Trixology

Weather => General Weather Discussion => Topic started by: elagache on September 22, 2017, 11:08:19 PM

Title: Welcome to Autumn 2017
Post by: elagache on September 22, 2017, 11:08:19 PM
Dear WeatherCat observers of the changing seasons,

About an hour ago as I type, the earth passed through the Autumnal Equinox, so we are now officially in Autumn.  Normally, Autumn doesn't take hold in California for at least another month.  However, the extreme heat and low humidities of this Summer have taken a real toll on the trees that don't get some extra water.  As a result, some of the trees are already starting to turn.  Here is a group of red and yellow leaves:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Autumn-2017/i-DCGr8Nb/0/f131de0e/XL/Orange%20and%20yellow%20leaves-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Autumn-2017/i-DCGr8Nb/A)

Here is a tree that always looks splendid in the fall turning much earlier than I can ever remember:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Autumn-2017/i-RdzK5Zr/0/5acbae67/XL/Tree%20turning%20to%20yellow%20leaves-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Autumn-2017/i-RdzK5Zr/A)

Autumn is normally a time when thoughts turn to cooler weather, but that's not the case in California.  Storms that start to pass into Washington and Oregon generate off-shore winds like the famous "Santa Anas" of Southern California.  The Climate Predication Center (http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/) is forecasting above normal temperatures for California out to 14 days.  As a result, one can expect more trees shed their leaves in exhaustion and that air conditioners will still be working hard into the middle of October.

Cheers, Edouard

P.S. So does anybody else have some autumn photos that they would like to share? (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/kodak.gif)
Title: Another exhausted tree. (Re: Welcome to Autumn 2017)
Post by: elagache on September 23, 2017, 09:54:01 PM
Dear WeatherCat observers of the changing seasons,

This morning I spotted this tree in another part of the neighborhood:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Autumn-2017/i-TtCQSS7/0/94ecb52e/XL/Exhausted%20tree%20losing%20its%20leaves-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Autumn-2017/i-TtCQSS7/A)

I only had my iPhone but this tree was already losing its leaves at such a rapid rate that I wasn't sure I would ever get back to it with my DSLR before it was essentially gone.  At the moment it appears that California season of color may be very short-lived indeed!

Oh well, . . . . . Edouard
Title: Re: Welcome to Autumn 2017
Post by: Blicj11 on September 24, 2017, 07:07:11 AM
This is what autumn looked like for me this afternoon.
Title: Thanks for sharing! (Re: Welcome to Autumn 2017)
Post by: elagache on September 24, 2017, 10:17:10 PM
Dear Blick and WeatherCat observers of the seasons turning,

This is what autumn looked like for me this afternoon.

Thanks for sharing the cool image (figuratively and literally.)  I wish you could send me some of that snow.  It is definitely going to be a hot and unpleasant week.

Cheers, Edouard
Title: Re: Welcome to Autumn 2017
Post by: Blicj11 on September 26, 2017, 12:24:16 AM
24 hours after my previous photo, it looked like this. We received 15 inches of snow over the weekend. Because the aspen trees still had all their green leaves, the wet snow broke all kinds of tree limbs and split trunks. We couldn't get back to our home after church on Sunday because I thought I had mounted our snow tires on the 4-Runner but half way up the mountain I learned better. We had to park lower down and call a neighbor who is smarter than me (not difficult to accomplish) to come bring us home.
Title: Welcome to your 8 months of winter (Re: Autumn 2017)
Post by: elagache on September 26, 2017, 10:17:53 PM
Dear Blick and WeatherCat users who must cope with the changing seasons,

24 hours after my previous photo, it looked like this. We received 15 inches of snow over the weekend. Because the aspen trees still had all their green leaves, the wet snow broke all kinds of tree limbs and split trunks. We couldn't get back to our home after church on Sunday because I thought I had mounted our snow tires on the 4-Runner but half way up the mountain I learned better. We had to park lower down and call a neighbor who is smarter than me (not difficult to accomplish) to come bring us home.

Sorry that you found yourself marooned after failing to prepare for Winter's early start.  Not that it is much consolation, clearly the aspen trees weren't much better prepared!

Cheers, Edouard
Title: California's stark contrasts (Re: Autumn 2017)
Post by: elagache on September 29, 2017, 11:36:42 PM
Dear WeatherCat observers of the seasons turning,

This morning I decided to see if I could capture the contrast between the falling leaves and the burnt grasses on the hillsides.  This photo I think captures the contrast nicely although the light wasn't very strong:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Autumn-2017/i-GDhPQrZ/0/6c503b63/X2/Trees%20with%20yellow%20leaves%20against%20burnt%20hills-X2.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Autumn-2017/i-GDhPQrZ/A)

This photo suffered more from the high clouds, but contrast is still obvious:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Autumn-2017/i-PNc6mtD/0/0e345de4/XL/Autumn%20trees%20in%20front%20of%20a%20brown%20hillside-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Autumn-2017/i-PNc6mtD/A)

If it wasn't for the landscaping that people maintain, even the Northern regions of California would be a very harsh and demanding environment indeed.  It is hardly a surprise that "wild" animal seek the resources that can only be found in people's backyards.

Cheers, Edouard
Title: More brown and yellow (Re: Autumn 2017)
Post by: elagache on October 04, 2017, 11:21:43 PM
Dear WeatherCat observers of the season's turning,

This morning we had our arborist come by to check which trees need trimming before the winter storms arrive.  The weather continues to be dry and varies from cool to a bit warm.  Under these conditions the trees continue to lose their leaves, especially those completely in the wild.  Here is another contrast between a tree with yellow leaves and the burnt brown hillsides:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Autumn-2017/i-cfmnkhq/0/49e0daa4/XL/Trees%20turning%20against%20barren%20hillside-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Autumn-2017/i-cfmnkhq/A)

My camera seems to have trouble handling these extremes.  There was brilliant sunshine today, but the yellow of the leaves is washed out nonetheless.  Nonetheless, the camera can capture the yellow by itself as demonstrated by this example:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Autumn-2017/i-88rxSbr/0/decfe9a4/XL/Trees%20in%20autumn%20foliage-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Autumn-2017/i-88rxSbr/A)

The season should continue for at least another 2 weeks, but might not last to November.

Cheers, Edouard
Title: Re: Welcome to Autumn 2017
Post by: bcurry on October 09, 2017, 12:54:30 PM
Hi all,
The trees are just starting to change here - we went with the family for a walk in the woods yesterday, Canadian Thanksgiving weekend!
We are supposed to get Nate remnants this afternoon and tonight, so not sure how much a couple inches of rain and a bit of blowing will do to deter the foliage watching! LOL

Bill

(http://www.billcurry.ca/mapleellenwood.jpg)
Title: Re: Welcome to Autumn 2017
Post by: Blicj11 on October 09, 2017, 04:06:24 PM
Beautiful foliage Bill. Thanks for sharing. We had our second snowstorm of the season yesterday. Just an inch, but once again, snow and early freezes have dulled our fall colours.
Title: Thanks for sharing! (Re: Welcome to Autumn 2017)
Post by: elagache on October 09, 2017, 11:20:27 PM
Dear Bill, Blick, and WeatherCat observers of the colors of Autumn,

The trees are just starting to change here - we went with the family for a walk in the woods yesterday, Canadian Thanksgiving weekend!

Beautiful!  :)  Thanks for sharing that photo with us!  ThU32:-)

We are supposed to get Nate remnants this afternoon and tonight, so not sure how much a couple inches of rain and a bit of blowing will do to deter the foliage watching! LOL

Interesting how you will end up with more than an inch of rain from Nate while Tennessee ultimately hardly got any rain and it was projected to be directly in the storm's path.  Hurricanes are truly fickle storms.

Cheers, Edouard
Title: Re: Welcome to Autumn 2017
Post by: xairbusdriver on October 09, 2017, 11:28:59 PM
Nate was weak to begin with and quickly faded to nothing but a weak low pressure area. It's lateral speed was its "downfall"! 'Slow and steady wins the race' and gives time to build intensity. Works for turtles and hurricanes, I guess! [lol]
Title: Re: Welcome to Autumn 2017
Post by: bcurry on October 10, 2017, 11:55:27 AM
Just FWIW - we got the remnants of Nate last night here in Nova Scotia. I got 1.55" of rain in my CoCoRaHS tube (39 mm) and most of that came down in a 1 hour rush around 1 am. We only had winds of 17 knots, so by our standards a pretty tame experience for wind speeds.

Bill
Title: Re: Welcome to Autumn 2017
Post by: The Grand Poohbah on October 11, 2017, 06:12:04 PM
Sunday's night wind storm knocked down a 75-foot Ponderosa Pine that was in front of the house. It grazed the house. Fortunately, the only damage was a couple of deck railings demolished. We were lucky that it didn't hit the house. But, we've got weeks of clean up ahead of us.

The wind storm also brought us the Lobo fire. We are 3/4 of a mile east of the mandatory evacuation zone. We are without power, have intermittent telephone service, and the DSL is down. Cell service is poor because some towers were damaged. But we're doing fine. We have a bag packed in case we have to evacuate.

It's a lot like camping out in your own home: flashlights, minimal water, toilets that you can't flush, and the smell of wood smoke in the air. Not to worry. It could have been worse. It's just one of life's adventures.
Title: Re: Welcome to Autumn 2017
Post by: xairbusdriver on October 11, 2017, 06:27:57 PM
Sounds like you are prepared for the worst. Be SAFE!
Title: Lots of smoke! (Re: Welcome to Autumn 2017)
Post by: elagache on October 11, 2017, 10:19:04 PM
Dear Grand, X-Air and WeatherCat adventurers,

The wind storm also brought us the Lobo fire. We are 3/4 of a mile east of the mandatory evacuation zone. We are without power, have intermittent telephone service, and the DSL is down. Cell service is poor because some towers were damaged. But we're doing fine. We have a bag packed in case we have to evacuate.

So sorry to hear that you had some grief from Sunday's off-shore wind event.  At least the fire isn't a problem at the moment!  We don't have any fires in the San Francisco East Bay, but we sure do have a lot of smoke from the North Bay.  Here is a tree in Autumn colors barely visible through the haze:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Autumn-2017/i-nn745P3/0/d802d692/XL/Autumn%20tree%20under%20hazy%20skies-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Autumn-2017/i-nn745P3/A)

Here is a hillside that is about 1 mile away:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Autumn-2017/i-PrhMVcQ/0/185e49df/XL/Hillside%20across%20valley%20in%20the%20smoke-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Autumn-2017/i-PrhMVcQ/A)

Compare that photo to the one I took in 2015 from the same location:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-summer-2015/i-mVbVSjQ/0/8e2c8b66/XL/Firebreaks%20in%20distant%20hills%20-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-summer-2015/i-mVbVSjQ/A)

Our air quality has been compared to that of Beijing!

Still, the smoke is no problem so long as we don't have any additional fires.  Alas we are expecting off-shore winds tonight and tomorrow night.  We are back on a red flag warning for potential fire danger.  We'll just have to continue to be vigilant.

Cheers, Edouard   
Title: Re: Welcome to Autumn 2017
Post by: Blicj11 on October 13, 2017, 04:27:45 PM
No photos, but the smoke from the California fires has rolled into the valleys here in Northern Utah. Hope every one of our WeatherCatters in California are safe.
Title: Another disappointing year for color (Re: Welcome to Autumn 2017)
Post by: elagache on October 13, 2017, 11:42:53 PM
Dear Blick and WeatherCat observers of the seasons changing,

Hope every one of our WeatherCatters in California are safe.

The situation has improved for the most part from yesterday through most of the day today.  However, we are expecting another very strong off-shore wind event late tonight through tomorrow.  So California WeatherCatters better stay on guard since this could start new fires.

In other news, I can see that we will have another disappointing year when it comes to autumn foliage (fires notwithstanding.)  The long hot Summer has over-stressed the trees and many are dropping their leaves before they change color.  I managed to catch this tree this morning:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Autumn-2017/i-mgLKFDd/0/8cfbc869/XL/Tree%20in%20Autumn%20yellow-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Autumn-2017/i-mgLKFDd/A)

However, it looks like I won't be contributing much of anything really pretty to this thread.

Such are da' conditions that prevail . . . . . .

Cheers, Edouard
Title: Two more local trees (Re: Welcome to Autumn 2017)
Post by: elagache on October 27, 2017, 11:46:33 PM
Dear WeatherCat observers of the seasons turning,

I'm still not having much luck getting some particular pretty scenes of autumn foliage, but just to keep this thread going here are two more:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Autumn-2017/i-J5pmK5b/0/8594bf2f/X2/Trees%20in%20yellow%20foliage-X2.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Autumn-2017/i-J5pmK5b/A)

Here is a tree with red foliage.  These are much less common in our neck of the woods:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Autumn-2017/i-LThvRXg/0/99f1c6bb/XL/Red%20and%20yellow%20foliage-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Autumn-2017/i-LThvRXg/A)

It appears that winter is closing in on a good many of you and scenes like this are becoming a distant memory.  So enjoy them while they last!

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]
Title: Re: Welcome to Autumn 2017
Post by: bcurry on October 29, 2017, 06:25:45 PM
Hi WeatherCats:
We're under a  wind warning from Tropical Storm Phillipe coming up the coast and it's supposed to merge with a low before going up the Bay of Fundy. I think that's going to make scenes like this have to wait for next year!
Cheers,
Bill

(https://scontent.fyaw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/22829175_2068822359798412_6932958284613976921_o.jpg?oh=56a76b53b50c751ba8d3c1993d6cc016&oe=5A6AE8EA)
Title: You've got THE Autumn scenery! (Re: Welcome to Autumn 2017)
Post by: elagache on October 29, 2017, 10:23:09 PM
Dear Bill and WeatherCat shutterbugs,

Another beautiful shot!  However, this one didn't tax your skill as much.  The trees are so gorgeous that you could let them do the "heavy lifting" to make the picture beautiful.

We're under a  wind warning from Tropical Storm Phillipe coming up the coast and it's supposed to merge with a low before going up the Bay of Fundy. I think that's going to make scenes like this have to wait for next year!

Best of luck riding out this storm!  We are definitely starting reach the point of the first Winter storms for the Northern hemisphere for this year.

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]
Title: More Autumn yellow. (Re: Welcome to Autumn 2017)
Post by: elagache on November 06, 2017, 11:34:29 PM
Dear WeatherCat observers of the seasons turning,

Amazingly some trees are still turning this late in the season.  I managed to snap this tree this afternoon:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Autumn-2017/i-zZzPP2J/0/35685cb5/XL/Tree%20in%20yellow%20autumn%20foliage-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Autumn-2017/i-zZzPP2J/A)

I might grab a few more shots but the weather is definitely turning.  Looks like an unusually wet November as far as the forecasters are willing to guess.

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]
Title: Atmospheric River season!! (Re: Autumn 2017)
Post by: elagache on November 16, 2017, 11:57:47 PM
Dear WeatherCat West coast drought watchers,

Thus far, while there has been some rain in Northern California, the quantity has been far from generous.  Finally we have had our first atmospheric river rain event and it has lived up to billing.  Thus far, the storm has given us 2.38" of rain (60.5mm) and we are still picking up some drizzle.  That has vaulted us to within a tenth of an inch of normal for November.  So far, it hasn't done any damage that I'm aware of, although we did pick up a small amount of seepage in the workshop.  I assume the soils were so dry that some rainfall just ran right through.

I was able to catch some autumn trees in the rain.  Here is a nice red tree:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Autumn-2017/i-9wxmcdB/0/1125cee2/XL/Tree%20with%20red%20foliage-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Autumn-2017/i-9wxmcdB/A)

Here is a tree with yellow leaves that are well underway to falling off:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Autumn-2017/i-cZqGxDV/0/23735b01/XL/Tree%20with%20yellow%20foliage-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Autumn-2017/i-cZqGxDV/A)

I have one more autumn scene that is extremely unusual in Northern California this early in the season:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Autumn-2017/i-VNNg5TH/0/90fc9240/XL/Babbling%20creek-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Autumn-2017/i-VNNg5TH/A)

This little creek had water in it all through the summer.  I've never seen that before.  It is still early in the 2017-18 rainfall season, but if the atmospheric rivers don't let us down, we might have enough water for a second year in a row! (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/rain_happy.gif)

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]
Title: Indian summer in California (Re: Welcome to Autumn 2017)
Post by: elagache on November 21, 2017, 11:02:30 PM
Dear WeatherCat observers of the seasons turning,

We have an unexpectedly strong ridge of high pressure over California.  As a result the temperatures are unusually warm for this time of year.   Today's high was 63˚ F (17.2˚ C) which is almost 10˚ F above normal (around 20% above normal.)  It was a good time to get my camera out for some pictures.  I managed to capture this tree in the fading light of afternoon:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Autumn-2017/i-RFfsV8P/0/2ca919e7/X2/Tree%20with%20yellow%20foliage%20in%20late%20afternoon%20light-X2.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Autumn-2017/i-RFfsV8P/A)

I also managed to capture this tree in the reddish hues for a change:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Autumn-2017/i-T3VvPLL/0/3d3a4d41/XL/Tree%20in%20red%20autumn%20foliage-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Autumn-2017/i-T3VvPLL/A)

Note the palm tree to the left.  This is after all California!  :D

Enjoy! Edouard  :)
Title: What's left after the storm (Re: Welcome to Autumn 2017)
Post by: elagache on November 28, 2017, 12:18:39 AM
Dear WeatherCat observers of the seasons turning,

Yesterday's storm was also quite windy so I didn't expect there to be much left in the way of Autumn foliage.  Still some trees are more hardy than others and are still shedding their leaves more slowly.  I spotted this tree nicely framed behind a background of evergreen trees:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Autumn-2017/i-RV8zF9V/0/177cb34d/XL/Tree%20in%20yellow%20foliage-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Autumn-2017/i-RV8zF9V/A)

Here is a group of trees in Autumn color against a steep road:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Autumn-2017/i-hsVVcxW/0/f32d455c/XL/Autumn%20trees%20in%20reds%20and%20yellows-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Autumn-2017/i-hsVVcxW/A)

It isn't a forest of trees in Autumn splendor but it is as good as you can expect in suburban Northern California!  :D

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]
Title: Re: Welcome to Autumn 2017
Post by: xairbusdriver on November 28, 2017, 01:35:03 AM
Just to prove I didn't really use camouflage duct tape...
Title: Thanks for sharing! (Re: Welcome to Autumn 2017)
Post by: elagache on November 29, 2017, 12:15:10 AM
Dear X-Air and WeatherCat shutterbugs,

A very nice shot X-Air!   :)  Thanks for sharing! (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/thanks_sign.gif)

Just to prove I didn't really use camouflage duct tape...

 [wink] . . . Awe shucks!  I took you at your word! . . .  [biggrin]

In the voice of Marvin the Martian:

 [wink] . . . . I'm not angry, just terribly, terribly hurt! . . . . .   lol(1)

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]
Title: The final season for California's hillsides (Re: Autumn 2017)
Post by: elagache on December 01, 2017, 12:28:01 AM
Dear WeatherCat observers of the seasons turning,

While many consider the weather of California to be a kind of paradise, in truth it represents a different kind of harshness - deprivation.  Wild plants must endure a very long dry season.  Grasses cope with this by allowing the blades to die out.  This produces the well known brown or "golden" color to California's hills (and other places facing drought.)  Here is an example of a hillside in early Summer 2015:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-summer-2015/i-mVbVSjQ/0/8e2c8b66/XL/Firebreaks%20in%20distant%20hills%20-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-summer-2015/i-mVbVSjQ/A)

This is how California's hills look like most of the year.  However, once there has been sufficient rain, there is one final transition that takes place.  The process of decomposing the dried grass changes their color from brown to something more silvery.  Here is the same hillside photographed yesterday:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Autumn-2017/i-5tL644Z/0/9cfdcbdd/XL/Silvery%20grasses%20and%20green%20firebreaks-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Autumn-2017/i-5tL644Z/A)

Some of the effect is certainly due to the low angle of the sun, but the changing color of the grasses is real.  Here is another example with a transition from Autumn to Winter in the air:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Autumn-2017/i-BKnPtrH/0/cdaee9a2/XL/Autumn%20trees%20and%20silvery%20grasses-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Autumn-2017/i-BKnPtrH/A)

On the hillside behind the trees the grasses are clearly silvery in color.  Here is a particularly clear example where the sun was about 90˚ to the camera direction:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Autumn-2017/i-Pfm4GVK/0/93516311/XL/Silvery%20grasses%20and%20rocks-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Autumn-2017/i-Pfm4GVK/A)

Hillsides at this time of year can be almost other worldly.  This hillside certainly doesn't appear to be what humans are accustomed to when it comes to plants:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Autumn-2017/i-wn99pb8/0/7581220e/XL/Silvery%20grasses%20above%20stables-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Autumn-2017/i-wn99pb8/A)

 ;) . . . Of course, if you really want to accentuate the "other worldly" aspect of a photo, you can always try setting your polarizer on "kill!" . . .  [biggrin]

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Autumn-2017/i-K2q9vMB/0/87bcf7b0/XL/Silvery%20grasses%20near%20substation-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Autumn-2017/i-K2q9vMB/A)

I hope that's some distraction from the bleak harshness of winter that already some of you have to cope with.

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]
Title: Re: Welcome to Autumn 2017
Post by: xairbusdriver on December 01, 2017, 11:38:31 PM
I believe you can improve the starkness of your images with judicious use of some of the tone painting brushes in PS, Lightroom or ON1... You can also "move" those power lines without any consultation with SoCalEdison! ;)
Title: Just don't have time for post-processing (Re: Welcome to Autumn 2017)
Post by: elagache on December 02, 2017, 10:48:02 PM
Dear X-Air and WeatherCat shutterbugs,

I believe you can improve the starkness of your images with judicious use of some of the tone painting brushes in PS, Lightroom or ON1... You can also "move" those power lines without any consultation with SoCalEdison! ;)

I'm sure that's true but I'm so strapped for time that I have no choice but to take photos "da' ol' fashioned way."  I really try to frame and compose the photo the first time - I won't have time to go back and fix it.

Cheers, Edouard

P.S. I would have to ask permission from Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) not Southern California Edison , but who's quibbling!  :D
Title: Spiderweb in early morning light. (Re: Welcome to Autumn 2017)
Post by: elagache on December 10, 2017, 10:25:41 PM
Dear WeatherCat observers of the seasons turning,

This morning as I was scrambling about to get breakfast ready, I spotted a very complete spiderweb lit up by the newly risen sun:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Autumn-2017/i-mcZ8NmW/0/d214ab50/X2/Spiderweb%20in%20early%20morning%20light-X2.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Autumn-2017/i-mcZ8NmW/A)

It should feel more like Winter around here, but instead the temperatures are unusually warm and the spiders are continuing to spin their webs in search of their next meal.  Alas, the first glimmer of any rain isn't until around Christmas. (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/desert-smiley.gif)

Oh well, . . . . . Edouard
Title: Re: Welcome to Autumn 2017
Post by: Blicj11 on December 11, 2017, 05:07:11 PM
Nice unique photo Edouard.
Title: Re: Welcome to Autumn 2017
Post by: Steve on December 14, 2017, 04:20:22 PM
The GardenCam looks like a postcard this morning!

Title: Re: Welcome to Autumn 2017
Post by: Blicj11 on December 14, 2017, 05:11:57 PM
Very nice Steve! We also got a wee bit of snow here yesterday.
Title: Thanks for sharing! (Re: Welcome to Autumn 2017)
Post by: elagache on December 14, 2017, 11:10:02 PM
Dear Steve, Blick, and WeatherCat observers of the seasons turning,

The GardenCam looks like a postcard this morning!

Very pretty indeed!  :)  Although this photo coming close to belonging more in a thread for pictures of winter!  [freeze]

Very nice Steve! We also got a wee bit of snow here yesterday.

Glad to see that you got some precipitation.  Alas, we both are really hurting because of this high pressure ridge blocking storms.  There is hints of a change in the weather pattern next week.  I sure hope it comes through!

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]