Trees,

Last year, towards the end of autumn, I visited some woods just outside the town where I live. I’d just received the new M.Zuiko 50–200mm f/2.8 lens, so it was a great opportunity to try it out.
The light and weather weren’t on my side at that time of year; it was grey and damp. Nevertheless, I headed out into the countryside. I’m lucky to live fairly close to the woods, so I can get there quickly and easily, either by bike or on foot. I opted for the latter; it gives you more freedom of movement and is also good for your body and health.
It’s lovely to be in the woods very early in the morning; it’s still peaceful and quiet, apart from the birdsong and the rustling of the leaves. The birds are mainly blackbirds, robins, wrens, a few species of finch, as well as crows. With a bit of luck, you might also spot the lesser spotted woodpecker, thrushes and starlings. The squirrels are there too, but unfortunately I don’t spot any on my walks. Some patches of ground conceal the common frog, which is on its way to its winter shelter. A little further on, where the sound of traffic is very audible, three roe deer dart into the dense undergrowth. And off they go, disappearing from view, but such an encounter remains magical. The colours of the autumn leaves are intensely saturated.
The trees found in this section include birch, oak, beech and the occasional lime tree.  The Scots pine is also present.
Typical species include ferns, mosses, young trees (regrowth) and blueberries, depending on the amount of light and the soil type. This part of the forest is also visited in autumn by funghi hunters and macro photographers because it is home to many species found nowhere else in the Netherlands. I’m looking for solitary trees with character, but there aren’t many of those in this part. It’s lovely to walk so early in the morning; the forest also has a distinct scent at this time of year. I do like the scent, which is very earthy. 
Autumn remains my favourite time of year to visit the woods. Coming back to my new purchase, the M.Zuiko 50-200mm f/2.8, it’s a superb lens with a range of uses in the field, from near-macro to zoom. It’s incredibly versatile. Highly recommended and well worth the money.

All the photos were taken with the OMsystem OM-1 Mark II and the M.Zuiko 50-200mm f/2.8 IS Pro.