Friday, October 19, 2007

wet leaves





I saw them falling outside my window, and I ran out to stand among them. I wanted to capture the moment, and I wanted to share it with you, of standing outside beneath the trees and having the leaves fluttering, flying, falling, all around us.
The wind swept through the top branches, pulling them along, till they extended themselves out as far as they could into open sky, and then the leaves attached to their tips, would let go, and fly free. Looked like many yellow birds suspended at their tips, leaning out as far as they could from their perch, wings up, jumping, leaping out into sky, free falling, through space, away from the tree, away from the home they had known, downward toward the ground. But so light, so delicately made, their bodies sails, twirling, pirouetting through the sky, not really falling at all, gliding and sliding on currents of wind, invisible stairs of air, till they gently land, unharmed, and rest all together, curled up, vibrant upon the green grass.

Like a little girl I wanted to twirl and spin myself around in circles with the leaves, but instead I ran about, head and camera straight up to sky. (I hope none of my neighbors happened to be looking out their back windows just then)

I tried to capture the falling leaves, I wanted to share them with you, so you could stand in the center, while they danced to the ground all around you. But I couldn't, on currents of wind they evaded my camera, and then the rain poured down, but it stopped just as suddenly, and then these pictures are what I found.
So wet leaves are all I have to share with you.

(just realized none of these are of all those leaves that landed in the grass, well my bad, they were blluuuurrrryyy)

9 comments:

Unknown said...

Taffiny, these are exquisite! And thank you for sharing the experience of swirling amongst the leaves - I remember doing that as a child. I must remember next autumn to find a place of falling leaves and do it again!
The changing seasons bring such magic with them.

Taffiny said...

Vanilla,
Thanks. It is funny how some things can connect us back through time, and just for a moment while doing them, we feel a joy, that connects us (maybe just for seconds), to just the way we felt doing that same activity many years ago, to our younger selves, to our childhood selves. I like when I can let go and touch those moments. I stood among the falling leaves yesterday and was happy, but I did not twirl as I was afraid my neighbors would see me and think me nuts. (but now I wish I had, the trees are already becoming bare, and in one's lifetime there are only so many opportunities for leaf dancing, and I let one go untaken. And besides the neighbors most likely already know I'm kookie.)
I hope you do find a place next autumn to do it again!

Rambler said...

"like a little girl I wanted to twirl and spin myself around in circles with the leave"

Tiffany you got to do it if you feel like it. :)

And am sure you would have loved it.

The Moon Topples said...

Very nice stuff. Simple and poetic.

Taffiny said...

Rambler,
I am sure I would have too, though I also would have felt, and looked, ridiculous. (ridiculous and happy.) Thanks for encouraging me to be both. :)

Maht,
Thank you. I appreciate your kind comments.

Wanderlust Scarlett said...

Taffiny,

This is excellent work! Of a quality that could be sold; very, very good!

So glad that you shared them!
Thank you for sharing all that. I'm one who loves to dance in falling leaves as well.

Here's an idea; maybe try laying on the grass under the tree and snapping as they fall, you may get the shot you are looking for, let them move instead of you moving... could work.
Good luck, at least it will be fun testing!

Scarlett & Viaggiatore

Taffiny said...

Scarlett,
Thank you very very much.
I'll try your suggestion it's worth giving a shot. :)

Vesper said...

And thank you for sharing the leaves and the thoughts... the images, both in my mind and in front of my eyes, are exquisite.

Taffiny said...

Vesper,
Thank you, how lovely of you to say such wonderful things.