Nature’s Golden Filter

Nature’s Golden Filter
            Vintage sepia-toned photos capture our hearts and imaginations. People we don’t know, and places we’ve never seen look nostalgically familiar when viewed through that golden-brown veil.
            Cameras and software can change focus, color and lighting to evoke all sorts of moods, softening the sharp edges of reality.
            Nature can have a buffering effect, too. When I’m stressed by life’s challenges, spending time in nature makes the world feel like a softer, kinder place. Out on a trail, I blank out the issues that were troubling me until I get back to the trailhead. At that point, the problems don’t feel quite as big anymore.
            The sunset, flickering shadows, bird songs, the sound of waves, the feeling of a breeze on your cheek and a dirt path underfoot have healing, uplifting powers.
            I like the color and lighting tricks the sun and sky play. This photo of figures on a trail emanating with a golden glow has been tinted by nature’s hand, not mine. Cameras sometimes capture nature’s visual effects that evoke that same heart-tugging, nostalgic warmth that we feel from vintage photos.
            May walking outdoors bring a warm glow to your spirits, and keep putting one foot forward!
            This week’s HikingAutism Hike Notes from the archives is Julian Trail – Marin Headlands, a trail whose best features are highlighted when the sun glows just right.
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This week’s Hike Notes from the Archives:
(Original Hike Notes 51): Julian Trail – Marin Headlands
 
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