fall colors

October Fall

Posted on October 23, 2021October 23, 2021 by kritterspaw

October always means FALL for us. We look forward to the fall colors and actively debate and explore different areas to enjoy nature’s beauty in full living color.

This year we found a new place to explore, Christopher Creek, and we were thrilled to find fall in it’s full range of greens, yellows, orange, and reds. It was stunning. Thanks for the tip Rosemary.

As if the changing of the leaves wasn’t enough we were thrilled and entertained by the cascading water along the creek with fleeting views of fall’s glory.

I am in awe of nature’s beauty and humbled by her harsh light and deep shadows and the many challenges of capturing her many moods. I guess I need to get out more and practice more. Oh, darn.

Fossil Creek ND

Posted on November 8, 2019 by kritterspaw

As I continue to strive to get better pix I find that if I stop to think about the photos before just clicking away at the shutter, my photos come out better.

Case in point when I went out to get smoke pix, just because the smoke makes for more moody pix (see my post here… https://kritterspix.com/2019/10/19/mood-lighting/ ).

So continuing my current pursuit of Fall Colors, we planned a trip to Fossil Creek. When I think of water pix, I think smooth silky water cascading over rocks, which means to me, a long exposure.

So considering the outcome I wanted, I had to think about how to achieve my desired result. Do I go first thing in the morning, dawn… or dusk? With little light to be had, that could work… OR I could go in full daylight and sun and use a tool I carry in my bag – a Neutral Density (ND) Filter.

I actually use a variable ND filter so I can control how much light I cut anywhere between 3 stops to 10 stops. The ND filter allows me to stop down my exposure so I can take a 2 second exposure to get that super silky water. Tripod required!

Hmmm… it works! Thinking through our actions does make a difference. Who’da thunk it? Ha!

Oak Creek Fall

Posted on October 31, 2019October 31, 2019 by kritterspaw

It’s Fall, so we are on our mission to collect Fall Colors pix. When we think of Fall Colors in AZ one of the first places we think of is Oak Creek in Sedona.

Anytime you can mix fall colors with water it always makes for magical scenery. The reflections, glow, and leaves littering the ground are all tell tale signs of winter coming.

Of course, all I have to do is look at my thermometer to know that winter is coming, as it was 3F this am.

Check out more pix here … https://kritterspaw.com/2019/10/31/sunshine-gorgeous-scenery/

Change the Vision

Posted on October 25, 2019October 25, 2019 by kritterspaw

I love Fall. The colors are stunning. Though I do find it difficult to capture.

This season, I decided to challenge myself and shoot ‘out of the box’. It appears experts are always looking for something new and different. It doesn’t even matter what the field. Something edgy that hasn’t been done before often ‘wins’ over tried-and-true.

I’m happy to learn techniques, composition, and style that I can apply and repeat. But I suppose that one could argue that such a philosophy can yield predictability and common-place results.

I’m not sure that’s a bad thing. That’s for the eye of the beholder… and the end user to decide.

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Blue Ridge Shine

Posted on October 21, 2019October 24, 2019 by kritterspaw

If you’ve been following my blog you’ve noticed I’ve been on a somewhat futile quest to build a collection of photos of obscure lakes around Arizona. It was Blue Ridge Reservoir that started the whole mission.

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We did an overnight trip to Blue Ridge and got some cool shots which got me to thinking about those awesome sunset / sunrise reflections in the water.

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So we visited a lot of dry water holes… and encountered a bit of smoke from prescribed burns along the way. So why not combine the smoke and the lake photos by a re-visit to Blue Ridge Reservoir.

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I love it when a plan comes together!

Thanks to my friend Sue for sharing in this amazing experience. It was a lot of fun!

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Sedona, AZ

Posted on October 30, 2018October 30, 2018 by kritterspaw

We did an overnight in Sedona and enjoyed this amazing overlook from our campsite.

We ooh’d and aah’d along oak creek (https://kritterspix.com/2018/10/30/oak-creek-sedona-az/) and saw our first ring tail cat in the wild (see post ….https://kritterspaw.com/2018/10/30/ring-tale/).

Words just don’t do it justice. Hard to top this trip. Where will we head next?

Oak Creek, Sedona AZ

Posted on October 30, 2018October 30, 2018 by kritterspaw

It’s fall in Northern AZ. With all the snow (all 10″ between 2 storms) and wind we have had, most of the leaves have fallen to the ground on the Rim… so time to explore fall colors in other parts.

Sedona along Oak Creek makes for a fine diversion. The aspens were in full yellows and the ferns varying shades of reddish brown. It was the kind of scenery that gives you pause as it takes your breath away.

The cascading waters just added to it’s peaceful serenity. It’s hard to beat scenery like this. Arizona is truly a magical place.

One that we are fortunate enough to call home.

Grand Canyon North Rim, Point Sublime

Posted on October 5, 2018October 5, 2018 by kritterspaw

While at the Grand Canyon North Rim, we decided to take in Point Sublime, another overlook we had never been to. The map shows it’s only 17 miles… so we figured it would take maybe an hour to get there. NOT!!

We stopped at the Backcountry Office to get our Permit to camp there. The Ranger told us that we should take the long way for our truck, instead of the shortcut for short wheel base Jeeps. We had no idea the trek would take almost 4 hours.

The dirt road is not well marked, and the rough map is difficult to follow. The drive along the way is lined with aspens and a gorgeous drive.

The turn at Kanabownits was basically the last sign we saw. We turned around once, but decided to stick it out. The road along the way was worth the drive… we were anxious to see the overlook.

At the end of the long drive we were rewarded with a stunning vantage point. We set up our camp as we took in the views we had all to ourselves.

Photos just don’t do it justice. It was worth the price of admission (free!).

Lockett Meadow Aspen Yellow

Posted on October 12, 2017October 12, 2017 by kritterspaw

Lockett Mdw_IR.jpg There’s a chill in the air, you know what that means. Snow is on the way, and fall is in the air. It’s been a busy time around here, but we are trying to get out to check out the fall colors. I posted our first glimpse here… https://kritterspaw.com/2017/09/29/first-fall/

In an effort to diversify our fall outings, we planned a picnic to Lockett Meadow to check out the aspen color. Lockett Meadow, just outside of Flagstaff, is known for it’s fields of yellow aspen… and it didn’t disappoint.

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The woods were ‘aflame’ with yellow, bursting with brilliant yellows against aspens’s signature white truck. It made a delightful setting for our enjoyable and relaxing day out. Even Journey enjoyed it.

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With the winds we are experiencing, I don’t expect the leaves to last long. The roads are alive with leaves scattering and blowing across our path as we walk among nature’s beauty. Catch it while you can, and enjoy it while it lasts.

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Posted on October 22, 2015 by kritterspaw

We were quite anxious to go out and get Fall Color photos this year… but we have been so consumed by our projects that it nearly passed us by. We had friends come up from U.K., and they gave us the excuse and opportunity to make the journey to the rim to enjoy Fall and it’s gorgeous bounty.

Actually, the leaves were nearly gone. I think they snapped into color just as we got that big cold front and wind that moved through… then brushed them right off the trees onto the ground and against trees making for interesting juxtaposition.

Every year brings something new. Now that we live somewhere with 4 seasons we can take full advantage of it and enjoy all it has to offer.