Latest on fall colors

Rather than put this in the fall colors thread, which is getting unwieldingly long, and knowing lots of you are looking towards this weekend as your last autumn hoorah, I've separated this out as its own thread.

Fresh snow at Maroon Lake yesterday morning, but the aspens at the lake are mostly shot, either over with or never gonna. This is three shots stitched that were taken with the Canon 45mm tilt-shift lens, using a technique Marc Muench talks about in the latest OP.

Downvalley there are still some nice aspens. The Maroon Creek road will probably still be workable this weekend to some extent. I'd guess Castle Creek road to be about the same.

BTW, except for the first shot, these are unaltered (except for slight sharpening) raw files with no saturation added except for what the 5D's landscape picture style includes.

Dallas Divide should look pretty freakin' great this weekend. Here's one of the Sneffels Range that shows how much green is still left, but that's changing. Finally.

Owl Creek Pass is a bit shabby on the Ridgway side, but there's some really good stuff on the Silver Jack side. By this weekend a lot of that will be on the ground, but it still might be worth a look.

The west end of Kebler and south side of McClure are, at long last, starting to change, and this weekend should be really nice, especially with the storm moving through.

Todd,

That 1st one rocks. Just when I thought (I mean hoped) I had seen my last Bells shot you manage to hit a homer.

What is your 2 cents about best conditions this weekend for the rest of our normal haunts down there?

RichieV

Todd,
I love that Bells shot!!!

I was wondering where you were last Sunday since Jesse and I were talking about the Caudle clouds up at the Bells. But it looks like you got even better conditions yesterday with more snow, great clouds and really nice light. The fact that some of the aspens around the lake are on there way out didn't hurt that image at all. The snow and light really make the image.

I am just now trying to decide on the San Juans this weekend or next. I think your pictures help to show the colors finally starting to happen along the Sneffels range.

- Derek

Whoa! Todd that is one honey of a shot and atypical of the Bells! I like the other two as well.
John

To all: I think this weekend and through the middle of next week it'll be possible to find stuff to shoot in the places I menton in my photo-less post above, but after that I think it'll be winding down in a hurry. That's not to say there won't still be the story of the autumn colors' demise to find -- you know, the ones of which you can practically smell the musty scent of decaying leaves -- but don't expect vast swaths of golden aspens two weekends from now.

I should also add that the cottonwoods along the San Miguel River downstream from To-hell-you-ride look outstanding right now. But beware, there's a one-lane section of road a mile or two before the Highway-141 turn-off (is that the right number? the one that heads up to Lizard Head Pass.), that really stacked up traffic when I was there Monday. If you go from Dallas Divide to Telluride via Last Dollar Road, you'll avoid it, but also miss the nice river shots.

Great series, Todd. I love the first one. The orange tonality brings very cold morning mood. Love the gold aspens paths in the snowy forest. Very pretty scene.
The third photo is amazing as well. Beautiful light and lovel soft colors.
You sure keep busy this fall. Great stuff you have been posting.

Thanks Todd! This is a big help for my trip this weekend. Can't wait. Very interesting tone to the bells shot. Those tilt-shift lenses are intriguing too. Thanks for posting!

Dang, Todd that Bells shot is super sweet!

Here's one from Owl Creek Pass right before the sun set last night, hence the orangey glow. I'm standing in the very meadow made famous in True Grit, the classic John Wayne movie from 1969. In one pivotal scene, The Duke is charging through this meadow on his trusty steed, reigns in his teeth, a six-shooter in one hand, a Winchester in the other, in a jousting match with Bruce Dern and his henchmen, who are approaching from the opposite direction at full gallop. Marshall Cogburn (Wayne) has his horse shot out from under him, and he finds himself pinned under the massive beast, rifle just out of reach, as the bad guys come to finish him off. I won't spoil the next move, just rent the DVD.

This is also a case study in WTF? Three other photographers were in this meadow, all standing around talking. Judging by two vehicles with TX plates, I'd say these were Lone Stars. We exchanged pleasantries as the light faded, and as I headed back to the truck, I asked if they'd gotten anything. (A 4x5 was sitting idle on a tripod nearby, and two others had digitals.) "Nah," one of them said. "No clouds, no photos."

Now you guys know me as Cloudman, but I sure didn't stuff my camera in its cubby when light like this was happening. And these guys drove all the way from TX to stand around and watch the light come and go? WTF indeed!

Beautiful shots Todd, that first one of the Bells is a stunner.

Very sweet shots Todd!!

John

Too funny about TX :-). And thanks for the photos and weekend tips

Thanks for the new take on the bells - I believe I said WTF when that popped up on my screen. The TX story killed me....thanks for making me blow coffee all over my display! Great shot too.

I once met a group of Germans on Trail Rider Pass, looking down on Snowmass Lake. One of them had a hard case stuffed full of gear and he was backpacking with this massive load. I asked why he wasn't shooting and he said "It is all so beautiful; I don't know what to shoot". WTF!

Thanks for the report Todd. The Bells shot is very cool, reminiscent of last year's snow. Nice light on Owl Creek too. WTF indeed.

Sorry Todd, not Bruce Dern.....he was in "The Cowboys" (also with Wayne and quite possibly a better movie overall). It was actually a young Robert Duvall. My dad used to take us to all of the John Wayne movies when we were kids.

Dude, that first image is amazing!

Todd with light like that who gives arip about clouds! I hope you confiscated that 4x5 from them TX dudes. I'll give you $45.00 fer if ya did!
John

Mark, good call! I was mixing up my movies. Robert Duvall indeed.

Well, geez, that first one just plain sux - mostly cause it's not in my portfolio. Seriously, that's some incredibly amazing and sweet light and a wonderfully unique view of what has to be the most photographed icon in the States. Having it as a 3-shot stitch is making me even more envious. That's a show piece, even for your impressive collection.

"No clouds, no photos"... that's often the case, but if you can't see that scene screaming to be photographed....good grief.

Awesome shot of the Bells (3shot stitch?, wow!), and the 2nd one was right there as well!

It was great to cross paths with you at Dallas Divide, but we might have to revoke your cloudman license for "failure to launch", Monday's sky was too blue. The True Grit cafe was a good call though, and for all the right reasons!

I'll be anxiously waiting to see what else you caught along your travels this fall!