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The story behind this image

The beech woods of the Loggerheads Country Park, near my home in North Wales, were resplendant in their autumn finery as I enjoyed an afternoon's hiking and photography though this beautiful landscape.

The day was typically autumn, with a dull, overcast sky providing the ideal flat, contrastless lighting that allowed those rich, warm colours to shine through with maximum effect in this image.

This carpet of recently fallen leaves, punctuated with tree trunks, caught my eye so I stopped for a photo as I walked by.

Stopping every now and then was a treat in itself, as I was able to take in not just the visual beauty all around me, but the sounds and smells of the damp woodland slowly slipping into its winter sleep as well.

This image gives a visual hint of the ambiance, but I would recommend getting out into your nearest woodland this autumn to enjoy the full sensory experience.