— Having never truly experienced fall foliage before, my husband and I decided to celebrate our 30th anniversary by going to Colorado at the time fall colors were beginning to peak. Prior to that, the only fall colors we had experienced were here in Austin. One year, I actually did a mini-project called Colors at Copperfield Nature Trail. Last year, we experienced a phenomenal fall color display around the city. In particular, the Red Bud Isle area was gorgeous.
None of those would prepare us for what we experienced in Colorado just about a month ago in late September. We met up with a couple of friends who used to live here and let them guide us around the Gunnison National Forest. They were very familiar with the area. In about ten days, we did several hikes and drives to fully immerse ourselves in fall colors. After nearly 900 photos, it was very difficult to come up with some examples for this post.
The opening photo was captured during our hike on the Dark Canyon Trail. We had driven by Kebler Pass and got to this section called Oh-Be-Joyful Pass. I can easily see why the name is so appropriate.
The next two photos are from our drive on Ohio Creek Road in the middle of the Gunnison NF. Several locals kept telling us this was not peak fall colors yet. In my mind, though, I could only imagine what a full peak really is.
The Dark Canyon Trai that I featured in the first photo never ran short of surprises. Whether looking at the trail in front of us or around us, there were plenty of fall colors.
While hiking the Three Lakes Trail, the most scenic of the trails we did while in Colorado, it was wonderful to look up and see the Aspen trees and fall colors everywhere, Looking up, the yellow leaves were glistening against the Colorado blue sky.
In closing, I could not pass up the opportunity to see what effect the foliage would have on an ICM photo. With just a slight movement of the camera with a low shutter speed of 1/25 seconds, I captured this beautiful dance of Aspens and fall colors.
When I saw Denzil Nature’s post for the nature photo challenge this week, I could not have been more pleased. Denzil asked us to show Autumn colors. I was happy that I even had brand-new unpublished photos for the challenge.
SoyBend
Love all the colorful leaves! 🙂
Egídio Leitão
Thanks kindly for the compliment, Siobhan.
Jeanne
Beautiful photos! The forest floor with birch trees is especially awesome!
Egídio Leitão
Jeanne, thank you very much for your compliment and kind words. I appreciated them.
Tales From My Lens
Beautiful. I love doing ICM. Your trees really took to it!
Egídio Leitão
Thank you so much for the feedback. I am often looking for new ICM compositions to try. It’s a fun way to photograph everyday things.
Rupali
Lovely autumn images.
Egídio Leitão
Thanks so much for the compliment, Rupali.
aekshots
Beautiful captures of the fall colors…very nice!
Egídio Leitão
Thanks for your kind feedback. I appreciated that.
PR
That’s a wonderland 😀. Beautiful!
Egídio Leitão
Thanks, PR. I felt like I was in a playground indeed.
Ingalill Sjögren
Wow! Beautyful pictures!
Egídio Leitão
Thank you so much for the compliment.
Anita
These photos are all so beautiful, gorgeous fall colors!! I love your last one, it’s very special.
Egídio Leitão
Thanks, Anita. I also liked the way the ICM photo came out.
Tra Italia e Finlandia
Che meraviglia! 🍁🍂
Egídio Leitão
Grazie. I miei occhi non potevano credere ai colori.
Pat
These are beautiful photos. What a wonderful experience for you.
Egídio Leitão
Thanks, Pat. It was really very special.
margaret21
How spectacular! And yet the best was still to come?
Egídio Leitão
Many thanks, Margaret. Yup, I couldn’t believe the best was yet to come. Locals were saying that peak was a week late this year.