I suspect it comes from being a Canadian having grown up in a place where summer is not always something you can count on and winter is an absolute certainty. Even a mild winter can be a killer and is seems as I grow older I definitely enjoy spring and fall but winter lacks the sense of adventure it once held for me.
Fall 2008 is not only a remarkable fall it is a picture perfect fall with the trees turning colour gradually, some getting right with it while others are taking their time changing over from green to yellows and browns. The pictures on this page and the pages that come up when you click on them were all taken Saturday and Sunday perhaps with on exception I think the last picture in the sequence was taken yesterday.
One of the things that distinguishes fall and spring is the angle of the light. Our northern hemispheric position gives the sun a wide range of angles to approach every object and lend each shadow a specific direction for each part of the year. Fall light is harsh without the monochrome of winter light so that the shadows really stand out and even at mid day the sun is clearly in its southern circle.
No matter what the political or economic climate of the time, the scenes of fall are a thing unto themselves and give us a feeling of hope and anticipation. No matter what, winter is only six weeks away and spring a full half year in the distance. Savour this time, make the best of it.
Timothy W. Shire
