"Shu" <isssr@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:3F5676B6.57177807@yahoo.com...

> I never had chance to see and shoot magnificent Fall colors, but it

> always fascinates me. Now, Fall is coming. I want to try my hands on.

> Please recommend three top places in the nation for shooting Fall colors

> and where I can get the best info for photo trip (where to shoot, road

> maps, etc.)

> BTW, I have 2-3 weeks vacation time. That should be enough to get

> some nice shots. Thanks in advance.

The many other posters have given excellent advice (especially those who

recommend the NE US, where the color can be both astonishingly intense

and varied in color). Be prepared to move about to follow good color

(it always exists somewhere, but in any given year, it may not be in any

particular place). Avoid overnight stops in areas within easy driving of

major cities - there will be NO places to stay without reservations, if the

color is good [learned that one on a frustrating trip in the Catskills one

great color year...;-]). In our area we used to average about one

SPECTACULAR fall-color year (where the hills flame clear yellows,

reds, and oranges, and appear to be florescent, they are so bright - and

the ground is covered with pure, bright color [it looks truly unworldly!])

in about five, but it has been over 10 years now without a great color

year (but there are always local areas of good color even so, if you

wander around some - one valley can be brown, the next bright and

colorful) - but the indications are that this year will be a good one.

BTW, there are a LOT of waterfalls, glens, gorges, etc. in a small

area here, which makes it a great place to visit with or without fall color

(see http://208.249.120.225/visitithaca/index.html, a local tourism site

I put together [it was easy, since there is so much here!;-], particularly

the "Natural Features" and "Hiking" sections). Another BTW: a good

fall has stages that can extend over a long period (a poor one can be over

in a couple of days, alas...), beginning with the first florescent oranges

and reds appearing within the green, advancing through great gobs of

intense color just about everywhere (best after a rain, on a bright clear

day, when the front/backlit leaves contrast with dark wet wood and the

ground - or on a wet, foggy day, when the foliage seems to have an

inner glow), through late fall when most of the leaves have dropped

and the remaining ones are a clear yellow, to the time when the

trees are black tracery, but the fields have a rich dark orange and

yellow color, often made even more interesting with the first light

edges of frost and ice after a freeze (you MUST see this backlit by

a low sun, nice as it is even in grey light...!) Anyway, have fun! If

you find good color, you will not forget it! Best to walk under the

trees, not just drive by them. Stop often to look...

--

David Ruether

d_ruether@hotmail.com

http://www.David-Ruether-Photography.com