IN THE FIELD: Before The Storm
Saturday morning I ventured out to capture more of the autumn color surrounding us here in the woods where I live. I figured it may be my last opportunity before it was all swept away from the massive storm headed our way.
The skies were overcast and provided a perfect even light. I was able to use shutter speeds of 1/60 of a second and slower. I also used a polarizing filter, which greatly improved the saturation of color, and eliminated the reflections from the leaves.
I found some brilliant maples with white pines as a background. I also found a stand of young beech trees showing three different phases of their color transformation.
At the time of this posting, hurricane Sandy is just beginning to make her presence known. It’s been showering off and on since Sunday afternoon, but now the rain is steady. It’s not raining sideways yet…that’s due to occur later today and into tonight, along with increased winds and heavier amounts of rainfall. I’m glad I had the opportunity to get some shots before the storm unleashes it’s fury.
David Heilman 
Stay safe. You are in our thoughts, David.
Thanks Bob, I should have changed the text in the post. It’s now raining sideways and the winds are gusting to about 35mph or more. It sure is wet! So far we are safe and have about 3/4 of a tank of propane for the generator.
Battening down the hatches here too and watching the leaves go bye bye. Great catch before the winds though.
You guys are supposed to feel the effects too! This storm is huge!!! Guess I won’t be mowing the lawn today. Not many leaves left on the trees here either. I’m watching them fly past the window to parts unknown.
That’s exactly what I did over the weekend too, David. I figured I better get some good shots of what’s left of the Fall foliage before the storm hits.
Love the colors by the way.
I saw that you did the same thing too!!! Good thing I did…the trees are almost bare from the storm. Hopefully it will weaken by the time it reaches you guys!
Brilliant photos, David, the colour is just glowing. I love the first one especially. No, please don’t consider mowing any lawns – get back inside and be safe!!
Thank you Jo, the leaves were almost electric in the overcast light…the polarizer enhanced that even more by eliminating some glare. Yup we are inside safe and sound. I only went out to get the mail before it was soaked and to the orchard for a few things…before the wind and rain really started!
These are so rich and lift my spirits.you can’t beat the beauty of the red maples, that is something I miss here in the west although you can see the occasional transplant. I am so happy that you managed to take photos of these before the storm rips them to shreds. Be safe, my prayers are with you.
Glad these helped Jane, I have plenty more from last year that you folks haven’t seen…the weather was a bit more calm…except for the snowstorm on Halloween LOL. Thanks for the thoughts and prayers…we are inside and cozy…and still have power!
Yay! More photos! Yay! Safe and cozy with your family! Yay! Hallowe’en! Going out with your nephew trick-or- treatin”?
Beautiful fall colors, David! Thinking of you guys – I hope you do not lose power. We have a lot of wind in Atlanta, but no rain.
Thanks Karen, it’s a bit windy and rainy up here in Pa. We’ve had wind and rain like this before…course the eye of the storm is still a couple of hours away. It’s nice to be inside and cozy. Wow no rain in Atlanta? I guess you guys are just getting the residual from the storm. I know that hurricanes are nothing to joke about…but I think the news folks have forgotten Hurricane Agnes in 1972. That was a storm! We were in 7th or 8th grade and still had school. We walked home from school in that! Boy how things have changed.
I love the three colours on the leaves. Take care, David.
I like the beech trees also…the smooth bark and the try color leaves and their stately presence. The hatches are all closed and we are warm and cozy…and still have power!!!!
stay safe david!
Thanks Nitzus, we are fine here but I’m glad we don’t live closer to the coast. They got hammered. We had power until mid- night last night but have been out of power since then. No telling when it will be restored. Sending this from an iPhone. No internet either. Oh well it was a big storm.
glad that you and your loved ones are ok. but losing power is also cataclysmic in itself.
I like how the colors transition from red to yellow to green in the last photo! Lovely.
The snowstorm that hit us last week (that is now hitting the east) knocked down a lot of our fall leaves here.
Hope you are staying safe.
Thanks Fergie, believe it or not, quite a few of the young beech trees still have their leaves after all that wind and rain. We are safe here…around here the storm turned out to be just a lot of really high winds and rain. Lost power at mid-night or so. Have generator which helps but no internet or cable.
Glad to see that you have been safe! Too bad about the fall leaves though!
Thanks Montucky, we are lucky we live where we do and not on the coast. They got hammered. We got power back last night at 8:30pm! No real damage here except for some downed trees (dead ones) and limbs and branches and lots of water washouts. The young beech trees are still holding on to their leaves though!
So nice!!
Thank you Cornel !
Love maple trees, my favourite!
Mine too! There are some yellow ones nearby that still have a lot of leaves on them. So pretty!
I just love the shape of the maple tree leaves 🙂 and love making artificial roses from them 🙂
Wow roses from maple leaves? Love to see them!