Posted by Jon Leibowitz on September 3, 2007 at 4:37 PM
This is my first autumn here! I am really excited. Can anyone give me some ideas on places I MUST go to to shoot some fall foliage? I think I will head down to the Jamaica area for some river shots. Possibly gifford woods area also....I'm still new here, and have never been here for fall. Any ideas would be awesome. Thanks!
Posted by Jim Salge on September 3, 2007 at 8:20 PM
Jon,
I'd love to be more helpful, but I know NH very well, and Vermont not so much. I will say that Queeche Gorge is stunning in fall...a must see!!! Otherwise, I hope to benefit from this thread as well...
Posted by Richard Ennis on September 4, 2007 at 7:11 AM
Jon,
I highly recommend this book by Dave Middleton.
The Photographer's Guide to Vermont: Where to Find Perfect Shots and How to Take Them
It has a lot of the favorite places. Queeche Gorge is a very nice place, although crowded. From there you can head to Woodstock and Reading and explore the back roads.
One of my favorite places is Groton State Forest. It's usually pretty nice there around the 6th - 8th, although it does vary every year. I did almost all of my shooting in Groton last year. I am finding I enjoy exploring one smaller area, than run all over the state trying to hit things right. The Peacham area is also very nice, and just up the road from Groton.
I am not too familiar with the southern part of the state, but I have heard Jamaica State Park is also very nice, and I plan on exploring there this fall.
Also check out Pleasant Valley between Underhill and Cambridge, and the Northeast Kingdom, especially around Lake Willoughy. Those areas will peak a little earlier.
I live in Tunbridge, and it's not too shabby around here in the fall either!
Have Fun!
Rich
Posted by Richard Hahn on September 4, 2007 at 3:59 PM
Jon,
Good afternoon. From your post I see you are familiar with New Hampsire. Can you recommend any area & time of year where there would be a good chance to see Moose. My girlfriend & I were disappointed when we went to Vermont in early August and the closes thing to a Moose we saw were "MOOSE CROSSING SIGNS" . Bear crossing signs too, but none of them.
Thank you.
Posted by Jon Leibowitz on September 4, 2007 at 4:26 PM
Richard, there is another post somewhere around here about moose sightings. I think your best bet would be closer to maine, there are moose EVERYWHERE in maine.
Posted by Jon Leibowitz on September 4, 2007 at 4:34 PM
Rich, the 6th to the 8th of october or november? Would you be interested in meeting up one weekend for shooting?
Also, I have some other questions, I'm gonna shoot ya an email.
Posted by Richard Ennis on September 4, 2007 at 9:30 PM
Jon,
That would be October. No leaves left by the 6th of November
There are several spots around Vermont to see fall foliage. I would suggest you buy the Vermont Atlas and Gazetteer. Some of my best shots is taking back roads, getting lost in the meantime. As Rich said Pleasant Valley Rd between Underhill Center and Cambridge is beautiful. Also check out Bakersfield, Eden along rte 108 and surrounding roads. It is close to Cambridge. Also checkout Rte 100 around Warren and Waitesville. From Waitesville on Rt 17 go up past Mad River Ski area thru the Notch toward Bristol you will have some nice distance shots. Just before you get to Bristol, there is Memorial Park. It has some nice waterfalls, nothing spectacular, but will have some nice foliage shots. Hope I was of some help. Do get the Dave Middleton book.
John
Posted by Andy Richards on September 15, 2007 at 9:31 AM
Hi Jon: I am a former Vermonter and spent 10 days in 2005 and 10 more in 1006 chasing colors and "scenics" in Vermont. Sadly, I won't make it out there this fall and with my luck, it will be one of the good years <g>. Neither 2005 nor 2006 were really good color years for various reasons.
One you start to do your research you will realize there are many, many resources. I agree that the Middleton Book is an invaluable resource. A lot, also, depends on what kind of shot you are looking for. I wanted the traditional Vermont Village or Farm shot from a high view point with foliage and mountainside in the background. That has become harder to find over the years as less and less of Vermont remains cleared and new foliage growth increases. But there is sooooo much to photograph. Sometimes it is places that aren't "icons" but just places you find. One of the best places I have ever found for waterfalls, for example is a little brook on Route 100 I found by serendipity on my way to an "icon."
Here are a couple more references you might find useful:
www.sevenhillscameraclub.com. They have some narrative about places to go an photograph (some of them are "calendar" shots).
www.scenesofvermont.com. That site has a foliage forum and a photography forum (the latter is in a rather "fledgling" stage). I have posted my findings and detailed directions to several locations I have had good luck photographing there. In the foliage forum, there are a couple of locals that are forum moderators that keep pretty good tabs on current conditions, so if you check it daily, you can find pretty good information about where the colors are. Early comments are that color may be slightly earlier this year.
Both of these sites reference Arnold Kaplan, a professional photographer from Mass., who traveled to Vermont frequently in fall and winter to make what I call "calendar" shots of Villages, churches, farms, etc. He printed a booklet which you could get for a pretty reasonable price. I don't know how old he is, but apparently has been photographing for 40 years. In 2006, I Googled him to find where to buy the book (really more of a pamphlet) and he responded personally, so I think he is still around. When he sent the book, there was an insert requesting updates and comments about whether the locations were still "viable." When I sent those in in 2006, he never responded. I don't know what that means, but I didn't bother in 2007. Might be worth trying to get the book, but beware that not all the locations he describes are truly viable today. Others have been made less picturesque by development (power lines, gas stubs, stop signs, etc.).
Good luck and if I can help with directions or clarification, please don't hesitate to PM
For those interested in hitting fall colors earlier, the colors have started changing close to the 50th parallel in Quebec. Areas around the Saguenay Fjord are at about 25% now. Northern St-Laurent shore past Baie-Comeau and Sept-Iles and beyond are probably close to 40% right now.
Here's a good table updated every week: http://www.bonjourquebec.com/qc-en/symphoniecouleurs.html
Discussion
9 repliesI'd love to be more helpful, but I know NH very well, and Vermont not so much. I will say that Queeche Gorge is stunning in fall...a must see!!! Otherwise, I hope to benefit from this thread as well...
I highly recommend this book by Dave Middleton.
The Photographer's Guide to Vermont: Where to Find Perfect Shots and How to Take Them
It has a lot of the favorite places. Queeche Gorge is a very nice place, although crowded. From there you can head to Woodstock and Reading and explore the back roads.
One of my favorite places is Groton State Forest. It's usually pretty nice there around the 6th - 8th, although it does vary every year. I did almost all of my shooting in Groton last year. I am finding I enjoy exploring one smaller area, than run all over the state trying to hit things right. The Peacham area is also very nice, and just up the road from Groton.
I am not too familiar with the southern part of the state, but I have heard Jamaica State Park is also very nice, and I plan on exploring there this fall.
Also check out Pleasant Valley between Underhill and Cambridge, and the Northeast Kingdom, especially around Lake Willoughy. Those areas will peak a little earlier.
I live in Tunbridge, and it's not too shabby around here in the fall either!
Have Fun!
Rich
Good afternoon. From your post I see you are familiar with New Hampsire. Can you recommend any area & time of year where there would be a good chance to see Moose. My girlfriend & I were disappointed when we went to Vermont in early August and the closes thing to a Moose we saw were "MOOSE CROSSING SIGNS" . Bear crossing signs too, but none of them.
Thank you.
Also, I have some other questions, I'm gonna shoot ya an email.
That would be October. No leaves left by the 6th of November
I'll look for your e-mail.
Rich
There are several spots around Vermont to see fall foliage. I would suggest you buy the Vermont Atlas and Gazetteer. Some of my best shots is taking back roads, getting lost in the meantime. As Rich said Pleasant Valley Rd between Underhill Center and Cambridge is beautiful. Also check out Bakersfield, Eden along rte 108 and surrounding roads. It is close to Cambridge. Also checkout Rte 100 around Warren and Waitesville. From Waitesville on Rt 17 go up past Mad River Ski area thru the Notch toward Bristol you will have some nice distance shots. Just before you get to Bristol, there is Memorial Park. It has some nice waterfalls, nothing spectacular, but will have some nice foliage shots. Hope I was of some help. Do get the Dave Middleton book.
John
One you start to do your research you will realize there are many, many resources. I agree that the Middleton Book is an invaluable resource. A lot, also, depends on what kind of shot you are looking for. I wanted the traditional Vermont Village or Farm shot from a high view point with foliage and mountainside in the background. That has become harder to find over the years as less and less of Vermont remains cleared and new foliage growth increases. But there is sooooo much to photograph. Sometimes it is places that aren't "icons" but just places you find. One of the best places I have ever found for waterfalls, for example is a little brook on Route 100 I found by serendipity on my way to an "icon."
Here are a couple more references you might find useful:
www.sevenhillscameraclub.com. They have some narrative about places to go an photograph (some of them are "calendar" shots).
www.scenesofvermont.com. That site has a foliage forum and a photography forum (the latter is in a rather "fledgling" stage). I have posted my findings and detailed directions to several locations I have had good luck photographing there. In the foliage forum, there are a couple of locals that are forum moderators that keep pretty good tabs on current conditions, so if you check it daily, you can find pretty good information about where the colors are. Early comments are that color may be slightly earlier this year.
Both of these sites reference Arnold Kaplan, a professional photographer from Mass., who traveled to Vermont frequently in fall and winter to make what I call "calendar" shots of Villages, churches, farms, etc. He printed a booklet which you could get for a pretty reasonable price. I don't know how old he is, but apparently has been photographing for 40 years. In 2006, I Googled him to find where to buy the book (really more of a pamphlet) and he responded personally, so I think he is still around. When he sent the book, there was an insert requesting updates and comments about whether the locations were still "viable." When I sent those in in 2006, he never responded. I don't know what that means, but I didn't bother in 2007. Might be worth trying to get the book, but beware that not all the locations he describes are truly viable today. Others have been made less picturesque by development (power lines, gas stubs, stop signs, etc.).
Good luck and if I can help with directions or clarification, please don't hesitate to PM
Here's a good table updated every week: http://www.bonjourquebec.com/qc-en/symphoniecouleurs.html