It's the Ozarks Season of Splendor.

Maple varieties like Autumn Flame and October Glory fall short of describing their radiance found in the Ozark hills.  As the minutes of daylight fade through Autumn, the glow of nature makes up the difference. All around us, at any given moment... a spectacular show of color can be found. But what does it take to truly see it?

For photographer Josh Mitchell, there is a singularity: one point in time where the Autumn light and the natural leaf colors come together. If only for a moment.

Mitchell led us under the canopy of a nearly 100 foot tall, 60 year old tree.  It seemed to turn into a child's imaginary fort, full of natural, unabated Autumn color.

The unorthodox angles filter, shape and enhance the hue of the tree which was purposefully left untended and untrimmed.

Mitchell said it was imperative to find "a different point of view, and the more childlike you actually become, things start happening."  He added, "start seeing, not looking... and that will happen. when you start seeing... you get absorbed... in this color."

All around us, in and under the maple tree, the wind whispers through the leaves and created a new moment.

Mitchell said, "that light changes, the clouds are going to move, the sun is going to change, we change with it."

Using a long, wide format camera, Josh captures moments as we look at them each day. And from vantage points only feathered creatures frequent.

During our interview and leaf viewing experience, Josh crept up 15 feet into the tree looking for unique angles brought to life by the shifting sunlight.

"When you get in to your vehicle, do not turn your radio on, do not turn your stereo on. your eyes will see a lot more," explained Mitchell.

And if seeing believing in the Show-Me state... go out this weekend and see for yourself.

Josh Mitchell's work may be viewed on his online gallery and at his gallery at:

1424 East Cherry Street
Springfield, Missouri 65802