Photographing the aspens in peak fall color has been something on my to-do list for quite some time.  In researching when to go I found out that 1) the change season happens fast from start to end and 2) like leaves changing anywhere else it is will happen based on a number of conditions that occur throughout the year so you aren't guaranteed to hit peak when advance planning. But I identified a period of time where I thought I had a decent chance of hitting the 'peak' of color change and made my plans.  I can report that I was not disappointed in the timeframe I picked, the colors we found, the beautiful weather conditions, and the great company I had (thanks Suzie for adventuring with me!). 

I had picked an 'off the beaten path' location to make our base for 4 days while we explored the surrounding areas looking for color.  

I had a few ideas in my head of what I wanted to photograph - the first being a stand of aspens with forest floor growth that was in peak fall color as well, and this is one of the photographs I took that met that criteria (I will be looking at different ways of printing this image - from art paper to metal and possibly on wood)

A different location at a different time of day yielded a softer look

The trails were just gorgeous

Love straight tree trunks

I also wanted to take some pictures of mountain lakes reflecting the fall colors (the reflections closer up are spectacular, but the wider angle view is also magnificent!)

And the old barn just added to the overall interest

I've spent time in the Rocky Mountains before, but having the aspens in full color certainly gave more definition to these beautiful mountains

And I can never pass up a good 'back road' - you can find so many pretty things to photograph that you didn't even know you were missing. 

And getting back to some detail shots of the aspens - in this first picture I'm loving the aspen shadows on the stone.  The second picture is some picture perfect aspen leaves.

While I am still working through photographs from this trip (and others!), I am excited to say I will be back in the Rockies at the same point in time next year!  So more adventuring and exploration and photographing!  

Most photographs were taken with a Canon 6DM2 with Canon EF 24-70mm 2.8L USM (I used the Canon powershot sx60 hs for a few)

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