Trunk or Treat, Graceland Enactus program. October 31, 2025.
I recently sent a bunch of Trunk or Treat photos to the local newspaper. I generally shoot pretty close to how I want my final image to look, and then do a bit of cropping before I send the final version of each photo to the newspaper. Most photos benefit from a bit of cropping.
Fall color, Lamoni Iowa. November 5, 2025.
Here and there trees are beginning to turn.
Fall color, Lamoni Iowa. November 4, 2025.
Autumn is arriving in southern Iowa!
Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio. November 3, 2017.
I had never been to Cuyahoga Valley National Park, so a friend and I decided to go there for the day
Sunny, autumn leaves, Columbus, Ohio. November 2, 2016.
I was walking our dog on Sugarmaple Street, which is lined with maple trees and definitely the prettiest street in our neighborhood in the fall.
Fall leaves in Columbus Ohio. November 1, 2016.
The Barbie Trunk, Trunk or Treat, Graceland Enactus program. October 31, 2025.
Here in Lamoni Iowa, it is a Halloween tradition for the Graceland University Enactus program to sponsor Trunk or Treat in the community center parking lot. Graceland and various civic organizations combined to have a dozen trunks. Each “trunk” (or the area nearby) had a different fun activity for kids to participate in and win a treat. Whether it was golf, soccer, twister, stuff the pumpkin, feed the cookie monster, scare the witches, or any of the other trunk activities, every kid was a winner at every trunk. Well over 500 people came out to enjoy the event. Click on any of the photos to see a larger version.
Fall in Columbus Ohio. October 30, 2016.
I was out walking our dog and taking pictures of the autumn leaves.
Horseshoe Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. October 29, 2012.
Trip with John, day 3. This overlook on deer mountain has a nice view of the valley (“park”) below.
Arkansas River along U.S. 50 between Salida and Cotapaxi Colorado. October 28, 2012.
Trip with John, day 2. When we were growing up, several times a year our parents would take us along the Arkansas River to get to the mountains in the west.
John (left) and Jim, O’Haver Lake sign, Colorado. October 27, 2012.
Trip with John, Day 1. My brother John had not been back to Colorado since 1969, so we decided it was time to go on a trip to Colorado and visit our favorite childhood places. The fall colors were gone, but this was the only time we could both make the trip. This sign marks a very special childhood place.
Seney National Wildlife Refuge. October 27, 2025.
Before driving home, I stopped at Seney National Wildlife Refuge which is just two miles north of Germfask Michigan. Seney is one of my favorite places on the planet. The roads that loop through the refuge close after October 20 and they are not open to foot traffic, but you can see two of the ponds from the road to the visitor’s center. I stopped to take this picture of one of them before pointing my car toward home. From May 15 to October 20 when the roads are open, I highly recommend Seney as a place to visit and take pictures.
Fall color in Michigan. October 26, 2025.
I spent the day driving from Kalamazoo Michigan to Germfask Michigan in the Upper Peninsula. I stopped periodically to take pictures along the way.
Fernwood Botanical Garden. October 25, 2025.
This is the second day of my Michigan fall color trip and my first full day. I began at Fernwood Botanical Garden near Niles Michigan.
Trillium Ravine Nature Preserve. October 24, 2025.
I left Iowa in the morning and arrived at Trillium Ravine near Buchanan Michigan at 5:38 pm. My plan was to capture fall colors before it got too dark. It turns out the best color was on the outside edge of the preserve. The interior of the preserve was still mostly green.
The Sugar Shack, Arlington Vermont. October 23, 2017.
I stopped at the Sugar Shack just north of Arlington Vermont. They have several grades of delicious maple syrup and lots of other goodies. They also have a Norman Rockwell museum with Rockwell’s Saturday Evening Post covers. You can also buy small Rockwell reproductions.
Covered Bridge over the Batten Kill River and Norman Rockwell’s Home. Arlington Vermont. October 23, 2017.
It was a beautiful fall day in Vermont and I was in Norman Rockwell country. Rockwell’s home is just a couple of miles west of Arlington Vermont.
Jesup Path, Acadia National Park. October 22, 2017.
My fall in Acadia National Park Series. This was my last day of 5 splendid days in Acadia National Park. When I was writing about the best national parks to visit in the fall, I checked articles by two photographers and eleven travel writers. The most recommended national park for fall colors is Acadia. (See the two links below.) After my 2017 trip to Acadia I can see why. I highly recommend a trip to Acadia in the fall.
Dawn on top of Cadillac Mountain, Acadia National Park. October 21, 2017.
My fall in Acadia National Park Series.
Dawn at Otter Cliff, Acadia National Park. October 20, 2017.
My fall in Acadia National Park Series.
Otter Cliff and Granite Ledges at Sunrise, Acadia National Park. October 19, 2017.
My fall in Acadia National Park Series.
Acadia National Park at Night. October 18, 2017.
My fall in Acadia National Park Series.
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.