Tuesday, October 03, 2017

Autumn Scarlet and Bokeh

In the eastern Ontario highlands, scarlets, plums and deep inky blues are creeping into view, their emergence out of late summer's dusty greens motivated by cooler evenings and gently ruffling winds at nightfall. As often as I witness the turning of the seasons and such vivid entities coming into being, the morphing into deeper and more intense hues is always enchanting.  It takes us (and the camera too) by surprise each and every year.

Earth waves her elemental wand, and autumnal changes are set in motion, the anthocyanins and carotenoids in plant tissues coming into brilliance as chlorophyll production slows down and plant sugar levels surge.  Leaves bearing abundant anthocyanins dazzle in scarlet and carmine, and those containing concentrations of both anthocyanins and carotenoids flash bright orange.  Leaves with lavish measures of carotenoids and scant levels of anthosyanins do a sky dance in honeyed golds and yellows.  Absent both anthocyanins and carotenoids, the native tannins rule, giving us the burnished russets, ochres, umbers and bronzey browns of the great oaks, hickories and beeches.

Such transformations are magics of a wilder kind, and I can't imagine living this old life without ever seeing with them or being out among them as they happen.  In October, the north dazzles the eyes, and I always wish I could paint like this.  No wait... My lens is already doing that.

6 comments:

Mystic Meandering said...

Such crisp brilliant colors dazzles the eyes and awakens wonderment :)

Tabor said...

Not here yet...still waiting.

Jenny Woolf said...

What amazing colours. The landscape never becomes REALLY brightly coloured in England, but when we were in Japan we were literally dazzled by the maples. Stay well.

The Furry Gnome said...

Brilliant!

My Journey To Mindfulness said...

Beautiful
nothing like this
here in my area of
Southern Tennessee

KAM said...

Autumn colors pushing forth is glorious colors here this year...below freezing last night so trees that were waiting are surely to be bright the next week or so...after two months of smoke from wildfires, this bold, beautiful brush stork of color is so welcome. Walks through neighborhoods with trees gives the opportunity to remember that joy of fall leaves surrounding each step. Thank you for the beauty of words and photos you send to my mailbox each day - so appreciate you.
Kristin