The Space Ship Has Landed

I took this at Eastman House.  I have seen this scene for years and I always stop and photograph it, but I was never satisfied that I had an interesting picture.  So I think this is good enough.  I probably shot this 5 different ways, from inside a corridor with windows that looks out at this scene.  I wanted this to look strange, as if a space ship had landed in a strange landscape.  It is a strange building.  This is in the back yard of Eastman House.  Originally the museum was just in Eastman House, but in 1989 A new museum wing was added behind the mansion, and in addition, there is an underground research and storage facility that is about 3 stories deep!  This structure is an emergency exit, I believe from the underground facility.  But it is a strange structure, isn't it?  I thought black and white worked better than the color version of this photograph.

 

The Last of Fall Color

This feels like cheating just a bit, because I have photographed this scene and this tree three other times this fall!  BUT...   It is amazing how things can change so quickly in a week.  These are the last leaves on that Japanese maple tree and yet they still put on a show.  They really stand out because this is in the Morning and the house is in shadow, but the leaves are back lit which makes them show their color best.  The rest of the tree is bare now.  I really love Fall because of all these changes and it keeps me looking for what's next.

 

Formation Flight

It is such a powerful feeling to see a formation of Canada Geese flying in the Fall.  Their flight, for me,  evokes a sense of wanderlust.  I start thinking of the long distance they have to fly to get to their wintering range.  When I started reading about the migration of the geese, I was surprised to learn that a lot of geese don't migrate!  They have learned to live in urban areas in ponds that might be on golf courses or condominium communities, which is the case where Vince and Jo Anne live.  

When I do my two-mile walks when we are staying in Rochester, I walk by this pond twice, on each walk.  I don't remember ever seeing more than a few geese here.  But the last day we were there, I walked really late in the day, after sunset, and it was amazing to see flocks of geese descend from the sky and land on the water.  I am guessing that's where they stay for the night.  It was interesting to read more about Canada Geese, and learn unexpected things.