Autumn: Prelude to change by Andrew Adams

Here Essex photographer Andrew Adams explains why the changing season inspires him as a photographer.

Posted on 22nd October 2024

Autumn, the season of transformation and vibrant hues! There’s something magical about this time of year.

The way the leaves shift from their summer greens to a rich palette of yellows, oranges, and bronze it’s like nature’s own canvas.

As a photographer, I revel in capturing those moments when the world around me undergoes this beautiful metamorphosis. Each day brings a fresh perspective, even when I’m in the same location. The play of light, the crispness in the air, and the way the landscape transforms it’s all there, waiting to be framed through my viewfinder.

Autumn isn’t the end; it’s a prelude to winter. It’s a reminder that change is constant, and even as the leaves fall, there’s a promise of renewal.

Autumn in the park
Autumn in the park

Autumn in the United Kingdom: A Symphony of Nature’s Farewell

As the sun’s warmth wanes, and the days shorten, the United Kingdom dons its autumnal attire.

The air turns crisper, leaves transform into a kaleidoscope of hues with shades of browns, golds and russets, the landscape becomes a canvas for nature’s final flourish before winter’s icy grip.

During this seasonal symphony as I stand with camera in hand quietly observing the unsung heroes of this melancholic yet enchanting time of year.

A frosty morning
A frosty morning

The Rustling Leaves and Feathered Whispers

Fallow Deer Stags’ Roar

In the woodlands across Essex, the Fallow deer stags prepare for their annual rut. It’s now the start of Autumn.

Their antlers, like gnarled branches, clash in fierce battles for dominance. The haunting echo of their primal roars reverberates through the woods, a call to their harem and a challenge to rivals.

Amidst the honey-coloured foliage, these majestic creatures epitomize autumn’s grandeur.

Stag Deer at Weald
Stag Deer at Weald

Migratory Birds Take Flight

The skies become a migratory highway as birds bid farewell to our British Isles. Swallows, Swifts, and House Martins embark on their epic journey southward, tracing invisible arcs across the horizon.

Their departure leaves a void, but it also heralds the arrival of Winter Thrushes, Fieldfares and Redwings to name but a few - feasting on berries and gracing hedgerows with their amber plumage.

Swan on the lake at Weald
Swan on the lake at Weald

Squirrels’ Harvest Hustle

In city parks and ancient oak woods alike, Grey Squirrels engage in a frenetic race against time.

Their bushy tails twitch with anticipation as they gather acorns, hazelnuts, and dried leaves for bedding. These tireless hoarders stash their treasures in hidden caches, ensuring survival during the lean months ahead.

Of course, this all depends on whether they can find where they stashed their horde. Watch closely, and you’ll witness their balletic leaps from branch to branch, a ballet set to the rhythm of falling leaves.

They are not alone; watching them from up high are the opportunistic Jays eagerly waiting to loot the squirrel’s coffers.

Squirrel in autumnal leaves
Squirrel in autumnal leaves

Fungi’s Silent Emergence

Beneath the forest canopy, a secret world awakens. Fungi – the silent architects of decay and renewal awaken and push through damp earth and decaying logs.

Fly agarics, with their scarlet caps and white speckles, evoke fairy tales. Earthstars unfurl like celestial blooms. And the elusive chanterelles, golden and fragrant, hide among fallen leaves.

Autumn is their moment to send out their spores a fleeting encore before winter’s frost seals their fate.

Fungi in the forest
Fungi in the forest

A Farewell Note to Autumn Wildlife in the Essex Parks

The sun dips lower each day, the wildlife adapts to the changing rhythm. Autumn whispers its bittersweet lullaby with the promise of renewal entwined with the inevitability of endings.

So, let us walk through golden woodlands, breathe in the earthy scent, and honour the creatures that dance in this fleeting season. For in their existence, they remind us that life’s cycles are both fragile and resilient - a truth etched in every fallen leaf.

As the seasons shift, let us celebrate the wildlife that graces these reserves. Each creature, each rustling leaf, reminds us of the delicate balance of life - a symphony played out in the heart of Essex.

Autumnal landscape at Weald Country Park
Autumnal landscape at Weald Country Park

As the seasons shift, let us celebrate the wildlife that graces these reserves.

Each creature, each rustling leaf, reminds us of the delicate balance of life - a symphony played out in the heart of Essex.

Andrew Adams

Tufted Duck
Tufted Duck

To see more of Andrew’s photography, see his Instagram page: #andrew_d_adams or visit Youpic: www.youpic.com/AndrewAdams

Images courtesy of Andrew Adams.