More photos of fall colors and turning leaves I took this week. I’ve had to literally run between the raindrops to accomplish my tasks. October has gone down as one of the wettest in Seattle’s history: 6.77 inches of rain. It’s been warmer than usual, as well, thanks to warmer than usual Pacific Ocean currents that affect our weather. We had zero days below average temperature for the month. And the outlook for this winter is warmer and dryer than normal.

Here’s one of my favorite Japanese Maple trees that I like to monitor during the fall. It can get to take on some fantastic, flaming colors.

Here is a photo I composed to show the gradients of colors in the leaves.

When walking around the tree, I found an area that was not as full with leaves and that exposed its beautiful, twisted trunk and branches. I had to squat down and hunker a bit underneath some branches to photograph the heart of this beautiful tree. The whole idea here is to try to get as much of a silhouette effect as possible. NEVER allow the camera’s flash to fire when doing this. The flash will cancel out any silhouette effect. Also, make sure that the majority of light upon the subject is in front of it. Sometimes we just have to make the best of a situation that presents us at that moment in time.

I crept in a bit closer underneath the tree’s canopy and shot off a few more photos, making sure to keep the camera’s flash off. The colors in the background beyond the tree came out a bit on the cool side, but I rather fancy the effect. Adds a bit more interest, don’t you think?

Here’s a few more images of some other gnarly looking Japanese Maple trees.

When walking around, I like to look down at the ground a lot. One never knows what art Mother Nature may have created. I like to photograph nature exactly as I find it. Here are a few examples.

Here’s a work of nature’s art that pleasantly surprised me. Within the branches of a Maple tree, I found a twig of little Oak leaves. How amazing! I wondered how it arrived there.

I came across these plants around a garden pond area that are large and have big, glossy leaves. From the thick stalks grow these rather strange-looking, white clusters of blooms that only appear in the fall. I do not know what they are. Perhaps someone reading this can help me out. Here is a photo of the blooms.

A few more autumn leaves pics.

 All photos property of Peggy A. Thompson