(+6 insets!) (view large for better detail!) :D

Merely the Messenger!
Can you believe all of the "winner" pictures I managed to capture on my day to town with Steve a few weeks ago?! How wonderful it is to see so many interesting and beautiful sights and be able to share them with you! I truly do feel like a mere messenger, trained over the years to record things I see to the best of my ability. I've often worried that remarking with such unbridled excitement about my pictures may make some think I am boasting or have a superior opinion about my photography. Nothing could be further from the truth! It is just my pure delight that I've learned to present these beautiful things for all of us to revere and enjoy! I only hope that my abilities continue to improve as time goes by--isn't it marvelous that photography (and processing) is a never-ending skill which one can never become "best" at?

I Love This Talented, Humble Community!
I personally feel that in all things, there is no excuse for grandstanding or putting on airs and taking on a superior attitude. Some of the people I most admire in the world are the massively talented, special folk who are completely humble about who they are and the amazing things they can do. That's one of the things I adore about the ipernity community…you guys are so darned talented and yet, nobody (that I am aware of, anyway!) is snobby about the jaw-dropping photography you create and share. Instead of being "holier than thou", you are happy to point out the positive, give encouragement, and help with technique--instead of burning down those around you who may be a bit further behind on this photography journey.

Today's Pictures: More Fall Leaves in Medford Parking Lots!
Walking around and staring up into the trees, I got many remarks from folks passing by…"Looks like you're having fun!" "What a wonderful day for photography!" and even a keen-eyed "Wow, nice camera!" which produced a blush and happy laugh from me--it's always fun to take my Canon 5D and macro lens out for a romp!

Have you ever noticed how difficult it can be to get proper separation between leaves and the rest of the tree? Sheesh! I spent a lot of time creeping this way and that, looking for proper opportunities. It's a lot of fun though, especially when you find a picture to take! :) My main image was one of those happy successes…a backlit maple leaf with a cool shadow and some really wonderful bokeh in the background…woot! Many pictures were just blobs of leaves without distinction. Looking at them made me wonder, "What the heck were you thinking? There's nothing here!" :D However, every picture can teach us something so I always try to glean a helpful tidbit from my many failures, though I don't always learn anything more than, "Nothing about that picture works!"

Today's Insets
My other pictures today include a wide variety of interesting finds! A lovely trio of droplet-sprayed leaves beginning to deteriorate, a twig of Mimosa leaves embarking on a journey of fall colors before they die, and then a picture which gave me all kinds of trouble!

I'd found this wonderful group of maple leaves with cool spotty light coming through the leaves behind. I saw potential but the image straight out of the camera was busy and the separation between the subject leaves and the background wasn't distinct. I experimented with lots of ideas to draw the leaves out but nothing worked. Too boring, too dark, too contrived…It took several sessions on different days before finally I used a textured idea which hit a home run for me! In the end, this picture is exactly what I'd hoped for but it took a long time before I found a proper solution! :)

The next inset isn't a fall subject except that it's a dependable beauty if you're looking for flowers in autumn! I found some rose bushes while strolling around and though the blossoms were sad and droopy, the buds were fantastic and this picture turned out really nicely, showing both the bud and some surprising bokeh behind.

In the large Safeway parking lot--or was it Costco?! I don't remember!--I heard a raucous noise and looked up to see a large flock of crows flying by. I can't resist trying to take pictures of birds in flight and I was so happy to find that I'd gotten several "winners"!! I'll share my other picture in the last set--don't you feel wonderful when you capture wing detail?! WOOT!

Finally, the breeze fluttered something on the ground and I found this disheveled feather, all twisted and bedraggled but still fascinating to look at. Can you believe that feathers are modified scales?! It's amazing. Anyway, it took a bit of work to coax a nice outcome--like the other picture I had trouble with, this one fought me all the way but in the end I'm happy with the result! :)

Stay Safe!
I know you are all doing your best to keep out of harm's way, but I cannot help but add my plea to the mix. The number of new cases these days are totally unprecedented and it's more risky than ever to be out and about. I'm glad that I'm able to manage the worry I feel for all of you and can visit ipernity without freaking out, but I am feeling a lot more anxiety lately. Take care and stay away from anyone that you can!!

And finally, thanks so much for your visits, favorites and comments--you guys are the very best! I love visiting your streams too, what a great delight! *virtual hugs to all* :D

Explored on 11/17/20; highest placement #1.