Brenna Crabtree (#3) scores in a Graceland University Volleyball Match.
I was watching a football game on TV when my phone dinged with this text message: “What is the best set up and lens for a VB game shot?” My quick answer: a mid range zoom like a 35-80, or better yet a 24-105. From up in the bleachers a longer range zoom lens.
River of Sky. Manistique River Roadside Park south of Germfask Michigan. Fujichrome Velvia slide film. Friday, October 9, 1998.
Two years ago today, October 17, 2023, I stopped at the Manistique River Roadside Park just south of Germfask Michigan in search of an old photo location.
Mackinac Bridge. October 16, 2023.
My fall in Michigan series. This photo was taken from a scenic overlook on U.S. 2. I was west of St. Ignace and northwest of the bridge.
Depth of Field Exploration Session. Photo by Winnie Johnston.
It dawned on me when I woke up this this morning (sorry about that) that as of this summer, I have been teaching photography for 30 years. So this has been a memories kind of day and I went back through hundreds of photos from past workshops. And then I looked for photos that people took of me at the workshops. I share several of them in this article.
Ava, Slip Bluff Lake
There was a promising mixture of sunlight with a smattering of clouds to the west, which could turn into a real nice golden backdrop for lake portraits. To the east there was a dense cloud cover with dark blue light underneath. It was heading our way. We decided to go for it. But by the time we arrived at the lake the dark blue cloud bank had taken over. The sun and hopes of golden light were gone. We were left with dark clouds and a sea of blue light. Blue or not, we decided to shoot anyway. Besides, the blue light had charms of its own.
Red Rocks Park, Colorado. October 14, 2022.
This is the last day for my “fall in Colorado” series. I checked my “favorite photos folder” and October 14 is the last day with “fall photos” in Colorado. I was in Red Rocks Park west of Denver and the leaves in the bushes are starting to turn. After Red Rocks, I spent time with family on their front porch in Bailey Colorado where I could see some yellow aspen trees on the hillside opposite their home.
Point Iroquois Lighthouse, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. October 13, 2008.
My fall in Michigan series. The Point Iroquois Lighthouse is a great fall photo location in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Aspen, Moraine Park, Rocky Mountain National Park. October 13, 2022.
My fall in Colorado series.
Cut River Bridge in the Fall, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. October 12, 1994.
My fall in Michigan series. You will see this bridge again in four days when I post Michigan, October 16.
Moraine Park, Rocky Mountain National Park. October 12, 2007.
My fall in Colorado series.
Mt. Mou’aroa, the “Shark’s Tooth” (far left) and Mt. Rotui over Cook’s Bay, Mo’orea, French Polynesia. Oct 11, 2004.
October is spring in French Polynesia. I suspect French Polynesia is beautiful most any time of year. We were on the island of Mo’orea, not far from Tahiti.
Horseshoe Park, Ypsilon Mountain, Rocky Mountain National Park. October 11, 2007.
My fall in Colorado series. As you can see from these photos, fall colors can hang around for quite a while in Horseshoe Park, Rocky Mountain National Park.
Ben Franklin Elementary School, Pueblo Colorado. October 10, 2007.
My fall in Colorado series. This is not my typical fall color in the mountains photo. On October 10, 2007, I was on my way home from the Colorado Rockies and stopped in Pueblo long enough to photography my elementary school. At least there is fall color in the trees.
“River of Sky”, Roadside Park, Germfask, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. October 9, 1998.
My fall in Michigan series. I stopped at a roadside park just south of Germfask Michigan in the Upper Peninsula. I was sitting at a picnic table and I happened to look straight up. I saw a blue river of sky winding it way between red maple leaves. I grabbed my camera and shot straight up. This is one of my favorite fall color images.
Autumn, Upper Tahquamenon Falls, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. October 8, 1998.
My fall in Michigan series. The end of the fall color season in Colorado overlaps with the beginning of the fall color season in Michigan. So why not do both? Upper Tahquamenon Falls is one of the great fall color locations in Michigan’s upper peninsula. Tannin from the cedar swamps in the area leaches into the water, giving the falls its distinctive color.
Dove Cloud and Venus. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. October 8, 1989.
My fall in Colorado series. I was leaving Rocky Mountain National Park when I saw this dove shaped cloud over the planet Venus in my side rear view mirror. The deep red under the low lying clouds was an added bonus. I immediately pulled over on the side of the road, set up my tripod and captured this image. I was using slide film so I bracketed the exposure to make sure one of images came out like I wanted.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird, October 7, 2025.
I’ve been trying all summer to get a closeup image of a hummingbird in flight. It finally happened today.
Photo Data: Canon 7D Mark II with flash. Canon EF 100-400mm L series zoom lens at 400mm. f/11, 1/200 sec., ISO 400.
Moraine Park, Rocky Mountain National Park. Colorado. October 6, 2007.
My fall in Colorado series.
Aspen, Moraine Park, Rocky Mountain National Park. October 13, 2022.
If you are leaving right now for Rocky Mountain National Park, this is where I suggest you go for late season fall color. Continue reading
Long’s Peak and Nymph Lake at Sunset, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. October 5, 2005.
My fall in Colorado series.
Aspen, Moraine Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, October 4, 2007
My fall in Colorado series.
Mt. Sneffels at Sunrise. October 3, 2002.
My fall in Colorado series. This is one of the two most classic scenic locations in Colorado. (The other is the Maroon Bells and Maroon Lake. See October 23 and 24.) It is 6+ miles west of Ridgway Colorado on CO-62. You can’t miss it. On most any fall day you will see cars parked on the side of the highway and photographers lined up taking pictures.
Sprague Lake, Hallett Peak, and Flattop Mountain. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. October 2, 2010.
My fall in Colorado series.
Dawn at Sprague Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. October 1, 2014.
My fall in Colorado series. This is one of my all time favorite sunrises in Colorado images.
92 football game photos.
The advice above came from a sports editor long ago. It is great advice. I took 92 photos at yesterday’s football game. The newspaper only wanted 2 or 3 images. You can see them below.
Aspen and Porphyry Peak from O’Haver Lake. September 30, 1986.
My fall in Colorado series.
The Pinnacles, Owl Creek Pass, Colorado. September 29, 2010.
My fall in Colorado series. If my lead photo looks familiar, I posted a September 28, 2019 version yesterday. The aspen turned earlier in 2010 than in 2019.
Bear Lake Road, yellow stripes, aspen. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. September 28, 2016.
My fall in Colorado series. If this photo looks familiar, this is the same stretch of road as yesterday’s lead photo. I came back the next day and put my camera right on the road for a different look.
