Fall’s final roar | Scene Through the Lens

Henry David Thoreau said, “Live each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each.”

For those of us fortunate to live in a climate zone with four distinct seasons, the shift from one to the next prevents monotony and keeps life interesting and engaging.

For newspaper photographers each spring, summer, autumn, and winter offers fresh and diverse experiences to document. The cyclical nature becomes almost a ritual.

Then we have real rituals. My colleagues and I captured images showcasing the powerful bond between Philadelphians and our beloved rituals.

Just as with our photo staff project last year where we each took a turn with the same film camera using just one roll of B&W film, we spent the past year documenting religious ceremonies, ethnic traditions, sports celebrations, and more. The photo essay published in yesterday’s print version of the newspaper.

For many, reading a physical print version of the newspaper - something you can hold in your hands - is a ritual that starts their day. Since 1998 a black-and-white photo has appeared every Monday in my “Scene Through the Lens” photo column in the print editions of The Inquirer’s local news section. Here are the most recent, in color: