Luke Images

It was such a glorious morning. I snapped this shot on my way back from the school run. I was across the main road and waited for a gap in the traffic.  The orange leaves seemed particularly vivid against the clear blue sky. And a lovely sun-tinged haze sat over the field.  I could have stayed there for a while just looking at it, but for the noisy traffic. Even so, for just a few moments this glorious scene stopped me in my tracks.  —  Again in black and white: Hmm, the gold is lost on this one!  Without the colour, the photo seems to be about the dark form of the tree and its fascinating tangle of branches. It looks rather untidy.  The lower tree looks neater, simpler. Perhaps it has led a sheltered life next to the other one. Sadly the vibrancy of its orange leaves are a muted mid-grey here. Yet they bring some relief and calm to the darkness.  And there, beyond the tree, you can see light on the field in the distance. It seems a smaller detail co...

A stunning Autumn afternoon. The light was irresistible. I had to stop and get off my bike to capture the silhouetted trees.  The phone camera has captured more than I wanted with its wide-angle lens. The dark canopy does offer extra interest, but it’s a bit sombre.  It’s those trees against the setting sunlight that get me – so simple, so pleasing to the eye with their lines and forms. They invite me to come closer and see what’s beyond. Come and see the light.  —  Again in black and white: —  Snapped on my old iPhone 6s on Beechen Lane track, Lyndhurst, New Forest. November 2022.  —  Photo ref: 20221124-Beechen-Lane-Parkhill-Inclosure-7 / IMG_5572

The light and colours of those trees in the background was something to behold as I stood gazing at them from the shadows. The contrast between here and there heightened the intensity of their autumnal glory. It was like standing outside the gates of a kingdom, peering up at it in wonder for the first time.  —  Again in black and white: —  Snapped on my old iPhone 6s along Beechen Lane track, Lyndhurst, New Forest. November 2022.  —  Photo ref: 20221109-Beechen-Lane-Parkhill-Inclosure-5 / IMG_5452

I could have spent all day in the forest today – stunning weather, gorgeous colours, wonderful atmosphere. As I approached this scene I was drawn in the lovely silhouetted treelines against the vibrant background. Shame about the bush in the bottom right corner. Could have done without that! But anyway, the rest is good.  —  Again in black and white: Hmm, on first impressions with this one it seems to be a bit less clear what’s going on with the weather. It’s a bit dark and brooding, with no colour to draw the eye and warm you up.  But the light on the leaves in the background draws the eye and brings a nice contrast to the silhouetted tree. And you notice that the sky is clear – and what appears to be a faint shaft of light on the ground – so it suggests the sun is out.  I guess all of that provides a certain curiosity factor. And then there are the lovely lines of the tree, and background details and debris on the ground that add interest.  So overall I thi...