Notes from the Woods

seeing · environment · exploration · photography

Season of textures

Written by Mark

Born and raised in Detroit, c. 323 ppm CO2, Mark Graf is a Michigan photographer, naturalist, and diver whose muse is summoned by exploring the endless connections in nature; land, sea, and sky.

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

brown birch leaves

Around here, not a lot is happening in the woods after the leaves have dropped and turned brown, and the air begins cooling until snow arrives. I know I have succumbed to the rut that perhaps a lot of nature photographers get in around November/Early December. Perhaps that is why so many of them fly to Bosque around this time of year to photograph the birds there, because of a perception that not a lot is happening elsewhere. But a foggy morning today got my motivation up to get out and shoot. However, I never found a foggy scene I liked and instead found myself immersed in what was on the

ground, in the swamp. I became focused on finding simple graphical patterns that would reflect this somber time of year. This is a time where your attention isn’t stolen by colors, blooms, or even snow covered landscapes..but by shapes, textures, lines, and patterns that would probably go unnoticed any other time of the year. I have uploaded a few new images from today, this season of ‘brown’, and actually find the results quite refreshing.

graf nature photo divider

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3 Comments

  1. Otto K.

    This is very nice study of texture and patterns. Well done.

  2. Paul

    I agree, Mark. What I find myself doing is similar to what you do, looking closer. I move away from the ‘grand’ landscape, and down to the details.

    What I really like about this time of year is the early morning frost on the leaves and grasses. Also, when the sun comes out and starts to melt the frost, there always seems to be a bit of vapor rising up, makeing some interesting shots, although I’ve yet to capture one of those to my satisfaction.

    I really like this shot. The pattern is wonderful. And, like Micki, I love the light at this time of year. You can shoot almost all day because the shadows are long and interesting and the light is somewhat diluted.

  3. micki

    I find this an inspiring shot, because here on the coast of Virginia…the brown season is our entire winter…except for our one or two dustings of snow that last all of 12 hours. I have told myself I will stay motivated despite the dreary lack of colors. On the plus side, it IS our best time of year for sunset and sunrise shots. Thanks for the inpsiration from this great capture.