Lessons Learned: Subtle hues

Who knows? This solitary brown oak leaf blown up on a rocky New England beach might have served as a brightly-colored subject in one of the pictures I took earlier...

But now - its fading glory complemented by equally subtle hues in the wave-worn blue-gray shore rocks - time wears heavily on this senior citizen, fragile and delicate against the relentless determination of the pebbles beneath it, vulnerable to the crush of rocks that surround it, and destined to destruction under the devastating effects of the harsh Maine weather above.

Contrary to the visually spiced images in this gallery (masts and red leaf with seaweed, for example) this image find its strength and raison d'être in the soft, gentle colors.

It's a quiet image of time, passage and humble dignity. The mood is cool, reserved and respectful to elements that would typically fade into the background noise of life in the year 2002.

Sometimes powerful images can be found in quiet, often overlooked subjects.