Capturing autumn

part 1: leaves and light 

Going out with my dogs a couple of times a day makes me intensely aware of the changing seasons, the cycles of growth and decay.

Last week i tried to capture the first signs of autumn, the scattered dry dead leaves on the flat charcoal colored asphalt and the interplay of autumn light and shadows

Here are four different captures

These images are mainly about the asphalt and the leaves and the light, there is no real focus and almost no depth, the main vibe is 'scattered'.

Using the portrait-orientation adds a bit more depth and color and perspective to the main theme of the scattered leaves

By tilting my iPhone upwards i have added more color, depth and focus to the image. Horizontal, vertical and diagonal lines become visible and add tension and contrast.

The first image has been divided into two large triangles, one green, one charcoal. 

I really like the triangle the fallen tree creates on the left side of the second image and the vanishing point created by the path.

Part 2: the golden color of hay

When the hay is being harvested you truly know that autumn is on its way. The late afternoon sun shines its beautiful golden light on the mowed land and the rolling haystacks. A sight for sore eyes....

Here are four different attempts at capturing these moments

I first captured the golden colors and lines of the hay against the autumn green and brown of the grass and trees, but decided to move closer to the haystacks until they took up most of the image space.

I like the way my dark shadow is covering the light colored hay and the way the curvey top of the group of haystacks is duplicated by the trees and shrubbery in the background.

I changed my position and shot the haystack from another angle, providing more contrast between the haystack in front and the ones further back. The tops of the haystacks form a straight line from this angle, parallel with the horizon in the back of the image.

The same goes for the solitary haystack in the second image, its top is parallel to the horizon.

I really like the diagonal lines in the mowed grass on which the haystack is resting.

For me this image best captures the autumn. The haystack is the main focus, it is on the left side of the image, the shadow on its right side adds a beautiful contrast and i absolutely love the way the shadow kind of rolls out of the haystack diagonally to the right (a bit like a roll of sellotape) 
The diagonal lines are accentuated by the colors shifting from the golden brown of the haystack to different yellow and green shades.
The fence of the golf course in the back, the tall trees in the right top corner  and the light blue gradients in the sky give the image a wonderful balance.