Fallen Leaf Prints
Autumn fells the dying leaf
With no life left to speak
Colours flash and fade
Dropping down to decay
Bleeding temporal stains
Outlining their remains.
Heavy rainstorm winding wind through colour blushed leaves in darkness until the sun slashed it away in mid-day. Inner nudges to go out and shoot. I don’t want to. I’m not there in my mind. Don’t want to be shutter dancing with the camera. I procrastinate. I delay. Not today, now go away.
Lately, it’s been not so easy to be creative and most especially to write. The words aren’t there. What can I say? What can I say that isn’t going to offend someone? Recently managed to offend six people in a single week. Haven't hit that record in quite a while. It’s far easier to remain silent most of the time. Then I get stuck. Then I realize how many times I’ve put all kinds of parts of me up on the chopping block for creative fodder. All this creative energy I have has to have an outlet. I need that like I need to breathe.
Still don’t want to go out. The nudges have become an annoying nag. Fine. I’ll take the gear and go. I don’t care about capturing anything. I’m just in that kind of mood. A walk is always a plus though.
I headed off to one of my favourite haunts. Not going to say where. That’s for the next post. Despite being in a complete creative disconnect, I snagged some really satisfying shots. Something shifted. I shifted. It altered my day in the very best way.
On my way home, I walked along a stretch of newly cured concrete sidewalk. Fresh. Great texture. Not city sludge gray-brownified yet. The wind had whipped all these leaves loose from the trees, scattered wet and rotting, like sins on the sidewalk of life.
Anything in a state of change fascinates me. Anything in a state of decay is especially appealing. This moment of change is something I’ve spent my entire life trying to capture, knowing full well that it is a futile pursuit, forever elusive. I like the chase. I like to freeze frame specific moments. Change always occurs by increments, even if it outward appearances seem otherwise. Outward appearances are deceptive by nature.
Years ago, I noticed how autumn leaves create imprints of themselves where they’ve fallen as they decay in the elements. Leaf fall combined with a lot of rainfall and some compressions seem to be the ideal conditions for this to happen. Newer concrete gives much more contrast for leaf prints.
These small aspects of life often go unnoticed, but are the very things that often catch my eye. Subtle, silent, beautiful art created by nature underfoot.
I have tried and failed to capture these kind of leaf prints prior to this occasion. I was dog tired, shutter played out, and on my way home. Full stop on catching sight of all these leaf patterns.
Camera out. Lens change. Dying light conditions. Shot them anyway. These ones didn’t go astray fading away, mostly blending with the sidewalk, like my previous attempts.
If I’d stayed in my funk and didn’t go out lens eyeballing, I would have missed this. I also would have missed shooting six hundred photos, of which, I’m having a hard time deciding what ones to trash. Too many good shots beyond what is typical of a shoot for me. Sometimes I just need that internal nudge to move me in the right direction, keeping me from going astray.
All photos taken by Nine with a Pentax digital 35mm camera.
Just getting out and shooting is always the best way for me to get out of a creative funk. Been refusing to do that lately because it's cold and I'm still a bit miffed that summer is over.
Only six people in a week? Them's rookie numbers!
This is where I say that getting out in the cold is also a deterrent for me. I love autumn but I miss the heat of summer. Kind of grief it a bit every year.
Well, I've reduced my average, which was a lot higher, up until 2013 when I left a major telecom. Less exposure to certain environments has totally trashed my average. Got any tips for me to increase that? Might create an internal policy conflict, but maybe I'll learn something new. 😂
Thanks @coloneljethro!
Yeah, as soon as the leaves have fallen and it gets cold I have to sulk a bit before I'm willing to go out and do shit again.
I feel ya, when I quit working in the service industry my average went to hell too. I've been antisocial for a while so my numbers still haven't made it back up. Pretty sure no matter what you do you're going to offend somebody so it's really just a numbers game, the more people you interact with the more you offend. Now if you're talking about intentionally offending people, that's mostly a matter of reading people and don't know as I can give tips on that.
Totally a numbers game, you're right there. Ha, if I intentionally offended people, I'd have a hundred percent success rate and can't say I've ever attempted that. 😂
Glad you went out! And I like the ones you choose out of the six hundreds :)) this tail some of the leaves drag with them, it almost feels like even the way they flew on to the concrete is imprinted..
I wonder what it would look like if those prints wouldnt get washed away (they do, dont they?) and then you could find layers and layers of leave-prints making new shapes, maybe.
Its always the first steps isnt it and once you see or start something the could and even the gray becomes appealing!
Oh the six hundred plus photos, lol that was the entire photo shoot, not just of leaf prints, so next post will have the rest I've selected that are not leaf prints.
I like your description, "it almost feels like even the way they flew on to the concrete is imprinted..", that's so poetic.
The prints fade away fairly quickly, depending on the weather. I love the idea of layers and layers of leaf prints. I can visualize how that might look.
It is always the first steps and then expanding beyond that. It takes very little to get my imagination firing. 😂
...I am getting confused about which of the conversations we started I am about to get into😅
The prints fading away, fits into the picture too though, autumn, change, vanity... but yes I would kind of like to see such a pattern or print on fabric!! I think that could be awesome:)
😂😂 That happens to me at times also with conversations.
Oh yeah, these would be so wild on fabric! I can see it in my mind. I've sewn since I was very young, draft my own patterns for years, etc. I just don't post them, same as other things. Lack of time.
Niice!! well I would love to see🙃 (if ever some extra time comes your way)
...nothing better than having a pattern all after your likings!!
So you are sewing those kaki and colour mixing clothes yourself?
I have and can sew them, but for several years I have picked up what people throw away (its a LOT). Then I alter, change, take apart, re-combine into other things, whatever I need at the time, or turn it into "wearable art", usually I prefer jeans because they make the best canvas.
Since I have photos a friend took of these jeans, I'll show you one, hahaha...I am the worst model and my place is behind the camera. 😂
The jeans were found. Altered them to fit me first. Created the design. Cut it out in jeans. Cut out pieces of sequin fabric (blue-green-purple and upside down they are matte black) to fit, backed with another fabric and sewn into jeans (machine sewn). Outlined with tiny pearl beading (hand sewn). Design is on front and wraps a bit around outside leg.
On the back of one leg is my logo done in same manner by hand, but on a piece of leather. On the side with the circle shapes are sterling silver beads hand sewn on. I think it took about at least 150 hours or so to make. I don't wear sequins, so this is a first, lolol.
Yes!!! Feels like you just spoke out the thoughts of my brain:D
personally I find it so inspiring altering pieces, figuring out what you can make with it, how to change it.
..and then about the Jeans in particular, it is mad how many you find, I mean everyone literally has them and throws them away, there is lots of it... which is awesome.
The Jeans are really cool! What a patience indeed, you have my admiration:) sequins wouldnt be my first choice eighter, but then on the other hand, glitter?! and then really Jeans is kind of compatible with anything, or a lot..
Do you make them for your self or also for others?
I really love these leaf print shots. I’m so glad you got out and captured these even if at first you didn’t feel like it. I’d really like to know how those skid marks happen, it’s so intriguing to look at.
It’s as if the leaves are saying “Behold the beauty of what once was, remember us when we’re gone”.
I really enjoyed reading this poetic piece ~
Thank you so much @crosheille! Such a beautiful comment. I love poetry. My posts (and some comments, lol) are the first time I've shared them like this. I appreciate the encouragement. 😊💖
Even if I'm not in the mood, my inner guide is at the helm and gives me no rest until I follow the direction I'm guided in, lol. I'm only sorry when I do not follow it.
This was the luck of that newly cured sidewalk, which is combed so that there are all these small ridges. Also, the sidewalk was slanted and the decay ran down into the tiny valleys between the ridges, collecting there and staining them.
You’re welcome 😊. I love poetry too!
That is so cool. Thanks for sharing how the marks came about. Nature is so amazing ~
You're welcome and nature never ceases to fascinate me. It's always amazing. 😊
Ah, this is so relatable on many levels. Feels soooo poetic. This is one of those posts where, I want to comment on every aspect of the post cos it just really resonated with me, but alas that would take the whole day 😅. But I'd say, that nudge, that's all you need and that brilliant brain of yours would run wild with ideas.
Also, I have a record to beat now. Off to wound up seven people this week 😁
!discovery 30
Thank you @stevenson7! A whole day?! That's far too much time. I'm glad my post resonated with you. You got the jewel though, it's about that nudge inside that I take direction from.
I don't think I've ever seen evidence of you winding up people. I wonder what strategies you'll employ. My only strategy is being true to myself, which has displeased many throughout my life.
Ohjhhh, I tell you!! I'm a natural, lol.
Like you, I just act like I usually would and people get feisty. who gives an eff, I sure don't.
May the best person win 🤝🏿😊
Good luck
😂😂😂 Now I have a clearer image. I see you like a bit of a contest of wills as well. You know, each day, I get a little more tired and have a little less energy for it. Still it likes to drop by my door, lol.
I don't recall when exactly I started to make use of a different technique that's evolved over time. It's become an acronym I use as a reminder, #ratep and nope, not going to explain that one to anyone. I've found it to be highly effective, conserves energy, and is not harmful to anyone. 😂
Dang it.
Way to raise up my hopes and then shove it back in my face 😏
I will have to devise my own technique then. Patent it or summat 😅
😂 The question always gets asked about such things, so I try to catch it before it gets asked. Yes, I'm ridiculous at times, but all meant in good fun.
Absolutely. You're an individual, gotta speak to who you are with what you choose. I highly encourage it (throws fuel on the fire).
In all seriousness though, my technique is nothing new, nothing special, and something that every human does many times in the course of their lives. The idea is to be very conscious and aware of applying it where it needs to be applied and not applying from an emotionally reactive place. So, a consideration, an observing of whatever it is over time, and intuitively deciding when to apply said technique. There is also flexibility built into it.
Maybe that helps a bit with finding your own technique. 😂🤪
No way😅
You practically just laid it all out now for me.
I'm thankful
Lately I've been in a bad place, also the reason for the late response, hopefully it gets better.
I trust things are well with you
Yay! 🤗
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If I had to make sense of these photographs, I would see them as an event that tells about the rapid end of human life. The leaves show us very clearly that summer is over and now winter is coming.
That's deep, hadn't seen them that way, thanks!
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I think some of those leaves were falling too fast and had to slam on the brakes. Otherwise how do you explain those skid marks??
Super pretty.
One good tool I use to try to keep from offending people is to use "I" language. For example, "I am feeling uncomfortable with this conversation," or "I prefer not to discuss detailed aspects of my personal life with strangers" or "I dislike wasting my time communicating with morons." Sometimes it helps. 👍
😂, pretty intense lines, but I have to credit the combing of the fresh concrete for collecting the leaf juices in a brown trough. Thanks!
The "I" language I was taught to use, yes. Just a touch more complicated situations (like cheeseburgers, for one). You're right that it sometimes helps, but did not in these situations.
Well at least the leaves were not offended...
I don't have issues like that with nature or creatures, never even crosses my mind.
I'd say the world changed a lot in the last 20 years, or I have, probably both. Doesn't help that I spent 10 years disconnected from using internet for much of anything before 2019.😂
See but that's nice, though. I wish I could live phoneless and internetless sometimes but that would mean a very different life. I like my life pretty well right now so it is what it is. Nice thing about being constantly available is you can just turn shit off and not be.
It does mean a different life. There were circumstances at that time that resulted in my making a conscious choice to shift my focus away from all things tech as much as possible and into a different direction.
You can just turn it off. That said, I did have almost a month away from any phone and internet access in 2020. I expected that I would miss it. I did not; only exception was not being able to research a couple of wild plants I wasn't familiar with.
Library!
My big trip was a significant break, although not all the way off grid. I'm growing the crowtube channel but sometimes I can schedule things a few weeks ahead and duck out. Work, though, that's a different story. Need to be online and phoned to make money, and need money. So...
For sure those are satisfiying ! great eye for capture details!
Thank you @malos10!
Dear @nineclaws,
May I ask you to review and support the new HiveSQL Proposal so we can keep it free to use for the community?
You can do it on Peakd, ecency,
Thank you!
Done.
Thank you for your support @nineclaws, really appreciate it! 👍
Without imposing and as we are in a renewal period for proposals, if you could take a look at the HiveBuzz Proposal Renewal - #248 as well 😁
You're welcome and also supported HiveBuzz Proposal Renewal. 😁 Now can you give me another grin? LOL!
Thank you @nineclaws 😁🤗
You're welcome, 😁 + 🤗 back to you!