Australian Shepherd in Autumn Leaves

Red maple branches lean over a leaf-covered path where an Australian shepherd has stopped beside an old wooden fence. Gray and black patches run through its coat, with white legs and chest below a copper-marked face. The nearest fence post is thick with moss. Farther along, the rails narrow between tree trunks and the path bends out of sight.

Fur and fallen leaves share more colors than they first appear to. Copper around the dog's cheeks can resemble an autumn leaf, but the short hairs have a much finer edge. White chest fur and the uneven dark patches across its back make useful sections without reducing the animal to one solid shape. Away from the dog, the fence gives the woodland a few long, continuous lines. Leaf stems, bark cracks and small patches of green then help distinguish the busier ground from the branches overhead.