I didn’t plan to take wildlife photos that day. It was just a slow recovery walk after a few harder bike workouts — the kind of quiet stroll I sometimes take around the outskirts of my town. The fields there look almost empty at this time of year — ploughed soil, cold air, a touch of wind, and that late-autumn stillness that feels like everything is already waiting for winter. Even though it’s only a few hundred metres from my house, once you step off the road it becomes a surprisingly quiet, open space, wrapped in the soft, earthy smell of damp soil and the faint rustle of dry plants.
A quiet moment of late autumn — a tree mirrored in still water as the last light of the day fades
Late autumn photography has its own quiet charm — calm, muted, and fleeting. Many November days are wrapped in fog, the fields soaked by rain, and sunlight is rare. But every now and then, the clouds part for a few hours. That’s when I take my camera, get on the bike, and wander through the nearby fields, hoping to catch a glimpse of light before it disappears again.
A curious vole peeks out of its burrow for a brief moment before disappearing again
During a family walk to a small lake near our house in central Poland, my son suddenly pointed toward the grass and whispered that something was moving. We stopped and waited. For a moment, nothing happened — only the faint rustle of dry stems and the cool scent of damp leaves carried by the evening air.
Golden birch leaves glowing along a quiet countryside path at sunset
The light was fading fast. I was just finishing up for the day when the setting sun broke through the clouds, setting the entire path on fire with golden light. I had to act quickly. I recomposed and captured a few frames before the color vanished — a perfect example of autumn’s fleeting beauty, whether you’re out for a ride or a dedicated photo walk.
Golden light along a quiet road in Warta-Widawka Landscape Park — a reminder that even the roughest paths can lead to the most beautiful views
Sometimes the best detours happen when you least expect them. On this autumn afternoon in central Poland, I set out for a short bike ride — nothing ambitious, just a chance to breathe in the crisp air and enjoy the fading warmth of the season. There’s a road I usually avoid: uneven, cracked asphalt, not exactly friendly to bike tires. But that day, I turned onto it anyway.
A quiet forest road framed by golden birch trees — a final burst of autumn color before winter
Each season brings its own beauty to photograph — from frozen mornings to vibrant spring greens — and I truly enjoy capturing them all. In winter, when the world slows down, I build my fitness on the indoor smart trainer, but I still take my camera for walks, searching for quiet, muted tones.
A calm evening encounter — a small bird resting confidently on bare branches, framed by the gentle colors of the setting sky
This small bird perched confidently on a bare branch, bathed in the soft light of an autumn evening. What caught my attention most was how unbothered it seemed — watching me quietly as if posing for the lens. The delicate pastel sky made a perfect backdrop for its patterned feathers.
Golden autumn light after a late-evening ride through the forest — a calm moment of warm tones, mist, and soft golden-hour glow captured on a quiet countryside path
It was one of those quiet late-evening rides on my winter bike — the road bike season already behind me, and the forest paths becoming my go-to escape. The air was cool and calm, with a hint of fog. After riding through a dense patch of trees, I suddenly rolled out into this open field — and this view just stopped me. The low autumn sun painted everything with warm golden light, cutting through the haze and setting the trees on fire with color. I simply had to capture it.
Red rowan berries among golden leaves — a simple autumn detail brought to life with warm tones and gentle contrast in Photoshop
There’s a certain kind of light that only autumn brings — warm, honey-gold, and fleeting. It turns ordinary leaves into glowing mosaics of red, orange, and yellow. But capturing that feeling in a photo doesn’t always come straight from the camera.
Golden birch tree in front of a forest of red, orange, and green hues — a perfect example of autumn color harmony
The golden birch tree immediately caught my eye — glowing in the soft evening light, it stood out like a beacon against the darker autumn forest. Behind it, layers of red, orange, and deep green foliage created a rich and classic fall color palette that perfectly captured the essence of the season.
Shutter and Saddle 