Check out my latest video, “Sunset at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon” at https://youtu.be/cnXhJNxzL90 and learn how I created and processed it using ON1 Photo RAW.
Photographers have many different reasons to photograph something. Some record beautiful, or strange, places and things. Others like to make all kinds of photographs of people, and others use composites to bring their imagination into reality.
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One of the reasons I take photographs is to record history before it vanishes. Some of my photographs include giant Ponderosa Pines that have died, ancient Native American ruins and old buildings.
This photograph was taken in Globe, Arizona. It shows the Hill Street School that was built in 1920. It’s a beautiful old building with lots of broken windows that give it character. The image was taken several years ago, and I was planning to go back next year to take more photos of this gem. Then I saw on the news that the building was being completely renovated to provide 26 apartments for seniors.
While it’s nice that the building will be put to good use, it is one more historic building that is being renovated to look brand new.
But I have my photos, and the historic, and original, look of this building is preserved for future generations.
Why do you take photos? Post your answer in the comments below.
The other night I found this cute little tarantula at our front door. I used to see them often around our house, but this is the first one I’ve seen in several years. I think that climate change and city growth may have reduced the tarantula population. It’s nice to know they are still around.
Global Warming could make this an interesting season for fall colors. With the flooding, excessive heat and numerous wild fires, I’m not sure what to expect. Hopefully, the reds, yellows, oranges and other colors will be popping up soon, so grab your camera and take some great photographs of Mother Nature’s big show.
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To help you get the most out of your shooting, I’ve updated my annual list of links about fall colors and where to find them. Since I live in Arizona, I’ve put together a special section for my state. But I also have an extensive listing for the rest of the country and a listing for Canada. There are also links to articles to help you take great photographs of Nature’s display of color.
As you go to these websites, you will often find many links to other sites. You could easily spend an entire day following link after link, or just go to the main pages I have listed here.
I hope you get some fantastic photographs this year. Feel free to leave a comment with a link to your images of changing colors. I’m sure everyone would love to see them. And if you have a favorite place to shoot that’s not on my list, let me know.
Have Fun, Jeff
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Arizona
Fall Colors on the Coconino – This Coconino National Forest site explains why leaves change colors, what trees produce what colors, and hikes to see this wonder of nature.
Fall Colors in Arizona – Links to sites for fall colors, broken down by the month they change color.
Leaf-ometer – It tells how the leaves are changing around Flagstaff.
The Pinal Mountainsnear Globe offer several trails with maples, sumacs and sycamores that change color. Colors usually peak in late October. Check out the Ice House Canyon trial, Six-Shooter Canyon trail and the Pinal Mountain Range. Ice House can be hard to find, so get directions from the Ranger station in Globe.
Fall Colors – The Great Smokey Mountains – A National Park Service site with detailed information about leaves changing color in the Great Smokey Mountains, as well as hikes and drives to take.
There’s a National Fall Color Hotline too, 1-800-354-4595. Call this number and choose the area of the country you’re interested in and get information on leaf color, scenic drives, peak times for the colors and other fall activities.
How To Take Photographs On A Windy Day – This is one of my articles, and it will help you get great photos of fall colors even if there’s a little breeze, or howling wind, when you arrive at your shooting destination.
I’ve always liked Agave plants. They come in a variety of sizes and shapes, and their bloom, a long stalk that grows from the center of the plant, can grow almost one foot per day.
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This photo was taken at the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles, California about one hour before sunset, which gave nice directional light to the image.
As you can see from this image, leaves can make an imprint on the leaves around them as they grow. That’s because the leaves at the center of the agave are tightly packed until they eventually spread out.
I have two pieces of good news. First, I’ve added a lot of new photographs to my Redbubble shop at www.redbubble.com/people/jeffcolburn/shop There are now 80 images in the shop.
And two, you can now get posters of all the images in my Redbubble shop.
This red, ancient, Native American hand print is near Flagstaff, Arizona. I came across it on a hike, and found several other pictographs next to it. It’s amazing to stand there and realize that someone, maybe 1,000 years ago, created this, and I can still see it today. You feel a bond between some person you never met, and realize that all people are connected across time and geographic locations. It was a humbling, and unifying, experience.
This is a photograph of the rough bark on a eucalyptus tree. I’m always on the lookout for textures that I can use with my photographs. A texture can really add a special look to some photographs. Give it a try.