Soft Light

For us shutterbugs (wonder why "enthusiasts" for certain hobbies get cute names, but shooting enthusiasts are labeled as "gun nuts"?), soft light can bring out the best in us.
This morning, for example, as a "front" approaches, the morning sunrise was mostly covered by clouds. But, this diffused light did wonders for a naturally contrasty subject, such as the annual "changing of the leaves".

Maple leaves are great to shoot. With "backlit soft light", and positioned against a background, with a small aperature and a long lens (this renders the background out of focus), the leaf really stands out.

You don't necessarily have to travel far to get a good fall picture. This was taken this morning in our backyard. Selective compostion is the key. The white adds a lot to the already colorful scene.

I could use PhotoShop to rid this image of the rather unsightly but necessary utility pole and power lines. Of, I could have driven to a location that would have allowed me to capture these gorgeous clouds "without interference".

The last of our mums for this year. Actually, this is one we saved from our wedding in 2006. It was a rather small critter back then, one of a whole bunch we got for our backyard nuptials. It has held up rather well, and continues to get bigger each year. Remind me to show you pictures of our rosemary "tree" one day. Need some for that Christmas prime rib? We have plenty.

Get up early, folks. You never know what the day will bring. The half hour before sunrise, through a half hour after the sun makes its appearance, as well as the last half hour before sunset through the first half hour after sunset, are known as the Magic Hours. Best times of the day for photographers. Take advantage of it. You'll never, ever find two days that are exactly alike.

A final picture...from a couple days back. A beautiful morning, it was. Didn't see the sun because the fog had rolled in.

                                                    Weather makes for great pictures.