8 Weeks Until Autumn: A Summer to Autumn Nature Photo Challenge

Happy July! Week 5 out of 12 is here, meaning the first full month of our Autumn countdown is behind us. Only 2 months left until the 1st of September and although the goal of this countdown is to make each week count, I can’t stop myself from thinking how fast the next few weeks will go.

In 2 weeks, here in the UK, children begin their school holidays. In many European countries, Summer holidays have already started and for me, as a parent, this time will be a blur... Forest walks and colouring pretty pictures, mixed with “Mum, I’m bored” (Rosa), “Mum, when’s food goin’ to be ready?” (Jacob), and the usual squabbling between them... Take a deep breath... it’s going to be alright, haha!

📅 Sunday, July 6th, 2025
Today marks 8 weeks until Autumn!

In July, the maturing of the natural world speeds up. Our gardens keep us busy with harvesting, feeding, deadheading, watering and more. I swear, every time I turn my back to a plant, a new weed appears. Same goes for woodlands and fields - every time I wander around the farmland surrounding our village, the crops seem to grow more and the beech and oak trees covering Quantock Hills are so lush right now, it makes my heart sing.

Explore more of our 12-week journey toward Autumn
Click here to view all the weekly posts

Take a moment to notice the abundance of the woodland in your area - the dappled shade on sunny days, the deep green colour of the leaves, the sound they make when swaying in the wind.

A gentle task for this week

This week’s task is connected to how beautiful the natural world is at the moment. Next month things begin to shift - the first whispers of Autumn, some early trees will start dropping leaves and horse chestnuts often turn orange too (sadly due to insects, but it’s so common here in the UK and somehow it always foretells the coming of Autumn).

While we are at the peak of green, go for a walk in the forest and really take in the atmosphere of the height of the year and the solar cycle. Notice the colours, sounds, temperature, movement and how YOU feel in this very moment...

Discover our "Into the Woods" Green Leaves & Moss candle and rustic home decor.

Choose a spot in nature - perhaps an interesting tree, a winding road or a gate with a pretty view - and snap a picture. It should be a place you can return to later, because the task is to go back to the same spot in Autumn and take a picture from the same angle, to document the dramatic difference between the seasons. It’s a lovely exercise in mindfulness, observing seasonality and… patience :D

It’s one of my favourite things to do as someone who documents the changing landscape -  and not a week passes without me filming out in nature. I love finding new spots and returning to them at different times of the year. Looking at and comparing these pictures always leaves me in awe.

One thing is knowing, of course, that a tree will look different at the peak of Autumn colour than it does in the height of Summer or in the midst of Winter. But it’s another thing to actually see those images side by side. It reminds you of the cyclic nature of life, which for me is incredibly reassuring: the knowledge that after Winter comes Spring and after the darkest night, the sun will always rise. There’s peace and safety in the turning of the seasons - one always knows what to expect and can prepare ahead.

Here are some examples of my photos and stills taken in the same spots:

View from Aley along Cockercombe Road, looking towards Triscombe Stone car park

Bicknoller, Somerset

Gate at the Triscombe Stone car park

A Few Closing Words

I hope you’ll enjoy this week’s gentle task. Perhaps you already have some photos like that from your favourite walking spots (or your garden), taken in the same place without even realising it. I encourage you to keep your eyes open next time you’re out in nature for an interesting tree or landscape - just make sure it includes a deciduous tree so you can clearly see how it changes through the seasons.

Can you already think of a spot? Or will you be trying to find one on your next walk?

Thank you for being here for Week 5  - I hope to see you in the comments,
Adriana x