Thanks, John. One problem we've had this year is that the record cold snap a week ago took our temperatures down to around 20 degrees Fahrenheit and kept them there for nearly three days eliminating the red and yellow leaves we usually get at this time of year. But the contrast between the brown leaves and the green conifers in the lateral light was too much to resist. That's Garden of the Gods looming up in the background.
Sayeed, There's no doubt Gene Smith was a brilliant photographer. I've always been sort of surprised though that Magnum has him on their site. Gene was a Magnum member for a fairly short time and during that time he nearly bankrupted the organization. He always went on and on with an assignment, trying for perfection. On one assignment -- I think it was Minamata, though I'd have to check to be sure -- he went on and on and kept dipping into the Magnum treasury for the stuff he needed until Magnum had to back away. I think Gene left the organization rather than being pushed out, but off hand I'm not quite sure about that either. His Country Doctor is one of my all-time favorite photo series.
