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Aspen Dew

Posted by Bill Jennings ((Bay Area Northern Calif), United States) on 30 April 2009 in Plant & Nature and Portfolio.

I attended the Grace Hopper Conference in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado in October last year, hosted by the Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology. At the end of the work week and the end of the conference, was able to spend a day in the aspens taking photos.

After the sun rose in the Rockies last October, and harsh shadows filled the landscape - where do I turn but into the shadows? Just in time to capture the fall dew on newly fallen aspen leaves. I stumbled among the woods and found this branch, covered with leaves, and a few clover peeking through. The dew was natural, the composition was as found in the forest without change. The contrast of the dead and living appealed to me.

I really liked Roman's macro Watching Moss Grow yesterday: as it was a different point of view than I've looked for, and the colors and shapes were very striking. Well done for seeking out an unusual macro shot.

Perhaps one of the most creative portrait shots yesterday was Kris's Blue "I" for it's tight framing and unusual use of color.

Just made it home after a month of travel - posted a few photos from my journey to within 48 miles of the antartica circle: at nearly the longest day of the year: hence, there was 21 hours a day of sunlight...

Thank you for your patience while I was out of touch.

I do hope you followed Bob Kelly's blog (my roommate) while he is still traveling - he is now on Easter Island - and will be updating his blog for some time to come - please check it out!

vfxy Photoblogs

Comments (26)

P J W Miller from Chase Terrace, United Kingdom

Very nice image with a backdrop of dying leaves

30 Apr 2009 5:24am

@P J W Miller: Thank you P J W Miller - and you were absolutely right yesterday about the sun in the image - I'm playing with fixing that now in PS. Thanks for dropping by.

Magda from Vancouver, Canada

Fabulous colours! The clarity is outstanding! Well done!

30 Apr 2009 6:17am

@Magda: thank you Magda. Glad you dropped by and gave me such a kind comment.

jamesy from christchurch, New Zealand

fabulous colours of these leaves

30 Apr 2009 7:01am

@jamesy: thanks jamesy. aspens for several weeks, are some of the prettiest trees around. I caught them just after peak. must go back again (darn!).

Sarito from Basingstoke, United Kingdom

Lovely colours!!

30 Apr 2009 7:27am

@Sarito: Thank you Sarito. Great to hear from you everytime.

Marie :-) from perth, Haiti

Magnificent colours, beauty can be found anywhere... you have a good eye.

30 Apr 2009 7:53am

@Marie :-): Thanks Marie - such a kind thing to say to a new photographer who is still very much learning to see and compose a nice image.

Esther K from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

Bill, hey, I was in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado last October! We may have passed each other and didn't know it! I love the colour of the aspens and this brings me back to my time there!

30 Apr 2009 9:38am

@Esther K: It is such a small world, I was out with other photographers - never know, our paths may cross again. When you're in the states again - let me know, we may get to meet: cause I may be out and about that day as well.

Estrella from Barcelona, Spain

Beautiful colours contrast and beautiful idea. Spring vs fall. I like. congrats! and have a nice day.

30 Apr 2009 11:06am

@Estrella: Estrella - I love playing with the contrasts, especially at changing seasons - seems a powerful message we can capture. Buds at spring are a common theme, as they are so pretty: but I also like the decay creating life. Thank you for dropping by today again and commenting.

Ajay from Pune, India

The fun of walking on those fallen leave is inexplicable. I can feel the soothing touch on those leaves on my feet. Fallen but the beauty of nature just stays intact. You've captured the dews very well, my friend.

30 Apr 2009 11:18am

@Ajay: Thank you Ajay. I realy feel a good friendship in the making - your comments are always inciteful, and very touching. Great to hear from you again today.

Uday from Fishers, United States

Nice colors. Very good to see new saplings with old leaves. Shows the process of nature's new arrivals with old departures.

30 Apr 2009 12:36pm

@Uday: Exactly the feeling I was trying to capture, young replacing old, with the old feeding the youith. Thank you for your kind words today.

Sarah from Suisse, Switzerland

Beautiful contrasts showing the interdependence of everything... things need to die for new things to grow... nice illustration of this Bill!

30 Apr 2009 1:32pm

@Sarah: thank you Sarah. The contrasts of colors and life was the mood I wanted, in a compositionally pleasing manner - I thought the one branch through the frame added just enough interest.

Btany from Subang Jaya, Malaysia

Beautiful colors of nature : ) The colors of fall have a very nice feeling to it.
Oh yeah, thanks for adding me to your blogwatch.

30 Apr 2009 1:55pm

@Btany: Btany, loved what I saw - needed to watch more of it - I look forward to that. Thanks for the kind words today.

DaveB from Exeter, United Kingdom

Lovely colours in this one Bill, nice one

30 Apr 2009 2:23pm

@DaveB: Thank you Dave. I loved the colors, even if they were not in your face saturated...

Linda from Riga/Sigulda, Latvia

beautiful vivid colours, a good composition, i love the water drops on the leaves, they give a special touch to the composiiton

30 Apr 2009 2:27pm

@Linda: thank you linda. I like the photo - but as you may imply - it doesn't "grab me" - it instead gives me a soothing feeling, like I'm in the shade of the trees at fall. any suggestions on making this be more impactful?

Barbara from Florida, United States

Like many other forms found in nature, the woods have a story to tell. There are lessons hidden in each leaf and rock. (taken from a phrase in my favorite Ojibwe prayer)
You have a natural eye for composition of these beautiful leaves and clover.
A very pleasing and soothing image for the spirit.

As always I find your links and insight on many subjects interesting. I do look at all of them, but may not always comment.

30 Apr 2009 2:36pm

@Barbara: I guess I'm going to need to learn msome Ojibwe if they have such gems of wisdom. Perhaps the full prayer could be a theme for one of your posts in the future, so we all learn from it (wink, wink)? Thank you for your appreciation for the composition, sometimes beauty is just below our feet: and I find photography helps me see that.

Giovanni from Milan, Italy

Such a beautiful combination of colours! Very nice capture!

30 Apr 2009 3:01pm

@Giovanni: Thank you Giovanni for your specific comments on what you liked. Bill

Stephen Phillips from San Francisco, United States

A beautiful capture. One can but smell the forest floor, here. Nice.

30 Apr 2009 3:28pm

@Stephen Phillips: Thank you Stephen. That's a touching comment when other senses are awakened from a photo.

Nazanin from Tehran, Iran

nice shot

30 Apr 2009 3:59pm

@Nazanin: Thanks Nazanin for dropping by and commenting today.

Marie-Hélène Ammor from Casablanca/Paris, Morocco

A very beautiful composition ! These small green clovers with a yellow with a great dof are superb !

30 Apr 2009 5:05pm

@Marie-Hélène Ammor: The softness of the clover on the right bothers me a little - but in general love the impact of the image: glad you saw what I saw and enjoyed it also. Always appreciate your detailed and thoughtful comments.

B. Thomas from Arlington, Texas, United States

For the past 5 or 6 years I have been able to go to the Rocky Mts. in October. I also have a series of yellow aspen leaf shots I plan to post at some point. The areas with a huge amount of trees is so impressive, but it's good to look close as well. Isn't is something how the ground can just be a carpet of yellow leaves? This nice shot makes me really look forward to another trip west.

30 Apr 2009 7:34pm

@B. Thomas: I look forward to seeing your Aspen shots - they are a great subject, in many ways, to photograph. The carpet of leaves was very thick, you could easily slip on the wet leaves if you weren't careful. Do you have any favorite areas in the Rockies for Aspens?

Amir from Tehran, Iran

Lovely shot, your skills and camera make all your photos super. Thanks for commenting on my blog.

30 Apr 2009 8:03pm

@Amir: Amir, thank you for your kind words. I look forward to seeing more of your photos again soon. Bill

ordinaryimages from Kentucky Bluegrass, United States

Good contrast, the yellows and the greens! best...jerry

ps near as I can tell it, you photoBLOG whereas others PHOTOblog : ]

30 Apr 2009 8:12pm

@ordinaryimages: Thanks Jerry. I'm not sure what I do - I keep doing it, cause it shows the story behind the picture. I guess you are right, I tend to be a bit verbose. Even some posts probably exceeded the picture is worth a thousand words :). Bill

Virgil from Richmond, United States

I agree with all of the above. :-)

1 May 2009 12:32am

@Virgil: Virgil, so kind. thanks for dropping by today. Bill

B. Thomas from Arlington, Texas, United States

You ask about favorite areas for aspen - the road up Independence Pass, and from the east and back down on the Aspen Colorado side is wonderful if you hit it just right. The Maroon Bells area is probably the most well know - every Colorado calendar has an aspen shot from there. Rocky Mt. Nat. Park (near town of Estes Park) is great - not all aspen around there, but you add the great elk shots too.

1 May 2009 2:21am

@B. Thomas: thank you for the leads - much to learn, and perhaps I get another chance this fall to visit. Thanks for the great info, and I look forward to your aspen shots!