The Leaves are Falling

The foliage has been losing its freshness through the month of August, and here and there a yellow leaf shows itself like the first gray hair amidst the locks of a beauty who has seen one season too many. ~Oliver Wendell Holmes

How is it that something that is decaying can be so beautiful? I love the first September leaves that fall, especially the ones that are showing wear and tear. The rips, the mildew, the skeletonized lace revealing itself so delicately...each organic process leaves its mark and adds more color and texture. These flaws only add to the lovely, fading colors of the leaves themselves. On a late summer day, they begin to cascade downward, flushed with their last hurrah of color...most people shuffle their feet through these beautiful bits of glory, hurrying through their day without a glance. I notice their tangy perfection right away, and am mesmerized. I see their character, and the scars that show all they've weathered. I gasp and point and snap photos while my family rolls their eyes and look at me like I'm crazy. "There she goes again". :)

This is my submission for Texture Tuesday - I used Kim's "paper stained" texture at Soft Light/25%. I also used RadLab to tweak the mood of my image. Click on the button below if you want to join in or see more great photos!