Many of the older homes in our area have multiple varieties of maple trees dotting their yards. I guess there was a big interest in Japanese design, including maples and koi ponds, in the 1950s. The trees planted in the '50s are mature now, full of character, and interesting to photograph. I particularly enjoy lighting them using the little on-camera flash that comes with some lower end cameras. One of the things I have observed about camera design over the years is that many of the 'non-professional' models have a small flash unit built in, while the so-called 'flagships' do not. It is really convenient to be able to use fill flash from time to time without having to carry a separate piece of gear.
