Fall Color Update

It's about that time of year again, so I thought I'd post a sticky thread for those that want to contribute...

I've not been out much, so I don't have a lot to report right now. I do think that we're going to have some spectacular color this year, due to the dry, cool weather lately. That said, I did notice some browning of lots of white oak leaves during the spring and early summer due to the gall wasps. I don't think it will be noticable though when the color really starts to pop.

It is going to be a very RED fall color season this year - as opposed to the last couple that were very yellow/orange because of too much rain. Our normal dry conditions lead to brighter and redder colors all around, and also a faster change with less time at peak. We've got some white oaks that are brilliant red right now, which is quite unusual.

Hey Tim, I'm glad to hear the white oak report. The gall wasp activity seemed to be confined to scattered patches here and there, but was fairly widespread. I'd heard a report from the Jefferson City area earlier this year that their presence was noticable there as well. This is pretty early for oaks to be turning - maybe an early peak this year.

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Here is one from Conway today. We didn't get much rain in September and it is really really dry right now. We have a little bit of scattered color around right now, but overall still green with some brown mixed in.

Here is one shot a few minutes ago from my back deck...

early fall color

Karla and I are considering running up to Richland this Friday/Saturday. We need some water in the streams! There are plenty of other scenery in Arkansas without the need for water.

I rode the motorcyle from Highway 23 and 74 from Eureka to Boxley, on to Jasper and down 123 south to Russelville this past weekend. I really did not see a lot of color along the road yet. Just patches here and there. I bet by this weekend though, things will be really colorful. Here at home in Paragould, we have a lot more color, which surprises me. Usually it turns over in NW AR before our area. Maybe up that way again this coming weekend. What about our fall gathering?

With our crazy schedule in the next few weeks, this may be our only chance to go. Oct. 23rd weekend may be a good target time or maybe the next weekend for the gathering. Last year Richland turned first and it we will give it try this weekend. We will give you a update Sunday.

Hey Mike, I'll look forward to hearing about Richland. Haley and I are probably heading up there next weekend (22nd) and were hoping to shoot around Richland. It looks like that is the only weekend we are going to have available.

I think this year will be a bust for getting everyone together at one time. Anyone interested in Friday/ Saturday? Matt will be joining Karla and I camping near the Richland campground a the loaw water bridge if available. Matt has to leave mid Saturday morning and we have to leave Saturday night.

We will give a report Sunday.

The weekend of the 22nd is going to be the only weekend I'm going to be able to get out also. Why do college football and fall colors have to coincide?

Tim was right about still being green. Selective shooting is a must. Full sun and some wind made for a tough trip. Richland Falls is a trickle. Above and below the low water bridge at Richland camground was OK but will be better next week and maybe at peak by the last weekend.

This image is from this morning during sunrise downstream of the low water bridge.

Richland Falls Friday. Full sun! Bad day for shooting.

I always love this little walkway. I didn't set my depth of field so excuse me for the blurry foreground. Actually this and the above images were all shot with a very cheap Nikon D40 that I borrowed from my daughter. I did the best I could with what I had.

Another from downstream of the bridge. Hopefully in another week some good color will start to pop.

Thanks for the update Mike. Haley and I will be headed up there next weekend if anyone wants to join us. I'll probably drive up to Russellville late Thursday night and plan on being at Richland at first light Friday. We'll either camp there or at Fairview.

Yes, thanks for the update Mike. I drove up there last night then hiked a little bit upstream of the bridge. If I had to guess, there will be good color to be found in the Arkansas Ozarks through the weekend of the 31st.

Bryan, If I can get away from work I may join you two.

Hey Dottie, that would be great. The more the merrier. I'll let you know our exact plans later this week, but I'm guessing that we will stay at Fairview since I am unsure about the toilet or water situation around Richland since the campground is officially closed. (Maybe Mike or Matthew could give me a heads up on that.) Jon W., are you going to try and get away?

Bryan...Still no camping at the campground. The gate was actually open and there were no signs up. We actually picked out a spot, but to no avail. Matt talk to some Forest Service biologist last Friday that came by and he said it was still closed and he didn't know why the gate was open. We camped over on the other side by the bridge. No bathroom, but several nice trees to hide behind.

The forest service guy was pretty nice. The deer hunter camped in there wasn't to happy about getting kicked out. He had brought down a load of firewood and cleared an area out earlier in the week. He had his camp all set up when he got kicked out then his 4 wheeler wouldn't start. He ended up just going back home. I was told that law enforcement was coming to lock the gate Friday night but they never showed. I tried to get some info on the landslide and the campground reopening from the biologist but he either didn't know anything or was playing dumb.

Sunday morning the gate appeared to locked, but there was a wide path around it where four wheelers or jeeps have been going in and out of the campground.

I will be up there on Saturday and Sunday...still have to figure out where I'm gonna watch the LSU/Auburn game.

Jon, that's what TIVO is for.

That is what satellite radio is for.

Yea i may just have to catch it on the big 870am. Pretty sure reception is decent enough up there.

I am going to try and make Saturday. Either Falling Water or Richland. My Lee Filters are on back order, but I can't wait any longer. I hope to see some fellow photographers along the way.

Ya'll have fun this weekend. Mike and I have to go to a sorority thing with our youngest daughter and the Ole Miss game! We are going to try to shoot our way up to Fayetteville on Friday though!
Bryan...they are calling for a 40% chance of rain this weekend. I'm starting to think every time you come, you bring the rain! We need it! Don't forget your rain gear. Haley...looking forward to seeing what you get this time!

You guys will probably get to all the great places before my workshop group does, but please leave a few good scenes for us to capture! I second the emotion for Bryan and Haley to bring rain - certainly won't be enough for waterfalls, but just having the moisture in the air will help the colors pop a lot more.

One note about grad filters. I continue to see a lot of photographers paying big bucks for ND grad filters, then struggling to use them in the field, which takes a lot of time. In the digital age I must wonder why? There are millions and millions of them built into Photoshop, where you have complete control over everything (using grads in the field burns the effect in forever). And it takes much less time to process then it does in the field (only seconds), leaving you more time to shoot pictures! Save money and time and end up with many more great images without them. Just a thought...

I am hoping the GND's as well as ND's will extend the shooting hours. I use blending and bracketing, but still get some blown out areas. I don't understand how some of it can be recovered in PS. I recently purchased CS5, but have not installed it yet. Look for me to join a future workshop!

My time window for being is the Jasper area is Oct 26th to Nov 1st. What is the SWAG answer for peak in that area? Will I be too late? It is a days drive to get me there.
Thanks in advance
Joe Rogers

I don't think you will be to late Joe. Bryan are you staying at Fairview? I plan on shooting somewhere Friday morning and may meet up later.

I think you'll be coming at the right time, Joe.

I heard that Steele Creek entrance road is under contruction and may not be passable at certain times. FYI

Maybe they don't work on weekends.

Matt, we are staying at Fairview. Hope you can hook up. I'll email my cell number on the off-chance that we have service somewhere.

Brian, come on up. Look forward to seeing you.

My wife wants to visit Arkansas with me when I come to shoot early Nov. but does not like camping.I usually photograph alone but want her to see the beauty of Arkansas in the fall this trip
. I like Jasper with it being central to what I like to shoot,so my question is.....can anyone suggest lodging that is not bare bones like the motel next to the river in Jasper, but not high dollar resort type....Im looking for something in the $70 night range...got to keep the ladies happy, you know
Joe Rogers

I went to Steele Creek yesterday and had no problems. They are placing drainage tiles but I expect with patience you will get down. It was just starting to pop in Boxley valley yesterday. The crag might look good this weekend but earlier in the week it was just starting to change. Good color starting to pop all over NW Arkansas.

was at Steele Creek this morning and the road is just fine now.

Joe - the Gordon Motel is $40 per night. But I don't think it fits into the "keep the ladies happy" category.

:)

Several of our Venture Crew had never been to Whitaker Point so I agreed to tour guide and talk a little about photography. The colors are not at their peak and those that were there did not seem as vibrant as in previous 'good' years.
It was the small stuff that was great. We did a lot of close up photography that turned out to be very interesting.

Don't ever and I mean ever not check to see if it is the Color Fest Weekend at Ponca. Geez, there were 25 cars at the Craig. We saw a marriage proposal and a wedding (thankfully to different couples) and one of the hikers said she had counted over 100 people on the trail and at the craig. I've learned my lesson. The only good thing was that I got to see John Moore. He was headed out on a 3 day hike. Hope to see some good photos from him.

Mt. Sherman is at about 70% turned. Good maples, dogwoods and sumac.

Rod

Just got back from our weekend "mini-gathering" and will post pics later (probably tomorrow). The color at Richland was good, but the best we came across was at Haw's Creek. Jon, Haley and I were there this morning and its at peak right now. The colors along the creek were stunning and there were enough small pools to get good reflections. The cloudy conditions, moist air and early fog were bonuses. Upper Falling Water Road is brown and barren.

Bryan, Jon, Erin and Haley,
Had a great time with you guys. Glad to see you made it to Haw Creek. I spent all Sat. afternoon there and had a fun time. Colors much better than Richland. Oh, and I got my moon! Beautiful rise which lasted about 4 minutes before it went behind the clouds!

I was up around Hwy 27 area in the Illinois Bayou area on Sunday. Color is looking good. This weekend should look really good, unless the wind blows everything away this week. I would say it was at 50%.

I made a quick trip yesterday to Richland Creek. The color is still good at creek level with some trees just past peak. The winds were picking up as I was leaving around noon and many leaves were falling. The colors higher up were still not at peak but should get there soon.

Since the wind was blowing around 20mhp I decided to scout some of the other areas. I headed north on Highway 7 and then headed west on HIghway 16. The colors there seemed mutted with a lot of green still in the area. My side trip to Limestone was nice with more color in the valley on stream level. This area should be nice by the weekend.

The Boxley/Ponca area is starting to show some good color but the hillsides were still not very vibrant. Tim, has mentioned that this can change with the lighting. There were some very good pockets of color, just not overall yet.

On my way home, I drove along the Mulberry and found the color has not really started there yet. My best guess is next week sometime.

I will post a few from Richland when I get them processed.

Thanks for the info Tom. I think I will work along Big Piney between Ft. Douglas and Limestone this weekend. Maybe a side trip to the upper part of Rock Creek. Big Piney between Walnut and Limestone is some of the best anywhere, but does take more effort.

Hey folks, I cant make it up until after Nov2.....think color will still be good in the Richland Creek area.....if not, where would you suggest I head?
Thanks,
Joe Rogers

Cove Lake has some good color right now. It should have some good color for this week and next weekend pending no big wind events. Mt. Magazine is starting to turn. Several trees have nice color, but overall look is still green. By this weekend it should start looking pretty good. I would say it has about 20 to 30%.

Yesterday I was in the Ouachita Mountains around the Little Missouri River and Shady Lake. The trees seem to be changing from green to brown, with hardly any reds or oranges.

It ain't over in Arkansas yet! Yesterday I returned to the Ouachita Mountains and was surprised to see a lot of color developing, especially along Forest Road 38 north of Shady Lake. The best color was along Highway 270 west of Mena. It seems the colors are changing more slowly than in past years, and I'm hoping there will still be color in the Ouachitas next weekend.