“Autumn’s bright colour makes everything bright” – Ed Lehming

This long-dead tree sits along the roadside leading to my daughter’s house. In most seasons it stands as a stark memorial of a once wonderful maple tree. Every year it deteriorates a bit, dropping limbs and shedding bark. There is not much left other than the trunk and a handful of branches.

I do notice every time I drive by it because it stands alone, a dry piece of wood among roadside weeds. There are no other trees or stumps remaining, just this one.

Last week, as I walked down the laneway, bright post-rain light shone on the weeds and undergrowth around the base. The fall reds and yellows seem to warp the base of the tree like a colourful blanket or cloak. It changes the entire look of the scene, for the moment anyway.

As a side note, this tree was toppled by strong winds a few weeks after I made the image. Everything is temporary.

Nikon D800
Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD @ 82 mm
1/250 sec, f/8.0, ISO 250