So. Much. Color!

When the White Mountains aren’t so white.

It’s pretty obvious that when the early European settlers who arrived in New Hampshire first laid eyes on what are now known as the White Mountains, it wasn’t during the fall. Had they arrived during late September or early October, they would probably have been named the Red, Golden, or perhaps Fiery Mountains. Because during this time of year they are anything but white.

Words really can’t convey how beautiful New Hampshire is during autumn, nor can these images do it justice. To really appreciate the amazing display of color that blankets the state, one has to see it with their own eyes.

Starting from the northern most reaches of the state, and slowly working its way south, the state becomes blanketed in brilliant warm hues of red, yellow, and orange. The intensity of the color varies from year to year, depending on a variety of weather factors, with some years the sugar maples providing the vibrant reds New Hampshire and the rest of New England is known for. Some years, not so much.

This year the colors were truly amazing, one for the record books.

Back roads and mountain views.

During the peak of the fall foliage season in the White Mountains, even the back roads are beautuful. Take the road less traveled and let the color overwhelm you.

How could I not pull over for this majestic view of the Presidential Range?

The Wonalancet Union Church, yet another of New Hampshire’s back road hidden gems.

One of my favorite spots to snap a photo no matter the season, is this cascade just above Upper Ammonoosuc Falls. There’s just something about the way the water flows over the rocks in the foreground that inspires me to capture them no matter how many times I visit. Add a few fall foliage accents to the scene and you’ve got a winner in my book.

Speaking of little white churches, The Little White Church nestled along the shore of Crystal Lake in Eaton Center, NH is a well known, yet somewhat off the beaten path treasure.

Race against time.

The best and brightest of the foliage season lasts perhaps 2-3 weeks(if we’re lucky) before we enter what we New Englanders affectionately refer to as “Stick Season.” So it is with some sadness that as I sit here putting the finishing touches on this post, the spectacular color display is all but over with, with only a few local hot spots showing much in the way of color.

Luckily, there’s always next year…

Do You See What I See?

If you walked up to this scene what photograph would you see? Would you immediately go for your wide angle lens (the wider the better??) in your desire to capture everything, to take it all in?

Or would you go right for the telephoto lens in order to tell a more intimate story?

Maybe zoom in even more?

Does a vertical composition speaks to you?

There’s no right answer here.

Plop 10 photographers down on the same spot, in front of the same view, and the resulting photographs will likely represent 10 unique visions.

The best part about photographing with other photographers is seeing what they see. Admittedly, most of the time I prefer to photograph alone. I can be a real “Chatty Cathy” when I’m with a group, as a result my creativity goes right down the toilet, (probably because I’m not focusing *pun intended* on the task at hand). However, I do thoroughly enjoy photographing with others on occasion, because it never fails to become a learning experience. Whether I’m leading a group on a workshop, or out for the day with camera toting friends, getting to see how others see can be enlightening. So many times as I’ve glanced at the LCD on the backs of their cameras my eyes have been opened to composition and subject possibilities that, upon looking back in hindsight seem so obvious. There have been so many, “How the hell did I not see that?” times. Yet it took seeing through someone else’s eyes before it even occurred to me.

What’s my point? I don’t know, is there one? Maybe I’m just babbling?

Maybe what I’m trying to tell you is to embrace your own vision. There is no right or wrong way to photograph. Be less concerned about how other photographers do it, and pay more attention to how your own eyes tell you to. But also, be aware of the other possibilities.

Or, I could just be babbling…

Mountains In Technicolor.

Reflections of Chocorua.

As far as fall foliage seasons go, the one that just finished here in New Hampshire can best be described as, WOW! The vibrancy of the colors painting the mountainsides was stunningly beautiful, the best we’ve had here in years.

Mountains of Color.

Though I’ve been told I have a way with words, I’m not sure anything I could write would come close to adequately describing how spectacular the White Mountains were during this years peak foliage.

Hopefully these images are able to somehow show the beauty of the the place I call home.

First Light On Frosty Summits.

Color In The Sky, Color In The Valley.

Evans Notch, Autumn.

Autumn Falls, Rocky Gorge.

One of the things I enjoy most is not only sharing these mountains through my photographs, each year I’ve had the privilege of sharing this most excellent display of color with some amazing people who’ve attended one of my fall foliage workshops.

Sadly, as I write this the once colorful trees in all of these photographs are now bare, the last of their brilliantly colored leaves having fallen to the ground.

Fallen Aglow.

Luckily the mountains aren’t going anywhere and there’s always next year.

All images in this post were captured using a Fujifilm X-T3 with one of the following lenses: XF 16mm f1.4, XF 10-24mm f4, XF 23mm f2, or the XF 50-140 f2.8.

An Autumn Weekend of Foliage, and Falls.

First There Was A Little Bit Of Sun.

 

The Gang’s All Here ~ Workshop participants get ready for the morning light at Wildlife Pond.

 

This past Columbus Day weekend, October 6~8, was my final Fall Foliage Workshop of the season, and Saturday morning, day 1, started out perfect. When we first arrived at Wildlife Pond there was a beautiful mist floating across the mirrored surface of the pond. On the far side of the pond stood Middle Sugarloaf Mountain, decorated in the brilliant colors of autumn, the mountainside bathed in golden light. Yet, as nice a scene as it was, there one thing missing. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky. Rather than a featureless blue sky, some white puffy clouds would complete the scene.

That was all about to change.

Be Careful What You Wish For.

Autumn Brilliance, Middle Sugarloaf Mountain over Wildlife Pond.

As if on cue, clouds came rolling in over the mountains, enhancing the already beautiful scene. Alas, with precious few dramatic exceptions, Saturday morning was pretty much the last time we would see the sun for the rest of the workshop.

Making Due When Mother Nature Doesn’t Play Nice.

Not the greatest sky for wide scenic photos.

 

Even though gray skies and the occasional rain shower would keep us from (mostly) photographing the wide mountain views that I’m sure all of the participants were hoping for…

We Still Had Waterfalls.

Overcast skies are great for waterfalls!

Mary composing her image at Rocky Gorge.

 

And We Had Intimate Landscapes. 

Even light, white birch trees, and brilliant color.

Yet Every Once In A While, We Would See Sunlight.

Mist on the mountains.

And when we did, it was as dramatic as it was brief. Small breaks in the clouds would allow the sun to shine through, illuminating sections of the mountainsides as if someone were sweeping a spotlight across the granite ledges and golden trees. More often than not these brief moments of sunlight would disappear before camera could be brought to eye. All of us, the workshop participants and I, played a game of cat and mouse, wondering where the sun would peek through the clouds next and would we have time to capture it.

We Also Had Tourists.

Invasion of the Leaf Peepers.

Lots and lots of tourists.

Columbus Day weekend is one of, if not the biggest tourist weekend in the White Mountain region of New Hampshire. With good reason. People come from all over the world to view the spectacular mountain scenery awash in the vibrant colors of autumn.

The challenge for me as the workshop leader is to both show the participants beautiful locations while assisting them in capturing their own photos, while also avoiding the crowds at the more popular places in the White Mountains. Places like Rocky Gorge, Lower and Sabbaday Falls, as well as other locations along the Kancamasus Highway, the scenic byway that runs east to west through the mountains. The key is to get up early (luckily most tourists and tour bus drivers don’t keep photographer’s hours), then get in and out of the most popular (which usually means easy to get to) locations before the crowds descend upon us.

Unfortunately it’s all too easy to lose track of time at any one location, with each person lost in their own little photographic world. The problem is that the more time spent per location exponentially increases the chances that a tour bus will offload its passengers and we become overrun with what we here in New Hampshire affectionately refer to as Leaf Peepers. When this happened it was time to move on to less crowded environments.

Overall I think the participants came away with some really good images and had a good time doing so. This was the first time I had so many clients, 11. And the first time we all stayed under one roof, a lovely old farmhouse we reserved through AirBnB.

Lastly, I’d like to give a huge THANK YOU! to my good friend, Suzanne. She kept everyone well fed with delicious home cooked meals for the duration of the workshop. I’m not sure she knew what she was getting into when she offered to be our chef for the weekend, but she dealt with just about everything that was thrown at her, including a plumbing leak in the house, like a pro. 

 

 

Wordless Wednesday

 

Mountains of Color Fall Foliage Workshop.

Join me for a Weekend of Color in the White Mountains of New Hampshire ~ October 6th – 9th.

 

This years forecast calls for one of the best fall foliage seasons in a long time, and the White Mountains of New Hampshire are one of the most spectacular places to see and photograph the brilliant colors of Autumn.

Come along for 2 1/2 days during what is historically the peak of the fall color, where I’ll be taking a small number of clients to some of my favorite scenic destinations through the White Mountains Region as we photograph the beauty of autumn in New Hampshire.

From iconic New England white steepled churches, to grand mountain vistas, I’ll share tips and techniques for capturing the brilliant beauty of autumn.

What to expect.

2 1/2 days of guiding and instruction on photographing the northern New Hampshire landscape during the most colorful time of year.

We’ll start our adventure Friday afternoon as we head out on a short and easy hike to one of the most scenic views in New Hampshire.

Then we’ll get up bright and early Saturday morning to greet the sunrise. Afterwards we’ll go over the mornings images as well as some post processing techniques using Adobe Lightroom and the Nik Collection by Google suit of plugins. (Get the Nik plugins for FREE HERE*

Then, after the mid-day break to rest, recharge, and get a bite to eat, we’ll head back out until sunset.

 

What to bring.

Camera, – any DSLR, mirrorless, or advanced point and shoot will do – as long as it can be controlled manually or in aperture priority mode. I strongly advise learning how to change the various settings, Shutter Speed, Aperture, ISO, etc., BEFORE you arrive for the workshop.

Wide angle zoom lens.

Tripod.

Lens filters – if you have them, especially a good quality circular polarizer is highly recommended.

Backpack – a small day pack or camera backpack is fine.

Shoes with good traction – there will be light to moderate hiking on uneven surfaces throughout the weekend.

Headlamp – nothing fancy, but we will be walking in the dark either before sunrise or after sunset.

If you have any further questions about what to bring feel free to use the Contact page to get in touch or leave a comment below.

Your Investment.

Your investment in this weekend of foliage photography is $725 for the full 2 1/2 days.

New For This Workshop, Lodging is included! That’s right, free lodging. I’ve rented a house for the weekend so all participants can be under one roof. This workshop coincides with the Columbus Day holiday weekend, and for any of you who have tried to book a room during this peak foliage viewing weekend the cost of the workshop alone is less than what you may expect to pay for two nights lodging in the North Conway area.

Space Is Limited, so don’t miss out! Contact me to reserve your spot today!

 

*Nik plugins have been an integral part of my post processing workflow, however Google has chosen to no longer support or offer updates to these fantastic image enhancement tools. As such while they still work with the latest version of Lightroom, they are only supported in Photoshop up to CC 2015. 

Seasons Change.

Days grow shorter, night falls cool and crisp,

The landscape becomes awash in color,

A last show of defiance before white.

Autumn in New Hampshire is late this year, not according to the calendar of course, but when it comes to the spectacular fall foliage the region is known for, the north country is only just beginning to change. The conditions for this were set in motion in the spring and carry thru until now. But the color is coming…

For more Change, check out the Weekly Photo Challenge.

Let Me Show You The Granite State.

Planning a visit to New Hampshire and don’t want to waste any of your precious vacation time trying to find the best spots to photograph?

Let me be your guide.

I now offer both personal and small group photo workshops and tours throughout New Hampshire.

From the rocky seacoast to the White Mountains, waterfalls to fall foliage, the Granite State is host to a wide variety of photographic opportunity.

My workshops are small, limited to 3 participants maximum, so I’m able to provide more personal attention to each individual. Plus, since most of my workshops are scheduled on an as requested basis, they are more often than not a private one-on-one experience tailored specifically to your photographic needs, wants, and physical abilities.

Here are a few of the scenic New Hampshire locations you could be photographing when you book a workshop with me.

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Whether it’s a spectacular sunrise on the rocky coast, or a winter sunset from the summit of one of New Hampshire’s tallest mountains, or anything in between, I will put together a custom photographic experience based on both your physical and photographic abilities.

The options are almost limitless.

Some examples of the workshop experiences I offer:

1 – The “Ride-along” 

On a ride-along though the focus will be on my own photos and scouting new locations, we’ll spend the day, usually in the White Mountains, taking pictures, scouting new locations, and discussing photography as we drive through some of New Hampshire’s most beautiful scenery. At only $125 the “Ride-along” is a very affordable investment in your photography where you’ll receive a good amount of the same personalized attention that you would on a half or full day workshop minus the ability to choose the locations visited.

2 – Half and Full day workshops custom made for you.

“Half-day” workshops ($250) usually run between 4-6 hours long, with a “Full day”($425) being from sunrise to sunset (with a break of an hour or so mid-day to rest up for the remainder to the day)

3 – Two Day Workshops and Tours. ($675)

On a two day workshop you’ll had better bring a lot of memory cards because we’ll be photographing a wide range of scenic locations and subjects throughout the state. Most of my two day workshops will be focused on a particular subject, such as waterfalls or autumn foliage, will often combine multiple types of landscape subjects. The vast majority of which are easily accessible from the road or via short and easy hike, making them perfect for people of all physical abilities.

4 – Multi-Day Backcountry Excursions. ($675 and up) 

If you’re an experienced hiker and backpacker looking to improve your photography, or you’re simply looking to capture landscapes that haven’t been photographed nearly as frequently as the more accessible locations, I offer 2, 3, or more days of photographing some of the most picturesque wilderness areas you’ll find in New Hampshire. Each day we’ll see and photograph majestic mountain vistas where we may be the only people for miles. Prior to all backcountry excursions a list of mandatory gear will be provided to each prospective participant with a full gear inspection made prior to hitting the trail. I reserve the right to refuse to lead someone I deem unprepared or who overstated their experience level. Safety is my primary concern while traveling in the wilderness. These trips are NOT for the inexperienced, or casual hiker.

And now the fine print.

To book a workshop contact me by clicking on the CONTACT page,

or call me at;  603-973-9886

A 50% deposit is required at least 60 days prior to your anticipated workshop to reserve your space on either a previously scheduled workshop or to book a private workshop, with the balance due within 30 days of the date. Cancelations made at least 30 days prior to the date of your workshop will receive a full refund. Cancelations made less than 30 days prior will be refunded less a $100 cancelation fee.

Meals, lodging, and transportation are not included in the workshop fee.

All workshops are rain or shine, within reason. In fact, in the case of a waterfall workshop you couldn’t ask for better weather than an overcast drizzley day. No refunds are given due to weather, though full or partial credit towards a future workshop will be given if the weather turns out to be truly terrible. Bad weather can result in great photos, but I’m not interested in venturing out if we’ll all be miserable.

Over the course of a multi day workshop, excluding backcountry, if time, location, and accommodations permitting, there may be some image review and post processing sessions during the mid-day.

Whether you’re an experienced photographer visiting the area and don’t want to spend your time searching out the best places to photograph, or a beginner who just bought their first camera, let me help you with your photography

Photography 101: Mystery

The Mysterious Path

Life is a path with a beginning and an end.

Around each bend in that path you’ll encounter mystery and choice.

Plan as you may, the journey you intend as you start down the path,

May be far different from the journey you finish.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Dreamy

Dreaming The Dream Of Autumn

Days shorten, in the air a chill.

Landscape awash in brilliance.

The waters pass on their meandering journey.

To dream the dream of autumn.

Click HERE for more dreams.