaf pile fun

We’ve raked and piled,

Billions and billions of leaves!

and blown off the  roof.

Oh, please don't try to walk with that electric cord running between your feet!

Now, it’s time to LEAVE, leaves!

Bagged

Cedar Lake Camp, Mi – Photographs

Michigan woods in autumn

I love photo excursions! When I go home to Ann Arbor, there is usually time set aside for one, or more. The destination is left up to my brother, because he is so stupendously good at it. Last January he took us to Barton Pond, and you have only to look at the pictures to see how perfect a winter photo trip that was. John picks the spots, my husband is always happy to carry my equipment, and they both like to go on these excursions, even though neither is a photographer. How lucky am I?

My husband has always been a cooperative equipment carrier. I remember the morning he acquired his official photographer’s assistant title. As he was leaving to go to work that day, I remembered that I had bought a new camera bag, and I said, “Oh wait, I bought you  a new camera bag. Try it, and see if it’s comfortable.” He stood in the kitchen in his suit and tie while I draped the bag over his shoulder, then mumbled that he was the poor man’s Tensing Norgay. I had no idea what he had just said, in fact, I thought he was suddenly speaking in tongues. I doubt there was a handful of people in the world besides my  husband, with his trivia stuffed brain, who knew that Tensing Norgay was Sir Edmund Hilary’s Sherpa porter on the climb to the top of Mr. Everest. Tensing is now my husband’s nickname and his official title  when he accompanies me on photo trips, schlepping fifty pounds of cameras, lenses, flashes, tripods, Etc. Etc.

Tensing was right there with his camera bag for the perfect October photo trip when John took us to picturesque Chelsea, Michigan, a town of about 5,000 people, home of Jiffy Mix, the Purple Rose Theater, very cool shops, and some great places to eat, like the Common Grille, where we had lunch. Chelsea is also located in the vast Waterloo Recreation Area, next to Cedar Lake, where there is a summer camp run by the State of Michigan, designed to introduce kids to Michigan’s natural world, and to instill in them a love of and respect for the outdoors. The camp was the destination of the day’s photography excursion.

Maples among the White Pines

We parked at the entrance to Cedar Lake Camp and walked about a quarter of a mile, enjoying everything that is wonderful about a Michigan fall: huge trees full of outrageous fall colors mixed with soft green White Pines that cushioned the paths with their fallen needles, a small cottage lined lake, cattails and milkweed gone to seed, and the haunting call of a Loon in the distance.  The camp was closed up, and very quiet, the kind of quiet that children learning to love nature should experience. The sound of traffic and children laughing has its place, but, oh, the miraculous sound of leaves fluttering to the ground, and the breeze rattling the dried branches of Elderberry bushes! There was a sense of anticipation throughout the camp of next season’s fun to come, rather than sadness that last summer was now gone forever.

Path paved with pine needles

Our path was strewn with pretty baubles.

Cabin in the woods 1.

Cabin in the woods 2.

Camp steps

Camp bench

Manhole cover with the year the camp was built.

The path through the camp led to Cedar Lake.

Swim at your own risk.

The canoes are tucked in until next season.

The picnic grounds are closed.

It would be a great time to be in these seats above a roaring campfire, looking out over the lake.

By the Old Mill Stream

 

By the Old Mill Stream ©3DogStudio

‘By the Old Mill Stream’, was taken in SE Michigan, behind the Dexter Cider Mill, where the tree overhangs the Huron River.  The Cider Mill is a must visit spot in October; a photographer’s heaven, and a treat for all the senses with wonderful aromas and tastes.

I used Corel Painter Oil brushes on ‘By the Old Mill Stream.’  It received an Editors Choice Award in the Monthly Contest at Better Photo.  Archival prints in various sizes and note cards are available in Three Dog Studio Gallery.

Michigan Maple

 

MICHIGAN MAPLE - with Painter effects © 3DogStudio

This beautiful late November day inspires me to pull out a photograph I took in Ann Arbor, Michigan and subsequently worked on in Corel Painter. This Maple is special to me because I can remember how small it was when it was planted in my Mother’s backyard. It is an appropriate image at a time when many of us are raking beautiful red and yellow leaves off our lawns to tidy up before Thanksgiving next week. 

I tried several Painter brushes before deciding the Palette Knife brushes were best in rendering the riot of color and the pointed outlines of the leaves.  The ability in Painter to turn the canvas around as you work came in very handy.

Michigan Maple was submitted to the Better Photo Monthly Contest where it placed as a Finalist.   Archival prints in various sizes are available in Three Dog Studio Gallery. Note cards are also available in the gallery.

Inspired by the Rainman

 

Leaves on my Patio ©3DogStudio

I haven’t taken any photographs, except for Halloween, since August.  So, what’s with that?  

I love my amazing Canon DSLR, but I have to admit it’s heavy, it has a lot of parts, and my family is now conditioned to hide or make faces at the very sight of it in my hand.  An attitude adjustment is in order, and I think I know what needs to be done.

Last week I purchased a tiny little camera I can carry in my pocket.  There are very few settings or adjustments, no lenses to change, no tripod to set up, no extensive post-processing. It’s just to record everyday moments from my perspective, and to have fun doing it, like Dustin Hoffmann’s character in Rainman.  His skewed, out-of-focus photos were a metaphor for the way the world appeared to him. Clearly, though, he was happy while he was photographing, and I can relate to that.  My hope is that this accessible little camera will get me back into a regular shooting habit, and be less intimidating for the people I want to photograph the most.

I took some random shots today, evidence of fall in my yard, while I was learning to use the new camera. There’s nothing here I would send in to a contest, but I haven’t been shooting anything at all with my fancy DSLR, let alone any prize winners

Oak Leaf Hydrangea ©3DogStudio

 

The Oak Leaf Hydrangea pleases in every season.  I’ve already saved and dried the summer flowers, now I can enjoy the colors of fall.  The best thing about the Hydrangea is it’s easy-going personality.  It doesn’t mind being too wet, or too dry, or demand special food.  It just enjoys life as it comes, and it’s very photogenic.

There is a one touch macro button on my new camera. It’s a no-brainer to work, and the colors are true.

 

Lamb's Ears ©3DogStudio

 

 

 

Lamb’s Ear leaves stay green through the winter, but they don’t have the fuzzy white summer coating that the children (and I) love to touch.

I’m pleased with the sharp focus I’m getting.

 

Suspended Teacup ©3DogStudio

 

I didn’t create an optical illusion, or add a layer in Photoshop.  It’s really a teacup on a rod pushed into the ground.   I put it under the eaves of the house to keep rainwater from collecting and becoming a mosquito breeding ground.

The little cup has always looked so cheerful on its perch above the ground cover.  Now it looks like it should be retired.  Fall does that to things.

House of Wasps ©3DogStudio

 

 

 

 

 

The dead leaves hanging on the grillwork aren’t signs of fall, but where I had to end a summer pruning job by jumping off the ladder when two wasps flew under my t-shirt!  It seems their home is right beside the grillwork flower on the right hand side, and they objected to me renovating their property!  Do wasps migrate?  If so, I might go out and finish the job.

I’m getting a good feel for the camera.  No fancy footwork allowed, but I wanted a p-o-i-n-t-a-n-d-s-h-o-o-t camera, did I not?

 

Orange Leaves, Blue Skies ©3DogStudio

 

I love the bright, complementary colors of fall: orange and blue, red and green.

The camera did a nice job with a backlit scene, even though I subsequently gave the image a boost in Photoshop.  I lied when I said I didn’t want to bother with a lot of post-processing.  That’s really my favorite part of digital photography!  I love it all.  I must be back in business.  That little pocket camera was a great idea.