Launch of the Leaves

These trees growing just outside the front door appear to have become resigned to the fact that they are targets for my camera. For years they have captured my attention and when I got a digital camera a number of years ago, they were patient from the get-go, posing politely from season to season, year after year. And speaking of seasons, the change from one to the next has usually been gradual.

However one day last November, a sudden and incredible windstorm put an end to autumn in less than half an hour. My camera happened to be handy, and it captured the launch of the leaves into the air. It was wild and wonderful, with some intermittent moments of sunshine, and the leaves were leaping and dancing joyfully in the air, in the freedom of the moment like children bounding out of school after the bell has gone to end the day. 

 
Another glimpse of this incredibly wild windstorm which also had its sunny moments, was captured shortly before #3 above, and was posted a number of weeks ago. If you missed that one or would like to see it again, just click on the thumbnail below. A link there will return you here if you like.

Blog Note
Q :: Were there really that many leaves flying in the air, and were there that many leaves on the ground, or have those been photo-shopped?
A :: There were really that many leaves. It was quite a launch!

Looking for more take-offs? For more unique interpretations on this topic, you can check out the launch pad here.

64 comments on “Launch of the Leaves”

  1. 8 Jan 2012 at 05:44 Madman

    Yesss, I love the sequence 🙂

    Like

  2. 8 Jan 2012 at 05:54 rutheh

    A nice series, well-framed!

    Like

  3. 8 Jan 2012 at 08:05 nrhatch

    Great shots and telling, Kris. Especially: the leaves were leaping and dancing joyfully in the air, in the freedom of the moment like children bounding out of school after the bell has gone to end the day.

    Like

  4. 8 Jan 2012 at 11:23 Northern Narratives

    Yes, I have seen that happen when a big windstorm comes along. Nice post.

    Like

  5. 8 Jan 2012 at 14:19 Diana

    wow! great documentation!

    Like

  6. 8 Jan 2012 at 15:30 cobbies69

    Good shots. need a brush?

    Like

    • 8 Jan 2012 at 20:47 pix & kardz

      haha, good one!
      the leaves have since all been raked so we are ok, thanks! 🙂
      thank you for your great comment – and welcome to my blog.

      Like

  7. 8 Jan 2012 at 16:05 diggingher

    First let me say that I just love what you do with the blog colors and the photo’s…are all the backgrounds available in the one theme you use? I like your interpretation of the challenge and the story you share. The tree in my photo which was taken in mid-Sept last year(much earlier than an autumn day) lost all its leaves when the remant of the hurricane came through the weekend before. Actually every tree in the park was bare. http://wp.me/p1PaX2-4N

    Like

    • 8 Jan 2012 at 20:50 pix & kardz

      hi diggingher – thanks much for your kind words! the backgrounds are an automatic default – and the highlight feature of the duotone theme. it selects one and sometimes two of the colours in the photo image. many of my images have warm colours, so alot of my posts get a brown background. however spring and summer flowers are sometimes quite brilliant.
       
      the story behind your tree is sad, but it is a poignant image. really enjoyed that one.
      thanks for stopping by!

      Like

  8. 8 Jan 2012 at 18:47 Amar Naik

    all photos are nice. nice interpretation

    Like

  9. 8 Jan 2012 at 22:01 frizztext

    a wonderful photo story!
    greetings by

    Weekly Photo Challenge: Launch


    +

    Like

  10. 8 Jan 2012 at 22:09 Kate Kresse

    that was fabulous! What a comparison. loved this one.

    Like

  11. 9 Jan 2012 at 06:22 amira

    cool photos. i particularly like the one with the leaves flying. great capture 🙂

    Like

  12. 9 Jan 2012 at 11:37 Ruth Bailey

    You captured the theme well. It’s nice to see the different approach,

    Like

  13. 9 Jan 2012 at 14:53 jbheronneau

    Very good!
    I love the 3rd!
    It’s amazing… you were lucky 🙂

    Here are my pictures for this week:
    http://jibsphotography.wordpress.com/2012/01/10/weekly-photo-challenge-launch-1/
    http://jibsphotography.wordpress.com/2012/01/10/weekly-photo-challenge-launch-2/

    Weekly photo challenge – Launch 3

    Hope you’ll visit me 🙂

    bye

    Like

  14. 9 Jan 2012 at 18:10 Fergiemoto

    Great series and interpretation of the theme!

    Like

  15. 9 Jan 2012 at 19:14 sjoflife

    Love the storyline and the sequence capture. Tree stories always touch my bark um..mm my heart 🙂

    Here’s a few lines I wrote around 4 yrs ago, it seemed to completely mesh with your story, hope you don’t mind my sharing it here:

     
    THE LIFE OF LEAVES
     
    Spring green
    Leaves grow
    On branches unseen
    Quivering breeze
    Spiraling low
    From verdant trees
     
    Autumnal leaves
    Drift to the ground
    Mission complete
    Heaped in mounds
    Earth does greet
    Separated children found

    – Spiral Convergence

    Like

  16. 9 Jan 2012 at 21:18 Weekly Photo Challenge: Launch « Directionally Impaired in Life's Infinite Possibilities

    […] Launch of the leaves :: a tree story (kardzbykris.wordpress.com) […]

    Like

  17. 9 Jan 2012 at 22:20 LadyDiDi

    What a beautiful story! Thanks for sharing! The pictures are brilliant and your writing very intriguing.

    Like

  18. 10 Jan 2012 at 01:25 misspinkles

    aww I love this.
    such a fun way to document the life of a tree!!!! 🙂

    Like

  19. 10 Jan 2012 at 06:43 IsobelandCat

    Did you see what it looked like as an animation?

    Like

    • 10 Jan 2012 at 10:04 pix & kardz

      hey IsobelandCat, thanks for stopping by.
      i only saw it animated live.
      it happened so quickly, i was happy to capture a few moments of still shots – although even those do not look all that still 🙂

      Like

  20. 10 Jan 2012 at 14:18 the island traveler

    The journey and launching of the leaves with each turn of a beautiful and memorable season….just beautiful, even nostalgic. Made me reflect on all the events that happened in 2011. Happy New Year. Wishing all the best for 2012.

    Like

  21. 10 Jan 2012 at 16:35 Sony Fugaban

    If I made you smile because of my photos for this week’s photo challenge, you made me feel happy to for your interpretation using the beauty of nature. I have a thing with the latter so that explains why. Thanks for the “smiling” worlds, PK!

    🙂

    Like

  22. 10 Jan 2012 at 16:44 marina

    this is great! 🙂

    Like

  23. 10 Jan 2012 at 17:47 suitablefish

    love the launching of the leaves in #3. great selection for the challenge.

    Like

    • 12 Jan 2012 at 15:58 pix & kardz

      thanks suitablefish.
      am happy with that one as well – it was simply great timing. the leaves were flying and my camera was thrilled to click, and all was well 🙂

      Like

  24. 10 Jan 2012 at 19:51 thirdhandart

    A very creative entry! Love the photos and accompanying story.

    Like

    • 12 Jan 2012 at 16:00 pix & kardz

      thank you thirdhandart.
      i seem to find that some of my best stories are those which chase me, rather than me wondering about and looking for them.
      glad you like it 🙂

      Like

  25. 11 Jan 2012 at 00:22 Cardinal Guzman

    Haha, great shots 😀

    Like

  26. 11 Jan 2012 at 04:48 aRVee

    very cool story depicted through the pictures P&K… looks like there’s a lot of cleaning up to do on #4, lol 🙂

    Like

    • 12 Jan 2012 at 16:05 pix & kardz

      thanks aRVee. yes, you are right about #4.
      there were bags and bags and bags of them for compost recycling.
      never thought to capture them all lined up, but you have given me a good idea for the next autumn. something to keep in mind. 🙂

      Like

  27. 11 Jan 2012 at 06:57 Connie T

    Wow, good capture of that moment. That is a lot of leaves on the ground.

    Like

  28. 11 Jan 2012 at 10:55 elentari86

    Haha, nice interpretation of the theme!

    Like

  29. 11 Jan 2012 at 22:34 Emmons Beasley

    Beautiful story of transformation!

    Like

  30. 12 Jan 2012 at 10:22 spilledinkguy

    What a cool series!
    (I just wish they would come back much sooner than later! Is it spring yet?!)
    🙂

    Like

    • 12 Jan 2012 at 16:10 pix & kardz

      thank you SIG.
      actually, the buds are already putting in their appearance.
      the weather forecast for the weekend is calling for snow, but i think that spring is just around the corner 🙂

      Like

  31. 20 Jan 2012 at 23:17 semprevento

    you are fantastic!!
    vento

    Like

  32. 22 Jan 2012 at 23:33 semprevento

    your photos are beautiful,
    deserve a compliment
    🙂

    Liked by 1 person


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