But here are some tips in researching, locating, traveling and shooting fall colors
Tip #1 Research and Planning
The first step in photographing fall colors occurs long before the shutter is released. A photographer interested in shooting fall colors must first select the time and place of the shoot. That sounds simple enough, but there is a bit more to it than some realize. There are four major factors that affect the location and timing that is selected: type of shot desired, choice of colors, timing, and flexibility.
Type of Shot desired: The type of shot that a photographer desires strongly influences the location choice. When most people think of fall color, they tend to think of large groups of intense red and orange trees that are so commonly depicted in magazines during the fall. In the US, this type of scene is found mostly in the east. So, if this is the type of image that is desired, and you live in the US, the eastern region is the best choice. However, this is not the only option for fall color. Other areas provide a completely different type of opportunity for fall imagery. For instance, much the western US does not have nearly as dense of a fall color coverage as the east. What it does have is a sparser color that is located among dramatic, mountain ranges. A photographer that can match this fall color with the drama of the mountains or the spectacular sunsets that can occur in these areas can end up with some incredible images.
Choice of colors: Different areas have different colors. For instance, New England has a nice variety of colors while the High Sierras have a preponderance of yellow.
Timing: The earlier in the fall a photographer intends to shoot, the higher the elevation and the farther north she will likely end up. This is due to temperature. The best type of weather for fall colors is warm days and cool, frost free nights. The warm temperatures cause the production of sugar in the leaves. The cool nights interfere with the ability of the trees to transport the sugar out of the leaves. The sugar that is trapped in the leaves is one of the factors that causes the colors that we see in fall. Higher elevations and northern latitudes experience cool nighttime temperatures sooner than lower elevations and more southern latitudes -- thus, causing earlier fall colors.
Flexibility: This is a big issue for those whose schedule is dictated by a job. While locals can give general times when fall colors in any particular area are most likely to occur, nobody can exactly predict the timing of the fall colors. The timing of fall colors in an area can vary by a few weeks from one season to the next. For those photographers whose schedule is not very flexible, the length of the fall color season becomes very important. Some areas have a color season that is as short as one week. Since this week can not be exactly predicted, such an area would be a poor choice for one whose schedule is not flexible. On the other hand, some areas have color seasons that last several weeks. For instance, Zion National Park has a fairly long color season as the color proceeds from higher to lower elevations as the season progresses -- a better choice for those that have less flexible schedules.
Once these factors have been considered and a location selected, more research needs to be conducted. For this, the Internet is a huge help. Querying the chosen location along with the term "fall color" will likely yield an abundance of information. When conducting such research, I like to look for two types of information. First, I look for information about where and when the fall color is occurring or will occur. Several sites have fall color hotlines that provide excellent information of this type. The second type of information that I seek consists of fall color photos that other photographers have already taken in the chosen area. This lets me know what to expect and gets me thinking about what I might be able to capture. It also helps me plan what equipment I might bring.
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