Orange [Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge]
My parents left to return to England on Sunday after their three week stay with us in Chicago. Just as the colder, rainy weather began to move in, making the days dark and our nights spent listening to the pitter-patter of icy rain against the apartment windows. Mikey and I have been spending our week indoors, wearing cozy socks and catching up on some forgotten books from our bookshelves. Watching through the windows as the wind blows the newly-changed red leaves from the outside walls of our apartment building down into the courtyard below.
There’s something about the colour orange that I love, especially this time of year. It’s warm and comforting, bright enough that you can get lost in it entirely and forget all about the cold wind howling outside. An orange sweater makes me feel as though I’m all wrapped up in a warm glow, orange books on the table beside my chair are inviting me to sit with a warm cup of tea and read a while. The pumpkin that my parents bought for Mikey while they were here looks just like a Cinderella pumpkin as it sits waiting to be carved. It seems almost a shame to carve it.
In case you missed it, Alicia, Kristi and I shared a few of our favourites from the theme yellow yesterday, we’d love it if you’d take a look!
I’m teaming up with the lovely and talented Kristi of Live and Love Out Loud and Alicia of Project Alicia for the Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge – a colorfully inspiring autumn photography challenge aimed at capturing the beautiful shades of autumn.
Just a few details:
All are welcome regardless of experience, time commitment and whether or not you’re experiencing fall at the moment.
Simply share your favorite images inspired by the autumn shade of the week each Friday and grab our button while you’re at it.
The linky will remain open from 12:01am CST Friday – 11:59pm CST Wednesday. Link directly to your Shades of Autumn blog post or Flickr photo. Feel free to share your photos in our Shades of Autumn Flickr Group as well and don’t forget to follow our Shades of Autumn Pinterest board if you haven’t already!
We’ll select our favorite photos of the week and share them with you at Bumbles & Light, Project Alicia and Live and Love Out Loud the following Thursday.
Next week’s theme will be red. For a complete list of upcoming themes, head on over to the Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge page. I’m so looking forward to seeing what you all come up with this week!
a British expat living in Chicago with my husband and our 4 year old son. I love to take 
This is such a beautiful collection of photos, Rebecca. It feels very intimate.
And, you’re gorgeous. I love your freckles!
Kristi {at} Live and Love Out Loud´s last post ..Orange {Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge}
Thanks so much Kristi
Absolutely love the self-portraits!
Sarah @ OneStarryNight´s last post ..Shades of Autumn: Orange
These are lovely and the lighting on your self-portraits is perfect! You are beautiful!
Cedar´s last post ..Shades of Autumn — Orange
Thank you so much!
The lighting is in my kitchen, best lit room in the apartment!
Love these, Rebecca. Couldn’t agree more about the color orange. Beautifully said. And your collection is artistic and beautiful. Thanks so much for doing this with us!
alicia´s last post ..Orange {Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge}
Hi lovely ladies! I found orange TRICKY this week (so I slightly cheated by supplementing with a couple of 2010 pics – hope you don’t mind!!) Looking forward to snooping round all the links. x
little macaroon´s last post ..shades of autumn: orange
Loved your photos! Orange was pretty hard for us too, hardly any orange leaves in my neighbourhood at the time of taking these, of course there are plenty now that I don’t need them!
pretty you and love your orange sweater
say cheese´s last post ..Changing Leaves
Absolutely love the self portraits, wonderfully done. I am with you on the color orange in the autumn, so very nicely expressed. Thank You.
Lauri´s last post ..Apple Cider
Love your shades of orange. It’s one of my favorite colors and so fun to where in the Fall!
Lori´s last post ..Foto Friday | Orange
Thank you! I never used to be a big fan of the colour, but I think I’ve really come to love it recently
Your “Orange Duo” is quite clever – and certainly beautiful. I like your self-portraits. It’s so nice to have an image in mind when conversing with someone over the internet.
Every single photo is gorgeous. You describe fall and the feelings of orange perfectly.
Leighann´s last post ..Organizing Your Child’s Art – Tips from a Multitasking Mumma!
These are really beautiful. Love them. I love all your selfies.
Sarah´s last post ..Friday Fun
I like your photographs, you look so real and I love that! You’re Beautiful!
“……..wearing cozy socks and catching up on some forgotten books from our bookshelves. Watching through the windows as the wind blows the newly-changed red leaves from the outside walls of our apartment building down into the courtyard below.”
LOVE THAT!!! Barefoot Mama, TX
barefootmama´s last post ..A gift from Mother Nature..
Thank you so much!
I love your beautiful take on the color orange…your selfies are dramatic.
Ashley Sisk´s last post ..Out with the OLD, In with the NEW
If I looked anywhere near that great in orange, I would love it too!
May´s last post ..Orange You Glad Its Fall?
Thank you
There are not a great many colours that I can pull off well, luckily for the orange challenge week, orange is one of the few that actually looks ok on me. Normally I stick to black or grey!
Great shots! I agree–orange is such a warm color and beautiful at this time of the year
Rebecca´s last post ..Shades of Autumn–Sassafras
for all the hostesses…
I just have to say how much I appreciate you hosting this challenge and sharing your knowledge. I am gleefully posting my little point and shoot pics and then visiting site after site attempting to soak up all the know how I can. Even though my shots can’t compare to others’ the challenge has me looking at the world more closely and experimenting with my camera more. What a joy! Thanks for giving me the opportunity!
May´s last post ..Orange You Glad Its Fall?
Thank you so much for taking part! It’s all of you that are making this challenge so much fun, we truly love looking through each and every photo. xx
These photos are so gorgeous!!
Naomi A.´s last post ..The Flavor of the Story
Great orange finds. I love curling up with a good book in the fall, warm fire, hot tea or chocolate sounds lovely. Love your selfies as well, the light is amazing!
Susan´s last post ..HalloWine Fun!
You look lovely in orange. I was thinking about book covers too, then went for the pumpkins. These are wonderful. And visiting back since last night, looking at all the orange link ups, it is the prettiest collection of thumbnails ever!
Stasha´s last post ..Made on, tried and tested
You’re right, the thumbnails look stunning
But of course not as beautiful as each and every blog post linked up! I get excited every week about how good the thumbnails look too 
I LOVE the tree and the fence one!!!
Love,
Traci
Thank you! I fell in love with that tree and fence as soon as I saw it at the Lincoln Park Zoo! I actually took altogether too many photos of it just to try my hardest to do it justice. In person though it just looked stunning, as though the tree were on fire.
Absolutely love all of your pictures. Such creative finds of the color orange.
DaenelT´s last post ..Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge: Orange
Love all these pictures.. this is gonna be a fun week.
Jodi Hall´s last post ..Insta-Friday (only this time with a twist)
This is such a fun challenge and link up. I love the fall and have been enjoying everyone’s interpretations of the colour themes. I like the stack of orange books – I’m a bit of a bookaholic.
Cookie’s Mom´s last post ..Shades of Autumn: Orange
We’ve been enjoying everyone’s interpretations too! It’s really amazing how many completely different but equally beautiful photos you all can get from the same colour prompt!
As for the books, I confess I’m a bookaholic too. I had to donate some recently because we were running out of shelving space, I was surprised at how many I had with orange covers though!
Very interesting collection of orange-themed photos. A great series.
Nancy´s last post ..Young love.
I am now very tempted to go out and purchase a orange sweater for the winter months. The color compliments your skin tones, and your self portraits are so very real. I adored this post and every single capture. I feel the same about this fall. It has been cold and wet, but the color is keeping me warm, too.
Alita
Thank you so much!
(psst, the sweater is from Forever 21 and it was only $11.50! You should totally go out and get one, it’s my new favourite sweater!)
Thank you for fixing my linky
Next time I will read, promise. Thanks for hosting this photo challenge. I love surfing around and seeing everyone’s eye for autumn.
swanski´s last post ..Shades of Autumn Challenge: Orange
Oh it’s fine, don’t worry about it! Thanks for letting us know
We love looking around at all the photos too, wonderful to see autumn through so many different eyes.
These are wonderful. I love the sweater – I want it.
Mihee´s last post ..Shades of Autumn: Orange
Thank you so much
(psst, the sweater is from Forever 21 and it was only $11.50! It’s my new favourite sweater)
Super sweet captures.. I’m officially following ya with smiles.. I wanted to know if you would like to join in on my project..? Project PINK.. Painting the blog world PINK for a day.. Breast Cancer Awareness on Oct 3oth..!! Over 4o blogs so far are in.. Please check it out – it’ll mean SO MUCH to me.. Wishing you a lovely weekend..http://theartsygirlconnection.blogspot.com/2011/10/paint-your-blog-pink-awareness-faith.html
What a lovely collection of photos, your photography is stunning.
Barb´s last post ..Sweet orange light
Awesome series very interesting something different.
Saun´s last post ..Shades of Autumn * Orange
your pictures are absolutely wonderful.
Miriam´s last post ..Shades of Autumn
I love your photos. The tree and the pumpkin are my favorites.
Just found out about this linkup. I think it is a great idea.
kewkew´s last post ..Scavenger Hunt Sunday: October 23, 2011
Thank you!
I hope you’ll join us next Friday for the colour red as well!
That tree next to the fence is absolutely perfect! What a beautiful shot!
Gina´s last post ..Sunday Snapshot- Taking Advantage of the Light
Love that you added self portraits! Beautiful series!
Dawn´s last post ..slider-orange4
What incredible shots!! Amazing…
Susan´s last post ..Shades Of Autumn
Hope that you are enjoying these snuggling inside days and not going too stir-crazy. I love how you included the book in your collage.
Faith´s last post ..my little mr. blue eyes
The weather has been a little kinder to us since I wrote this, we’ve had a sunny few days! I think it’s going to get cold again soon though.
I couldn’t resist the book, he’s one of my favourite poets AND the cover was orange. It couldn’t get any luckier
such a lovely group of pictures.. love the last two.. captured the color perfectly
Jodi Hall´s last post ..Showing and Telling my Shoot and Edit Challenge…..
Beautiful shots. I love the orange leaves with the white fence. Thank you for sharing!
Emily´s last post ..Tones on Tuesday #6 10.25.11
Beautiful beautiful beautiful!!
Cori´s last post ..Pumpkin Patch Pickings *Photo Challenge: Orange*