Arnold's Farm. Greenfield Ctr, NYPhoto By Eric Jenks
Welcome back readers and viewers! It's been quite the delay since my last post, for which I apologize. Life has a habit of getting busy, for which I'm both grateful and bummed at sometimes. I've been super busy with working for a bunch of clients (I believe I was in 8 different publications in August) and I've been traveling all over the country and the world since my last post. I wanted to touch upon a subject that is near and dear to the hearts of anyone that lives in the Northeast this time of year: Autumn and the changing of the leaves.
Maple and EvergreenIn Acadia National Park last fall. Photo By Eric Jenks
It's amazing to me to see how the landscape flourishes during the lasts moments of warmth that we'll have before the winter comes upon us. The bright colors seem an act of defiance by Mother nature in the passing of the seasons, one last go to show that the beauty of life isn't taken without a fight (yes I realize that all of this is happening as chlorophyll and other chemicals in plant cells are reacting to colder temperatures and less available sunlight, but that's nowhere near as fun to talk about).
I recently moved to Washington County (Greenwich, NY to be exact) and I've been granted a view into the autumnal passage that farms take as well. While yes, there are farms in Greenfield, the ones that I would see are more animal in nature rather than plant based. Here in the floodplains of the Battenkill and Hudson, the corn fields have been shucked and cleared for the season, leaving behind furrowed lines like wrinkles in Mother Nature's face.
Salem FarmlandThe cleared fields next to the Battenkill Creamery in Salem, NY
I've also noticed in town that just about everyone puts a pumpkin by their front door. I feel a bit as if I've moved back to Vergennes, VT, and I'm enjoying the small town formalities that I get to see everyday.
2013Fall-27Photo By Eric Jenks
In the past, my personal fall photography has been focused primarily on landscapes in the wilds of the North Country. I've wandered through the mountains, spent a week in Acadia National Park, and otherwise set out to get away from others during my search for the fall color. It's a bit of a nice change to focus on a town and focus on farm life. I seek out interesting compositions, good color and great light when I do my photography. If any of the above aren't present, it's not going to be a good photo. As a result, I try to wait until earlier in the day (closer to dawn) or later in the day (an hour before sunset) to take my photographs. Less contrast, better saturation to the colors, etc. Polarizers are also a well used piece of equipment, as they can help to reduce glare off of leaves and really pull in the color and darken up blue skies. A good cloudy day though is also key; Some of my favorite fall photos are taken when the sun refuses to play nice and come out.
The most important aspect for me though is to enjoy. I just like keeping my eyes opening and taking in the beautiful landscape that I live in. If I take a photo, great. If not, at least i got to enjoy the little things that make life a brighter place. And on that note, Good day! Go enjoy the color while it lasts. It's more ephemeral than any flower in the spring, and just as beautiful to me.
Acadian FallPhoto by Eric Jenks