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Cares and Autumn Leaves


Cares and Autumn Leaves
Photo Information
Copyright: John McLaird (jmcl) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 261 W: 4 N: 204] (656)
Genre: People
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-10-03
Categories: Nature, Friends/Family
Exposure: f/3.1, 1/133 seconds
Map: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-08-23 23:38
Viewed: 744
Points: 62
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Cares and Autumn Leaves.

Fern Lake Trail
Rocky Mountain National Park

“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves .” ~John Muir

Hiking is a time Andrew and I can escape the world together each weekend. We can be together in a way that does not need words and find our own thoughts to the gentle sounds of the wind and our footsteps. He can escape the pressures and anxiety of a society that is so foreign to his existence. I can escape my fears of the road ahead.

Eye contact is very difficult for people with autism. It can be an issue of severe anxiety for Andrew. I remember when Andrew was young and we had invested countless amounts of time and money into therapies working for hours on “look at me” ... Many of the unusual postures Andrew holds his body in are purely ways to stand with the least chance of eye contact. I remember years later a moment of epiphany for me talking to a psychiatrist one day when we got onto the topic of evaluating Andrew’s behaviors .. His body has reasons for the things he does .. avoiding eye contact .. burying himself in mud .. etc. I no longer fight this battle of eye contact with Andrew .. and the funny thing is upon my retreat his eye contact has improved dramatically over the last years.

This image is from the Fern Lake Trail. One of Andrew’s favorite places. It is mostly level .. a difficult thing to find in the mountains .. as it winds through aspen groves and along the banks of the Big Thompson river. Typically we park at the bigger lot down this gravel road from the main trailhead. I have never understood why people drive this road in autumn (or any season) .. It is such an unbelievable walk through the aspen groves.

This was our first walk here together in autumn. I had just owned my first small digicam for a short while and had just upgraded to a slightly better one (3.2mp). As we started down the road amongst these amazing trees the blue skies quickly clouded and we spent most of our day in a gentle rain. Andrew loved the mud. This is one of my only images from the day before Andrew ended up a very pleased muddy mess. I don’t know if I have ever felt the reverence for nature as I did on this day walking through these vibrant trees so contrasted by the misty air. I have returned here every fall since. I always find images I love here .. but have yet to recapture this day.
pablominto, Silke, Werewolf, evanrizo, Marioana, cunejo200, tibig, erdna, mvdisco, dpenrod, Simina, shelbeesmom, saeedabbasi, Televana, strom, hester, JanP has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To pisces_t: Hi Traceyjmcl 2 09-02 04:08
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello John,
Nice to see you in TrekLens too!
If you have more images like this TL is the place to be...
A well composed depition of autumn, with strong colours and decay in nature!
Greetings,
Pablo -

  • Great 
  • Silke Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2847 W: 263 N: 5948] (23590)
  • [2007-08-24 2:30]

Hi John
I like the colours in this very much. The composition is also superb. Funny thing: it seems that Andrew tends to fit into his surroundings very well in the backwoods. there is something natural about him here.
One of the things I like about this composition is that it is very optimistic: There is a long stretch of road behind Andrew and the suggestion that he is catching up.
TFS
Silke

  • Great 
  • lele Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 814 W: 51 N: 1717] (11169)
  • [2007-08-24 3:55]

Hello John...compliments for this photo...
is very great...
i love this colors....
the subject is straordinary....
compliments
lele

true colors of the autumn and match with the jacket.
good idea

With the coat in orange and the autumns colors... we have a nice harmony! It please me... Some kind of inside peace.
That road have excellent colors here!

Hi John, the light and the colors are so nice, I would say magical.
You placed your son very good.
Best wishes.
Evan

Hi John!
I very like see you on TL :}
Wonderful composition!
I like colours and atmosphere!
Regards!
Yuri

Hi John
I like walking try forest and colors behind are exellent
Nice image and my compliments
Cheers,Braca

Hello John.
Good to see you on TL as well. Lovely light and colour. An interesting composition. Really accentuates the feeling of being alone together. Very lovely. Well done.
Best regards, Steve.

Hello John,
The warm fall colors are quite appealing. I like how you positioned Andrew on the side of the winding road. Technically well done. Best regards, Danilo

Nice warm colours
All match well with the jacket
Ruud

  • Great 
  • tibig Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 657 W: 26 N: 681] (7565)
  • [2007-08-26 12:25]

Beautiful capture of the foliage here. And birch trees, wow, I rarely get to see them as we don't have them at these latitudes.
Regards,
Tibi

  • Great 
  • erdna Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 629 W: 68 N: 746] (5423)
  • [2007-08-27 7:17]

A very nice picture! The jacket color matches well with the colors of autumn. Beautiful work.

Thanks for your visit and comments on my photo, "Necropolis of Sakkara".

Andre'

Hello John,
Beautiful picture of autumn nicely composed with beautiful autumn colors , Excellent point of view, Great shot..Well done..
Michel

Wonderful colours in that autumnal scene! Wonderful nature and feelings, too.
Thanks for sharing, John.
Greetings,
Athanasios.

Astounding color and great mood:) Andrew looks right at home and helps us sense what it would be like to be there in this magical scene. Nice job!

Hello John,
Nice composition with the path starting from the left and curving around to the right. I like how your sons jacket is similar in color to the trees.
I am greatly moved by your honesty and sharing of your life with your son. I will never know the joy of having my own child and can only understand when people share.
This photo has a special feel about it. You wrote of feeling reverence for nature this day, I have felt that before when hiking many, many days in my youth while in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah. I find it difficult to find an area as special here in Wisconsin. I am glad you have a photo to remember this special day.
Thank you again,

Darren

Hi John: A wonderful autumn scene with a great perspective and POV the detail of the Orange jacket work well with the whole composition....... excellent.......... thanks for showing ...Roman:0)

Hi John, i love this shot, great and amazing colors, and the place look so great, congratulations by this... TFS...

Fer Ortega

http://www.ferortega.com

The colors are exelent like your cout !:)

Very beautifully colors of autumn. Nice picture!
All the best,
Simina

I do remember Estes Park, it's been years since I've been there! A gorgeous place and a neat shot of your son! I like how his jacket matches the leaves!
B-)
Linda

dear John ,
nice image with amazing colours.
well composed and nice sharpness.
great work.
my best wishes
Saeed

Hi John,
wonderful autumn colurs and mood. Especially thanks for your personal note, it's very beautiful.
Gabriella

Hello John,

This looks like a beautiful place to escape the stress and anxiety of daily life. Andrew is a very lucky boy, to have such a caring a father. I work with Autistic children, i understand the battle and frustration you speak of.

I like the autumn colours and the windy path.

Tfs Tracey

Hi John,
Hey great to see you here too!!! I love the colors of this..it reminds me so much of the days I spent riding my horse along dirt roads in vermont littered with golden leaves....thanks for the memories..
Donna:o)

  • Great 
  • strom Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 81 W: 3 N: 75] (395)
  • [2007-09-05 22:06]

John,
you caught an amazing moment and gave it life - your son walking in the sun reflected by the aspens trees. And the color connection between the lively golden leaves and the color of Andrew's windbreaker is almost unbelievable.
The picture with the winding road and the autumn colors of the aspen grove alone would have been great, but you elevated it to higher level of life. To human level.
This picture has a soul.
Thank you.
Petr

I love autumn, the colours are really beautiful and your picture shows this very well. The slightly winding path is quite interesting and adding Andrew adds some personal interest to the picture as well. Looks really good, well done!

Bonjour
splendide composition aux belles couleurs chaudes
jolie perspective et belle netteté
amicalement

jojo

PS merci pour ta visite

je repasse

  • Great 
  • hester Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1320 W: 31 N: 1634] (9994)
  • [2007-09-11 12:14]

It is a very warm picture in many ways. Lovely colours and nicely composed. It also feels like a happy shot.

TFS

Karan

La beauté est dans la teinte de l'image avec ses nuances. Le Monsieur amplifie la richesse des couleurs par son manteau.. Super.. Réal.

  • Great 
  • JanP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 173 W: 50 N: 120] (728)
  • [2007-10-19 14:49]
  • [2]

Hi John.
Lovely picture and fine note too. I like the nature here, and I certainly like your son placed in here too.
Excellent note - as well as some of your others - keep up this view of life!
I have been several places in the USA, but unfortunately never in Colorado. I have been told it should be quite pretty there.
Best wishes for you and your family.
Jan

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