The world around us is full of natural beauty. That is why so many people are drawn to photographs showing that beauty. Birds, animals, landscapes, and the sky are the subjects of outdoor photographers in an attempt to record the beauty that we see. Each season of the year has its own photogenic qualities and the changing colors of autumn presents both glories and challenges for a photographer.
The reds, yellows, and oranges of the deciduous trees create an autumn array that just begs to be photographed. The colors that explode across the hills draws our attention because of the speed with which those colors can disappear. Soon the colors will fade to shades of grey with the occasional green contrast of evergreen trees. That’s why many photographers rush to record the changing colors before they are gone. Even people who do not consider themselves to be photographers will often take snapshots of an autumn landscape.
In my mind, one of the most beautiful areas to photograph in autumn is Upstate New York. Seemingly endless forested rolling hills and ancient mountains are broken by picturesque farms and small towns. Apple orchards and grape vineyards are interspersed with dairy cattle and sheep farms across the rural areas. As the leaf colors change, the array grows more splendid. It’s hard to go very far and not see an amazing photo-worthy scene. Sometimes that view is even in your own backyard or neighborhood. But autumn in Upstate N.Y. is also a superb time to go on a road trip of almost any length.
Recently I took a short drive into the Finger Lakes Region of Upstate N.Y. There are a couple of small cities, a number of smaller towns, and miles upon miles of rural secondary and tertiary roads. The views range from panoramic to intimate and each curve of the road brings a new scene. While the region is well-known outside N.Y. for award-winning wines, other artisans are also producing all kinds of other foods such as cider, beer, cheese, and meat products which have also won awards. Many signs, both commercial and homemade, dot the roadways to direct travelers to outstanding foods and beverages.
The scenic beauty is stunning with the aptly named Finger Lakes, rivers and streams that cascade over waterfalls, rolling hills that produce undulating and curving roads, and all surrounded with glorious autumn color. In years that have chilly nights but not a killing frost, one can see yellows and reds even in the grape vine leaves, which normally turn brown after frost. Without snow, the green grass appears like a carpet and on a clear sunny day the vistas become spectacular. The the time for a road trip in your location. There is certain to be a worthy landscape waiting for you to photograph.