October in Portland’s Forest Park: How to Capture Autumn’s Glory
© Imaginexxus LLC
There’s something innate about recording what we see. Some choose to do it in the blink of an eye. Literally. They simply close their eyes and attempt to etch a scene upon their brains to remember.
Others prefer to use a compact camera or smartphone. They hold it up to frame their shot. Click. Later the images are available to scroll through to recall or share.
Then there are the en plein air artists who refuse to be rushed to record how they see the world. They take a much more patient approach, packing up a suitcase chock-full of paints, brushes and miscellaneous accoutrements before trudging off in search of the perfect vantage point.
This late October morning was ideal for those visiting Portland’s Forest Park, one of the country’s largest urban oases. A spectacular array of colors dotted the trees’ branches and peppered the ground. We all tried to hold onto autumn’s glory in our own way—choosing different subjects and angles to capture the moment before winter’s rains washed it away.
If you enjoyed this story in our series, you may also enjoy three other stories about the beauty of autumn in a Vietnam Memorial, by a lake in Vermont or a trail in Minneapolis. We also invite you to check out the books in our series.