Amanda Smith Wyoming on Capturing Fall in the Cowboy State

"There is something to be said about 'capturing fall in Wyoming' and Wyoming Photographer Amanda Smith, seems to be able to do just that"  - pretty cool comment from published Author, Susan R. Stoltz.

I like to think that creating a piece of photographic art in the fall, comes with a feeling of calmness combined with cool "sweater wearing" evenings, a good pair of cowboy boots, a jug of lip burning coffee and a crispness to the air that only Autumn can bring.  So I'll start off my post today about "capturing fall in Wyoming" with a quick side-note that you don't "have" to wear cowboy boots when shooting in the fall, and you don't "have" to carry lip burning coffee, but I do.  :)

A Lazy Sunday evening drive through the hills of Boxelder Canyon in Converse County, Wyoming, provided for me quite the ambience in the setting of the September sun. There it was up ahead, a giant of a tree that I was determined to photograph in fall, even if I did burn my lips off while gulping down slurps of coffee on these winding Wyoming roads.

Wiping my mouth off on my sleeve, I pulled over to the shoulder of the road and crept my old dodge ram pick up over the cattle guard, pulling off onto the golden prairie I put the truck in  park and climbed out of the cab.  Stretching my tired back I grabbed my camera, twisting the strap around my wrist and quietly walked across the sage brush clumped ground to a spot where I could study what stood before me.  This giant of a tree, with her branches stretching out east and west and north and south, mesmerized me in her new coat of amber colored leaves.  I sat down on the cooling ground, and waited patiently for the sun to sink behind this majestic wonder.  Sometimes the key to a great photograph that you've already created in your mind, is patience.  Soon the rays of the autumn sun began to play across the branches of this old tree and as I brought my camera up to my eye, my breath quickening at the adrenalin that almost always races through my body when I know I am shooting from the heart, I began shooting.  And there it was, that old familiar and beautiful feeling right smack dab in the middle of my chest, depressing the shutter at the insistence of the beating of my heart, I knew I captured a golden moment.  A moment that completely captured what "Fall" is in my mind.  Leaves painted a hue of liquid gold that only God and Mother Nature can create. Continuing to shoot, because I wanted to be sure I'd actually created the shot I came for, the sun sank behind the tree and I could no longer see the beautiful rays shining through the leaves.

I made a conscious effort not to check my LCD screen, and turning my camera off, I pulled myself up off the now cold ground, worked out the kinks in my body, steadied myself and began the walk back to my truck. Happy and satisfied that I was sure to love the photo I'd just created.

And I did.

© Amanda Smith Wyoming Photography
http://amandasmithphotography.com/amanda-smith-wyoming-western-landscape-art-photographer/

I call her "Boxelder's Autumn Tree" because that's exactly what it is.  There is no need for intriguing titles that may or may not move those that view this masterpiece. The title "Boxelder's Autumn Tree" says it all.

Have an incredible and very BLESSED day!

Amanda Smith

Western Photographic Artist

Professional Photographer, Wyoming

Editor and Publisher of The Glenrock Bird Central Wyoming News, an Associated Press Newspaper.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/AmandaSmithPhotographs
www.amandasmithwyoming.com
www.amandasmithphotography.com