Community Voices ⎸ See Minnesota's fall colors from above
"The autumn season offers an example of how to change gracefully," writes Erica Dischino.
I go on the same walk nearly every morning. Even though my route is the same, there is always a surprise: the light, the weather, the foliage.
As my body settles into autumn, the change of seasons feels particularly personal. I’ve hoarded fallen red maple leaves knowing they will soon be gone.
Being a photographer, I am often confronted with the preciousness of a moment. Every image is made with the knowledge that it will never exactly be recreated again.
This was especially true when I documented fall colors. I made these images with a drone while I explored parts of northern Minnesota from early to mid-October this year. The colors of the foliage varied greatly depending on the place and the day.
The autumn season offers an example of how to change gracefully. Seeing Minnesota’s forests, lakes, and prairies from above gently reminded me that smaller transformations can result in bigger shifts.
Transition isn’t always pretty. And sometimes it’s being the only red tree in a sea of green. Change can be incremental or all at once. Sometimes all we need is a new perspective.
This photo essay was edited by Nora Hertel and Jen Zettel-Vandenhouten.
It is part of Project Optimist's Biophilia series, which explores the intersection of art and nature. The series is supported by a grant from Arts Midwest. Learn more here.