Fall Foliage 9-12-2012

Spotting vibrant red leaves in late August here in Connecticut is always quite a surprise, since prime foliage season is still several weeks away across the hills. Walking along the tree line on a sunny afternoon revealed an isolated branch that had turned early, standing out sharply against the surrounding deep summer greens.

Rich crimson and amber maple leaves dominate the foreground, backlit by direct afternoon sunlight that illuminates their delicate leaf veins. A soft-focus background of out-of-focus yellow and lime-green canopy blurs into smooth bokeh, accentuating the warm, early autumn color palette across the branches on a clear day.