Another photo from Copper Falls State Park, Mellen, Wisconsin. The delight of autumn in the far north is that the peak color season is compressed so that the trees are "dressed" all at the same time. I thought that the season moved south down the country like a wave. But it doesn't. Autumn seems to progress in pockets, and can vary from year to year (which I knew). Our red maple tree next to our driveway is glorious this week even when there is little color here in Nashville. Our friends in Maine and Door County have sent images near their home and fall is beautiful this week where they live. Enjoy the color wherever you are.

Sony a7rii, 70-200 mm lens, A3E adaptor, iso 400, 135 mm, f 6.7, 1/500 sec, tripod

I photographed a sunset over Loon Lake in July 1998. I was proud of the image at the time. I looked in my slide books (I have thousands of slides) to find the previous photos. The old image doesn't begin to compare with this one. And I was one of those who thought digital images wouldn't measure up to those taken on film. I was wrong about my photos. i even met someone recently, an accomplished photographer, who said film was superior to digital. Maybe he can do it, but I can't. The dynamic range in my new camera allows me to make photos I couldn't do with my film camera. It's tough to admit when you're wrong, but, in this case, it sure feels good.

Details: iso 100, 35mm setting on 16-35 mm lens, f/13, 1/30 second, tripod. Processed to brighten the shadows.

How many years does it take for water to carve rock? Patient, persistent. The solid obstacle gives way. Disappears.

This is the Presque Isle River in the upper peninsula of Michigan, just before it empties into Lake Superior, and joins more water, with more power. A photo that I took years ago at this very spot was one of my mother's favorites.

Every one with a camera of some sort, not just photographers, pause on the small (bouncing) suspension bridge to capture this scene of the solid rock and water-carved potholes.

Details: Sony a7rii with 90mm lens, iso 200, f/13, 2 second exposure, polarizer and neutral density filter.

Every since our first visit to the shore of Lake Superior, we have been fascinated by the variety of rocks. And we always seem to bring a few home. During both of our visits this fall, we encountered significant waves which made for challenging conditions for photography and rock picking. I did make a number of photographs along the waters' edge in several locations, but I did respond to a simple rule of photographers: turn around and look behind you. And in the stream that emptied into the Lake was this scene. What caught me was how the sun made an interesting pattern through the ripple of the water.

Before dawn on Farm Lake, near Ely, Minnesota, the sky begins to announce the morning. Autumn is beginning with the cool air drawing the mist from the water. Another seasonal change. Another morning for wonder!

Yes, I did. This is Loon Lake at Copper Falls State Park, just south of Ashland, Wisconsin. Judy and I camped at this lake 17 years ago and enjoyed this lake (yes, with loons) and the waterfalls that are located in the park. It was a little colder this time; actually, a lot colder since the previous visit was in July. I had just finished photographing the sunset from the eastern side of the lake and the color of this hillside made me stop and take a few shots. The primary purpose of the trip was to offer photographic guidance to a friend. Her husband called it a photo workshop. I guess it was. She learned a lot in two weeks about photography and digital processing, and I managed to learn a lot about my new camera with more than 1600 images. This photo was taken with the Sony a7rii and my new 90 mm lens. I'm definitely keeping this camera.

Beginning near Ely, Minnesota, I have begun to search for fall color and other things photogenic. Of course we had to stop along the shore of Lake Superior and gather rocks. (Judy hasn't seen a rock that she didn't like.) I, too, am amazed a the variety of rocks that one can find along the shore of this lake. There appears to be more variety in rock color and composition along Lake Superior than one might find if you were searching for seashells along the Gulf coast. I'm here, first, because we love this area, and second, to teach a friend some of the things I know about photography. Yesterday, as we drove to the resort, I had to stop and take this photo because the black-eyed susans are still in bloom along with the changing colors of the leaves.
 

At our house the last few years, the end of summer means putting the leaf net on the pool. I admit it's a sad day. It is especially for me as the autumn season change affects me emotionally. I'm outside a lot during the six months of April through September. I swim every day that I can and I enjoy the sunshine. The rest of the year is not without attractions nor days outside. I wear more clothes. I walk instead of swim. There are lots of good things that I anticipate. But it's always sad to put the summer away, until next year.