Leaves and sweet waters
Present currents cannot dislodge these leaves
The branch may have floated to this spot when the water was higher
Some of my favorite creek pictures this year were of the snagged leaves above. All creek and forest pics are straight out of the camera, no editing; only the cat picture is doctored, although the cat did help edit the overall post. I have autumnal picture overflow this year, so I’ll try for one or two other fall posts later. They’ll be non-linear, out of sequence time-wise. We’ll go back and forth, in and out, of this light-haunted season in the southeast US. Mainly the astonishing creek now; next, mainly forest.
Magic reflecting creek
One of a zillion scenes
Tricks of the slanting light
The water travels on
We walk to the small, wild, Appalachian creek; my range-around strength is limited, yet I find a zillion scenes I want to snapshoot. As a painter, I’ll often consider the colors included when I frame a shot. I’ll go for the definitive but also for the abstract; if I zoom beyond focus, if I bypass reality, I’ll take that.
Some quiet color blends
More quiet blends
Sunlight zigging and zagging
Light becomes all slanty, oblique, in autumn. We can see the difference, and feel it too. It sparks feelings of longing, sadness; for the summer we see slipping away, for all those we have lost. Family, and so many friends, have passed on. So much ability lost. I could not walk as far downstream on one walk this year. The illumination on failing leaves is so beautiful, I step out to take pictures five times every day. Down here at the creek, the reflective water bounces the light and makes merry. Fall’s a festival, a bittersweet one, but we savor all we can and get a mood boost from watery harmonies, both visual and auditory.
Water sound is light and airy but the dazzle is set on ‘brass band’:
Serious dazzle
Sweetgum leaf travels solo
Closing in, chasing the shimmer
Borderline abstraction when dazzles are enlarged
I admit to infrequently moving a pine cone or a sweetgum seedpod to compose a forest scene on the ground. But I never mess with the views on the water. I witnessed my husband pulling an entire two-foot broad-leaf magnolia leaf out of a leaf dam to stage his creek scenes! I caught him yellow-orange handed! His photos will make a philosophical point, and I think it’s funny, but I’m never going to do this. I like my creek pics unrehearsed. Long ago I found the tree the big leaf came from, on the opposite bank. I’ve also seen the sweetgum trees that are shedding into the creek. But the tulip tree leaves, I haven’t located that tree yet.
Blue sky highlights in the water this evening
Fallen leaves, pine straw, on blue
Featuring: Seriously green dazzle, just out of my grasp:
Electric Green channel
Closing in on green
The underwater and on top of the water, abstracts and semi-abstracts:
Serenity
Bliss
Contentment
Am I dreaming?
Strong ripples still seen, but you see where we’re losing shapes here
Plain ole sunken leaves:
Creekbed matted with leaves
I see at least two Tulip Tree leaves in the above picture.
While I hope we’ll have many more years, I know we won’t always be here to watch out for this creek. I hope there will always be those who will keep it safe. For my environmental essay about this tributary, and all tributaries, click here:
Downed leaves courtesy of the forest and its trees:
Our forest seen as a whole looks sprinkled with colors in fall
Just glorious
Colors of just one plant
Sweetgum leaf with pine straw
Sweetgum leaves can can be found in several autumn colors, and sometimes combinations of colors. Mostly we see either all yellow, or all red. Here, with a tinge of leftover green, the leaf shows off its versatility.
Acknowledgements:
The Bud cat waits to edit on the computer desk. I only painted out the computer to show him off better, not to downplay his role in the posting process. This reassurance helps to keep him purring!
Bud the editing cat
Part 2 at this link:
I live near a creek in a forest, in close observation and awe of the wildlife outside, as well as the domestic animals of the household. I'm writer Leah T. Alford. I was "catwoods" on this site Catwoods Porch Party, Itchmo Forums for Cats and Dogs, and a few other sites that may or may not exist now. I have now published a book, and the publisher wanted it called Catwoods. I never expected the book title to be the same as my username, so for now I've changed the username to Leah. For more info, click the "About" button above.
Catwoods Porch Party 
the kitties are cute, but the creek photos are just so beautiful….love them!
Thank you so much, Susan, I’m glad you enjoyed the pictures! I really enjoyed your viewing your art, and outdoor photos, and will go back to look around more when time becomes available!
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Your pictures are absolutely gorgeous.
Thank you, cat9984, I’m glad you enjoyed the pictures!
Glorious. Monet on your doorstep.
Thank you Rosie Scribblah! I was a painter before becoming ill, so I love the painting comparisons. I look forward to seeing the posts of your fabulous artwork every day!
I love the painterly effects in many of the photos.
Thank you Graham, I’m glad you like the pictures! I worked in paint and mixed media before I had to stop that due to a medical condition. I looked around on your blog and your website, and I love your nature scenes and use of color.
Thanks for the, like, on Elm Drive Images … Muffin resting in the morning Sun.
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You’re welcome! I enjoyed Muffin’s picture!
I can feel your love of your Creek and the beauty it presents to you each fall. As a photographer and a lover of beauty, thank you for sharing!
I’m happy you’ve tuned in to how much this creek, as well the entire watershed, means to me, Joyful2 bee. Many others also love this creek. I just hope we can save places like this for everyone, in the future. Thank you for your kind words!
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Stunning photos. I especially like the “ripples” photo. What type of camera do you use?
Thank you, greenpete58! I use a Canon PowerShot SX260 HS.
Such beautiful photographs. I particularly like the leaves under the water.
Thanks Kerry! The underwater leaves are some of my favorites too.
Lovely photographs. I too am a photographer and do some painting. I write a lot. I think your blog is beautiful and I am wondering where you live. I am In Asheville, NC. Hugs, Barbara
Thank you for your kind words, Barbara, I’m glad you enjoyed the pictures! I’ve never been to Asheville, but I’ve been in NC and it’s a beautiful place. I live in Alabama at the southernmost end of the Appalachians, right before the ridge meets the coastal plain and everything levels out.
What a fabulous post, amazingly beautiful photos and such a calm, open-hearted style. And I like your cat, though of course my cat Celie is the bellest of the belle.
Thank you so much for your kind words, gertloveday! Thanks also for visiting, and for telling me about Celie; I’m sure she’s a belle, indeed!
Thanks for the , like, on Paris Attacks.
You’re welcome. We’re all very sad today.
I see the Monet in you!
Thank you, 2chicks2go! I enjoyed visiting your blog!
As I did yours!
Yes! to prioritizing colour and yes! to bypassing reality at times. Beautiful forest, and beautiful creek. I’ve never heard the term pine straw before- I like it.
Thank you for your kind words, magpieprints! I’m glad you enjoyed the photos. I think the ‘pine straw’ for fallen pine needles originated in the southeastern US, where I live. I checked a few online dictionaries and one said that, another said it was from the middle US.
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Beautiful respite for someone stuck in a cubicle in the city. Thank you and Bud.
It’s our pleasure, Mollie, Bud and I are pleased that you enjoy our posts! Thank you so much for reposting on your blog! Yours is one of my favorite blogs and I am honored that you have reblogged me there!
Thanks for the, like, on Elm Drive Images – Powell’s Books.
You’re welcome!
These are incredibly beautiful photographs.
Many thanks, Craig, glad you liked the photos!
All are gorgeous but I particularly like “Fallen leaves, pine straw, on blue”. Your photos make me home sick for the country.
Thank you Charlotte, I’m happy you enjoyed the photos! I find so much beauty in the country, but also miss some of the perks of city living.
I can never resist taking photos of leaves floating in water or being reflected in water. It’s definitely easier to do in Maine than in Houston but I’ll keep looking for subject.
Some of my favorite subjects also, lulu! I haven’t been to the Houston area but hopefully you will find some good scenes to photograph there.
I think I want to paper my actual walls with these pictures. Except that I would spend all day in an elegiac mood and never get anything done. I’m humming Mahler now. (“Einsame im Herbst.”)
Well, that’s an idea, sledpress … and quite flattering … I’m happy you enjoyed the pictures, and while I’m not too familiar with Mahler you have reminded me that much great music celebrates or at least refers, to the seasons.
The Solitary In Autumn. After Li Po:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Das_Lied_von_der_Erde#Text_in_Das_Lied_von_der_Erde (second movement)
Thank you! I read the words, and will listen one day when I have a good clear block of time.
So beautiful autumn photographs. Especially leaves and water and reflections fascinated me. And the end was great, seems so surprised your cat š Thank you, have a nice day and week, love, nia
Nia, thank you so much for visiting. I’m glad you enjoyed the photos! You are right, the kitty does look like I startled him when he had his mind on something important! š Warmest wishes going out to you for a good week ahead, always.
Autumn light turns around to smile as it’s leaving. Beginning in late August or early September, as soon as the woods begin to thin and the colors change from bright primaries to add a gold patina and a bluish haze, I feel a twinge of sadness and the need to hurry to enjoy the beauty, as if I’m running out of time. I’m glad you have a beautiful woods to explore.
Bernadette, you have described the light and colors and feelings of autumn with so much eloquence! Just as you observe, we see the light changing in August; and indeed, my partially composed 2nd autumn post, which I may or may not have time to make, goes back to August and the changes we began to see at that time. The seasons move much faster than I can work! It has indeed been a great blessing to be in the forest. Thank you so much for dropping by!
Great shots – do you think I could borrow your editor?… š
Thank you much Maureen, I’m glad you enjoyed the pictures! Bud is very flattered by the idea of taking his editing skills outside the house, but he says everything I do on the computer requires his oversight, so he must stay here … š
Beautiful and blissful!
Thank you so much, Juan, I’m glad you like the pictures!
Very quiet and serene
Beautiful photos. Fall is so gorgeous. The light, the color, the way things glow.
Thank you arlingwoman, you have described the enticing ways of the fall! Although it came on slowly, I think we’ve had an especially colorful autumn this year.
Great photos plus a cat at the finish! Perfect.
Thank you so much, glad you liked the photos, and the cat of course, who must be on every post, or he may storm off and refuse to edit!
Oh, I love the poetic title of this post, Leah — and what amazing photos! So lovely to look at, so peaceful and calm. Hope you have a wonderful week ahead! š
Thank you Deb, I’m very happy you like the post! I have to get back to getting things done next week. It should still be a good week, we’ll see if I live up to the ‘get stuff done’ intentions, LOL. Hopes and wishes for good times for you, too Deb, always.
I know what you mean about getting things done. I’m working on 2 chapbook manuscripts I want to send by the Dec. 1 deadline. Hence I’m not blogging (only reading and commenting) for a while. I can’t believe how fast the holidays are coming upon us!!! Have a great and productive week! š
Keeping busy is good, lol or so they say. Actually though it’s good to hear you are keeping on with writing projects. Holidays are moving too fast for me, they’ll just have to wait …
Re: holidays –> I agree! They’ll just have to wait! (And, sigh, I happened to see a pre-Christmas commercial today on TV; unbelievable!). š
I know! I think Christmas lights go up right after Halloween here! I don’t like too early decorations either!
I hope my message just went through to you!!! If not, let me know, š
I love these photos. Some of them almost look like paintings. You mentioned “as a painter…” Have you considered painting any of these? Like the one that says “Borderline abstraction when dazzles are enlarged”, or “Fallen leaves, pine straw, on blue.” I am a stenciler, as opposed to a painter, but those two called to me to be a painting. Nonetheless, you do have an artist’s eye. I so enjoy your photography!
Many thanks, Claudia, I’m glad you enjoyed the photos! I’d love to make some of these into paintings, but due to health problems I’m no longer able to paint; although I do ‘paint’ in the editing programs on a few photos (none in this post, except for the cat), I can’t do much of that. I still call myself a painter because I feel I still approach visual tasks and even writing in certain ways because of the painting background.
Lovely photography!
Thank you so much, nananoyz!