Between Storms: An Autumn Drive Along the River Road
These drives are an escape and a reminder—a pause in life’s relentless march
There’s something so inviting about a crisp autumn Sunday that beckons you to leave the noise behind and wander along a winding river road. The small towns you pass through seem untouched by the rush of modern life, their quiet dirt roads inviting you to sample a taste of simpler times.
Fall harvest is in full swing here in Northern California. Cornfields sway in the breeze; the fruit trees stand bare, their work done for the year, as the cold north wind whistles through their branches. It’s a season of transitions, where the warm sun on the back of your neck gives way to brisk gusts heralding the next storm.
I’ve been fortunate these past two years, capturing those rare days sandwiched between autumn storms. The skies tell their story, filled with dynamic clouds that shift with the wind, painting shadows across the landscape. The interplay of light and dark creates a dramatic contrast that stops me in my tracks.
These drives are an escape and a reminder—a pause in life’s relentless march. It’s not just about the photos, though they carry memories; it’s about the experience of standing still, feeling the cycle of seasons unfolding before you.
Hopefully, these images share the essence of these moments: the connection to nature, the beauty of solitude, and the stories whispered by the wind and shadow.
So true Ben, pausing to savor the melancholia of autumn during the “relentless march” is both poignant and crucial. I invite you to the original land of melancholia, midwest farmland in transition. Soybeans are golden only for a week before becoming dirt brown and corn, once garish green, turn a crispy, dull yellowish hue. But the trees take center stage, offsetting the impending harvest; orange, red, amber and magenta. Of course, black and white photography wouldn’t showcase any of it but that deep yearning for simpler times past remain.
Beautiful images Benjamin - I agree wholeheartedly with your first line and autumn mornings. For me winter brings out these feelings and a type of nostalgia. It is as if time slows down, life slows down and everyone else picks up on it. The chilly mornings just make photography feel more like an art as opposed to just another thing on the list.