We went back for the picture!

I took this image during the autumn in Leiden. Its at the bend of Morsingel Canal next to the old city gate Morschpoort

I like strolling down the picturesque canals in the small cities outside of Amsterdam. Leiden, for one, is lined with charming, tree-lined avenues. In autumn, it’s as if the trees take fashion advice from a very enthusiastic colour master, like that one girl I used to know in school. She knew her colours!

Then there is one small boat that has been there for a while- It floats, rocks and dances to nature’s tune from the water. Anyway, at the bend of Morsingel Canal, one of the show-off canals,  the leaves are a vibrant palette of oranges, reds, and yellows, each tree flaunting its own shade like it's competing in a beauty pageant.

So, it is the same walk, but in winter. The scene transforms dramatically. The flamboyant trees now stand bare like embarrassed party-goers who realise they’re overdressed and quickly stripped their outfits. But it’s a fascinating transformation and still one of the calmest bends.

Yet the boat continues to dance, waiting for the new season or maybe summer.

The transformation: Winter had stripped the nature of colours. It is almost bland, even to the eye.