The Red Maple

 

Every year, during the second and third weeks of October, I ask myself the same question “How can I get a really good picture of this Red Maple?” This Red Maple, is without a doubt, the most beautiful tree in our yard.  It really is pretty at any point during the year.  But in late Fall, it’s a stunner. 

But I just can’t seem to capture it in a picture!  I can look at it, take a picture and look at the preview of the picture and right away, think “No, that’s not it.” This year, I actually did some searching online and found several articles on how to photograph leaves.  One article talked about how Fall leaves can look good in any weather – not just on sunny days.  On the day I read these articles, it just so happened to be a dreary, rainy day, so I thought I’d try out that theory. I played around with some of the camera’s settings the articles suggested and actually felt like I came closer to capturing the beauty of this tree.

It still looks better in person.  And the display is so fleeting.  Since I took these pictures earlier in the week, the tree has lost about half of the leaves.  I wonder if I would appreciate the color as much if the red leaves were there for a longer period of time?