On October 18th we drove up Highway 475 into the Sangre de Cristo Mountains northeast of Santa Fe in a quest for fall foliage, especially from aspen trees (Populus tremuloides), as you saw last time. Stands of bare aspen trunks also constitute a photographic talisman,* with seemingly every nature photographer under the sun taking a crack at them. Lacking long-term access to the subject, I didn't expect to take pictures like the best of those. Even so, I came away with a view of white trunks that pleased me, one that differs from what I've seen; it leads off today's trio. Most photographers frame aspen groves horizontally to include as many trunks as possible. I took some of my pictures that way, too, but in these three photographs I went for a narrow view to emphasize verticality. In the middle picture, notice (how could you not?) the way one evergreen stood out among the many aspen crowns.
In the third view, the day's bright blue sky played an important role.
* The Oxford Learner's Dictionaries defines talisman as 'an object that is thought to have magic powers and to bring good luck.' Now compare that with the much more elaborate definition in Noah Webster's 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language.
1. A magical figure cut or engraved under certain superstitious observances of the configuration of the heavens, to which wonderful effects are ascribed; or it is the seal, figure, character or image of a heavenly sign, constellation or planet, engraven on a sympathetic stone, or on a metal corresponding to the star, in order to receive its influence. The talismans of the Samothracians were pieces of iron, formed into images and set in rings, etc. They were held to be preservatives against all kinds of evils.
Talismans are of three kinds, astronomical, magical and mixed. Hence,
2. Something that produces extraordinary effects; as a talisman to destroy diseases.
© 2022 Steven Schwartzman
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