Autumn speaks to me in many voices. Sometimes exuberantly, through golden larches, crimson foliage, and mountains illuminated by the last rays of sunlight. At other times, it whispers through morning mist, still waters, and the quiet solitude of a forest trail.
During my recent journey through the Canadian Rockies, I found myself in engaging in four primary conversations with Autumn. These conversations were about Color, Quiet, Wonder and Change.
The Four Conversations
Conversation One: Color
At Emerald Lake I heard some of Autumn’s more exuberant voice, with its rich foliage, blue-green water, and almost storybook quality. We seldom see pure colors in autumn and that to me is what makes autumn so beautiful–bright reds contain bits of gold, and luminous golds bits of yellow. Colors bleed into each other like the strokes of a painter’s brush. This blending of color and light reminds me of the Impressionist painters, whose work has profoundly influenced my approach to photography, as I explore in my essay, Light, Color and My Creative Journey. The blending of colors is like a collection of different voices in a harmonious chorus, not a single voice.
Here at Emerald Lake, I am grateful to have discovered this beautiful spot framed by autumn foliage. Three prominent red bushes, arranged in a perfectly imperfect triangular pattern, add a splash of color to the turquoise waters and majestic mountains beyond. I notice a red canoe quietly gliding across the water. Suddenly, the scene takes on an almost storybook quality. The little red canoe, dwarfed by the surrounding mountains, seems perfectly at home in this idyllic landscape.
Second Conversation: Quiet
During the last week of September and first week of October a calm stillness often comes to the Alpine Autumn Landscape. It is almost like a return of summer after the initial Autumn storms earlier in September that brought the colors and perhaps even a dusting of snow. Some call this two-week stretch of good weather the “Indian Summer”, a kind of confluence of Fall, Summer and sometimes even Winter. During this time, I often hear more quiet voices. Here in the soft afternoon light, golden larches glow at the base of Naiset Peak, their autumn colors reflected in the still waters of Gog Lake. Above, a dusting of early snow graces the rugged slopes, where autumn, summer, and winter all briefly meet in a moment of quiet beauty.
Third Conversation: Wonder
Sometimes the voice of Autumn is unmistakable. This often occurs when we approach our first glimpse of a grand scene such as the one I encountered above, the Nub View Point. At this iconic viewpoint, the deep blue waters of Sunburst and Cerulean Lakes rest among larches glowing gold in the setting sun. Above it all, rises the unmistakable pyramid of Mount Assiniboine and the rugged walls of Sunburst Peak. Especially with the considerable effort getting to this point, I experienced an almost overwhelming sense of awe and wonder in the face of such beauty. I just wanted to shout out Wow Wow Wow and that is what I did.
Conversation Four: Change
We do not always experience the calm of the Indian Summer in Autumn. Autumn storms can come quickly and with little notice. While in Assiniboine we woke up one morning to snow. It is here that Autumn met Winter and I joined both of them in conversation. On the calendar, we had only just crossed from summer into autumn, yet here in the mountains, autumn and winter seemed already engaged in a tango.
Stepping out of the cabin onto the crisp new snow, I made my way to this viewpoint above Lake Magog. As the sun rose, its first golden light touched the tops of the peaks, while the lake below reflected the warmth of the morning sky. For a few fleeting moments, a landscape dressed in winter glowed with the colors of autumn.
I wished I could have stayed longer, but soon I needed to make my way back to the helipad for our flight out. It was time to say goodbye to Assiniboine. The moment was fleeting, but the memories—and the beauty of this remarkable place—will remain with me for years to come.
What These Conversations Taught Me
Looking back on these conversations with autumn, I am reminded that nature’s beauty is inseparable from its impermanence. The beautiful landscape may at first blush look like it will be there forever, but the colors we treasure are fleeting, the stillness of a mountain lake is only momentary, and the landscapes we encounter rarely remain unchanged for long. Autumn for me is a conversation with Wabi-Sabi and what I hear is “Nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect.” For more on Wabi-Sabi see my blog post My Encounters with Wabi-Sabi and the Quest for Perfection in Nature Photography
A New Generation of Aspen Trees
Perhaps that is part of what makes these experiences so meaningful. We cannot hold on to the golden light, the autumn colors, or the quiet moments that seem suspended in time. But we can learn to be more present, to welcome the unexpected, and to appreciate the beauty of each passing moment. The circle turns, and the cycle repeats itself. Autumn will come again. The only constant is change.
As I navigate my own golden years, autumn reminds me that change is not simply something to endure, but also something to embrace. Perhaps the greatest gift is learning to live more fully in the present, appreciating each fleeting moment of this precious time on our beautiful Earth.
Landing in Assiniboine: First Time on a Helicopter!
I am a nature and landscape photographer based in Fairwood, Washington. My work focuses on capturing the essence and emotion of the Pacific Northwest’s mountains, forests, and coastlines. Recently I have also explored landscapes abroad in Japan, Patagonia, Venice and the Dolomites. I witness and interpret nature. I aim to convey my inner vision and personal connection to the landscape through images. I am also a writer. I couple my images with stories. I publish articles covering a wide range of philosophical and spiritual subjects. These subjects also relate to nature and photography. I am available for private in the field workshops and zoom sessions, speaking engagements and presentations, along with longer term apprenticeships.
