Autumn Spendor, originally uploaded by © Don Iannone Photography.

Autumn scene at North Chagrin Reservation in the Cleveland Metroparks in Mayfield Village, Ohio. Best seen in person or in large size view on Flickr.

This is Autumn!, originally uploaded by © Don Iannone Photography.

Close-up of autumn leaves with bokeh. Best seen in large size view.

Spotting Wild Photogs Between the Leaves, originally uploaded by © Don Iannone Photography.

Autumn is here and so are the wild photogs. This is one from the North Chagrin Reservation of the Cleveland Metroparks in Mayfield Village, Ohio. Best seen as one of the photographers in the group or in large size view on Flickr.

Shootin’ an Ole Log, originally uploaded by © Don Iannone Photography.

Shot of part of a fallen white birch tree in the forest at North Chagrin Reservation of the Cleveland Metroparks in Mayfield Village, Ohio. Best seen on a walk through the forest, or in large size view on Flickr.

Behold Your Flowering Beauty, originally uploaded by © Don Iannone Photography.

Seeing Yourself in a Flower. Best seen in large size view.

Don’t Close Your Heart to the World, originally uploaded by © Don Iannone Photography.

Locked gate of a crypt in Mayfield Village Cemetery (Mayfield Village, Ohio)

Cosmic Happiness (2 of 2), originally uploaded by © Don Iannone Photography.

The Cosmos flowers linger on even as fall sets in. This beauty strutted her stuff in the sunshine. Best seen in large size view.

Autumn Colors (2 of 2), originally uploaded by © Don Iannone Photography.

This is a close-up shot of some dried leaves of a plant in my wife’s garden. I liked the colors and texture of the plant, which caught my attention. Best seen in large size view.

September Dragonfly (1 of 3), originally uploaded by © Don Iannone Photography.

This is a shot of a lovely dragonfly sunning itself in my wife’s flower garden. Best seen in large size view here.

God’s Creatures (1 of 2), originally uploaded by © Don Iannone Photography.

This is a shot from the Duck Pond at North Chagrin Reservation (Cleveland Metroparks) in Mayfield Village, Ohio. I liked it because of the variety of God’s creatures all found in one place (turtle and muskrat sunning themselves together and the ducks in the background.)

Forest Beyond the Fence ( 2 of 2), originally uploaded by © Don Iannone Photography.

With fall coming, the colors of Northeast Ohio’s forests are beginning to change. This photo shows how the transition is occurring. Taken in the woods at the back of the Mayfield Village Wetlands. Best seen in large size view.

Just a Simple Bird Box (1 of 2), originally uploaded by © Don Iannone Photography.

This is bird box in the Mayfield Village Wetlands. I like the simplicity of this photograph, but also the beautiful bokeh background created by the cattails, which are beginning to shift into their fall colors.

Nature Spins Her Web of Life (2 of 2), originally uploaded by © Don Iannone Photography.

I love the intricate details of nature. She does a remarkable job of spinning the web of life, which includes all of us in our vast similarities and differences. This photograph attempts to make this point. Taken in the Mayfield Village Wetlands.

Heron Glee, originally uploaded by © Don Iannone Photography.

This is another shot of our gleeful heron friend at North Chagrin Reservation (Cleveland Metroparks). This guy is so photogenic. Another painterly image due to the late afternoon sun and September colors appearing early in the month.

Best seen in large size view. (Note: Only contacts can see my photos in large view.)

He Says “Fall’s Coming Folks”, originally uploaded by © Don Iannone Photography.

This is a shot of a male gold finch eating wildflower seeds in the wetlands at North Chagrin Reservation of the Cleveland Metroparks. I count this as a special shot because of the natural artistry of the scene. This could be a painting. Best seen in large size view.

Heron Fishing for Dinner, originally uploaded by © Don Iannone Photography.

I took a long series of photos of this heron fishing for his dinner. Taken at North Chagrin Reservation in the Cleveland Metroparks. This one was a splash with me. Best seen in large size view.

Spring is Eternal In Our Hearts, originally uploaded by © Don Iannone Photography.

This is a springtime shot of part of the sea of red and white tulips at the entrance of Progressive Corporation’s corporate headquarters in Mayfield Village, Ohio. Progressive is one of the world largest auto insurance companies. Best scene in large size view.

Photography Quote: “Our personal growth can fuel our photography and our photography can fuel our personal growth.” ~ Brooks Jensen

Photog and Barn Swallows, originally uploaded by © Don Iannone Photography.

This is a shot from the North Chagrin Reservation of the Cleveland Metroparks near our home. This is one from the spring. Several photogs, including myself, were poised to capture this pair of barn swallows with their cameras. I decided a meta-photo, that is a photograph of a photographer taking a picture, was in order. Best seen in large size view.

Blowin’ in the Wind, originally uploaded by © Don Iannone Photography.

Best seen in large size view)

Blowin’ in the Wind
By Bob Dylan

How many roads must a man walk down
Before you call him a man?
Yes, ‘n’ how many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
Yes, ‘n’ how many times must the cannon balls fly
Before they’re forever banned?
The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind,
The answer is blowin’ in the wind.

How many years can a mountain exist
Before it’s washed to the sea?
Yes, ‘n’ how many years can some people exist
Before they’re allowed to be free?
Yes, ‘n’ how many times can a man turn his head,
Pretending he just doesn’t see?
The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind,
The answer is blowin’ in the wind.

How many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
Yes, ‘n’ how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
Yes, ‘n’ how many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died?
The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind,
The answer is blowin’ in the wind.

As We Grow Older, originally uploaded by © Don Iannone Photography.

This photo is best seen in large size view to see its details. A new poem:

Summer flowers
Slipping away
Like the sun at dusk
The youthful spring, no more
In the old man’s step

Dog-eared cone flowers
Droopy pink petals
Spiny orange tops
As best they can
Holding on for dear life

Our lives at times
Weak-kneed, fragile, out of kilter
Like some faint bad dream
Weighing upon us
Lingering well past morning coffee

Sometimes we wonder
Especially when afraid
If it’s something we’ve done
That’s driven our lives away
Or maybe just time to say goodbye

The Universe in a Cosmos Flower, originally uploaded by © Don Iannone Photography.

According to Wikipedia, cosmology (from Greek κοσμολογία – κόσμος, kosmos, “universe”; and -λογία, -logia, “study”) is the study of the universe in its totality, and by extension, humanity’s place in it. My recent studies included several courses on cosmology. One of which was Mind in the Cosmos; a study of the role of consciousness in the ongoing creation of the cosmos. The course taught us about the causal role of consciousness in giving birth to the universe we are a part of and live within. (Both the photo and the universe are best seen in large size view).

Sitting Pretty, originally uploaded by © Don Iannone Photography.

This shot was taken in my wife Mary’s garden. Best seen in large size view.

A summery shot of my wife Mary’s flower garden. It is hard to believe it is nearly mid-August. Savor your summer flowers, the warm evenings, sounds of crickets and frogs, and other reminders of the season of sun. Soon they will disappear…stolen away by the breath of fall. (Best seen in large size view)

Finding Peace in a Stargazer, originally uploaded by © Don Iannone Photography.

OM: To learn more, click here.

Stargazer Lily Sticking Out Its Tongue, originally uploaded by © Don Iannone Photography.

Here is a side view shot of one of the amazing stargazer lilies in my wife Mary’s flower garden. This is a new one that opened yesterday morning. Caught it with its mouth open sticking out its tongue. Best seen in person. If that is not possible, view in large size.