Our Fall Hike

If you've been reading my posts, you know I've been planning to use my new camera during fall break.  I was actually planning to drive up alone yesterday, but when I heard mother was working I thought I'd pick up Aaron, my 9 year old brother.  I knew mother would be happy to see some fall pictures of him.  She's the one that usually takes the pictures of us when the leaves start dying.  She is also the one that got me thinking I should try photography myself.  So, after asking Aaron to join me and grabbing a bag, we stopped at 7  eleven for some corn nuts and slim jims.  I packed my backpack with junk and we started driving up to the location.  We parked at about 4:15ish, I tightened my Reeboks while Aaron grabbed the pack and his water.  Here we go;  The beginning of the trail is so steep that  it could quite possibly kill an obese american if they weren't careful.
After Aaron sprinted up the vertical switch-backs leaving me choking on all the damn dust behind him we started seeing the pastel autumn colors.  I wanted to pull out the camera then, but practiced some self-discipline.  A big portion of great picture-taking is waiting for the right light.  I learned that from mother.  I didn't start taking pictures until we had hiked up to the top, near the waterfall.   
We ate the rest of our corn nuts and refilled our sweaty core with water before heading back toward the valley below.  I must say I'm glad I don't have an old Nikon with film like mother.  My digital camera gives me the freedom to snap as many shots as I want with the freedom to delete and retake as I wish.  Film gets expensive, but does make the photographer patient (I wonder if that's why mother is so patient).  We had a blast taking pictures and eating jerky while we paced through the wondrous world of fall.  I think I'm getting the hang of my Nikon.  You tell me..