An orange basketball has come to rest between the broad roots of an old tree. A boy in a navy and red striped sweater leans forward to retrieve it, one hand reaching while his eyes turn cautiously to the side. Behind him, his friend crouches beside their bicycles with both hands partly covering his face. Their hesitation turns an ordinary lost ball into a small autumn adventure.

The house rises in cool shadow beyond the lawn. Peeling porch steps lead to an open doorway, where the interior is almost completely dark. Afternoon sunlight catches the boys’ hair, the rough bark and the dry leaves scattered across the grass. The low viewpoint makes the roots feel large without losing the familiar scale of the basketball and worn sneakers.

This seasonal photograph holds its suspense in the space between the reaching hand, the ball and the open door. The children remain safely outside, and the scene leaves the source of their nervous excitement to the imagination.