Think you're going to 'miss' fall colors?

As the color reports roll in along with the first images and a lot of folks guess about - and second guess - the dates they've chosen to capture the great show that autumn puts on around here, I thought it might be worthwhile to point out that, despite the incredible scenery that comes with hitting a location at peak color, missing it by a little doesn't have to mean disappointment.

One of my favorite fall images was captured by Jesse Speer last fall. You can see it here. Note the bare aspen throughout the scene.

Also, check out the images from last year's 2005 Fall Colors Contest. This is an impressive collection of folks' best images from their fall outings, and you can see that many, if not most, were captured before or after peak color.

So, whether or not your timing is perfect, here's to a great fall of great photography!

Well said Rick. That happens to be one of my favorites of Jesse's work.

Point well taken. Thank you!

And despite all the "peak color happening now!" threads we're seeing, I still think those who planned to be here for the last week of September will be pretty much right on time.

Amen! And that contest gallery is beautiful.

Such the optimist!! The glass IS half full!! Colorado is gorgeous anytime of year!!

Good point, Rick. Being an amateur that can't always get away I always get nervous that I'm going to miss something this time of year.