Fall comes to Georgia - taken at ISO 100, 1/125 sec, f/4.0, 30mm

With all the 90+ heat and then sudden cold we've had here in Georgia, I was worried we wouldn't get the usual gorgeous fall foliage. But it's here!

I assisted with a commercial shoot early Tuesday morning. It took place in a parking lot east of the city. I was sent to get a few nice shots of the morning sky and some foliage in case they were needed for background in the main images during post-production. 

So these fall photos were taken on the edge of a vast parking lot. I was thrilled to finally have at least one shot of this year's colorful foliage! I'll get out over the next few days and get some more. 

The shoot went well, though it was surprisingly cold out - in the low 30s!  I know my friends in Minnesota are laughing at me right now...

We met the client before sunrise and shot for almost two hours.

Sunrise shoots are challenging sometimes. The ambient light is still low even though it doesn't seem like it. We started out shooting on tripods and switched to hand-held when the sun was all the way up. 

After a while, my fingers were so numb I thought they'd fall off. Note to self: Invest in an actual good pair of warm fingerless gloves. The pair I have is pretty ineffective, and they were especially ineffective because I forgot to bring them!

Ignoring the cold was easier than usual for me because we were having a good time and getting some great shots. The client was super nice. 

You can see where the parking lot is - taken at ISO 100, 1/200 sec, f/5.0, 15mm

I'm not crazy about the coming winter but I do love fall. I welcome the cooler days and the trees all decked out in their vibrant fall finery.  

Oh, that sunrise sky! Taken at ISO 100, 1/200 sec, f/5.0, 30mm

Winter is cold, harsh, and stark. But it's also a time for holidays, get-togethers and spending time with family.  Winter is a time of hunkering down and getting things done in anticipation of spring's rebirth and renewal. 

Without winter, I wouldn't appreciate the spring so much. And in fact, growing up in So Cal, I didn't appreciate the spring. I didn't see what all the fuss was about. I was an avid reader and so often I'd read about spring in such flowery and colorful prose. 

It was nice, I agreed, but with the exception of some flowers, not that much different from winter. 

After that first spring in Georgia, following a hurricane and endless weeks of rain, I understood why so many poets and writers wrote about spring. Oh my. It's a thing to behold after a dark cold winter. And the blooming flowers were everywhere!

I'm surrendering to winter this year. I'll embrace it in all its stark finery. And I'll appreciate spring all the more. That being said, it's hard to believe how quickly the holidays are upon us.  

I hope you have a great Thanksgiving with friends and family - or just by yourself if that's your thing!

See you between the raindrops!

xoxo,
Susan

Need holiday gift ideas? Take a look at the gallery!