Hello and happy (almost) first day of fall! I know that technically the first day of the fall season is tomorrow, but I thought I would welcome the new season with an image that featured the varying shades of autumn. I shot “Boathouse in Fall” in the beautiful Washington Park in Denver, CO in November 2010. I used an aperture of f/6.3 and a shutter speed of 1/160, at ISO 400.
For those who live in Colorado, you know that the weather is terribly unpredictable. Though it has evolved into a cliche joke, Colorado’s “schizophrenic” weather is fact rooted in truth. Even though it’s not usually to the extreme depicted in countless memes or Facebook statuses, the weather in Colorado does vary greatly from year to year and sometimes from day to day. The year in which this photo was taken was certainly no exception. It was a Sunday afternoon in early November and I decided to walk up to the park to photograph the fall colors, which were particularly impressive that year. I was thankful that I made the decision to wear shorts and a t-shirt because, despite the lateness in season, it was hot! I started my walk at the entrance on Kentucky and Downing and worked my way north, around Smith Lake, and finally over to Grasmere Lake. Even though the trees reflected the colors of fall, it felt more like the warm summer months.
The Washington Park Boathouse is my favorite spot in the park. It sits adjacent to the playground that I enjoyed so much as a child, the recreation center where I took my very first swimming lesson, and the peaceful Smith Lake that has a spectacular view of the Rocky Mountains off in the distance. The area can be taken in from the land either on foot or bike, or from the water on a relaxing paddle boat. No matter what season, this particular area of Wash Park never disappoints.
When I look at this image today, I am taken back to the banks of the river on that oddly warm November afternoon. I can feel the warm sun on my skin, hear the sounds of the water whooshing from the paddleboat, smell that distinctive autumn smell that always takes over that time of year, and remember how content I felt watching the scene in front of me. I hope that when people see this image, they too can experience some of those same senses.
Goodbye summer and happy fall! See you next week!
Beautiful!
Beautiful picture and great blog Katy.