Colorado Fall Color - Sept. 25, 2009

Today, we started the fall color tour in the Crested Butte area. I spent the morning scouting out locations for the best color and then met Tim from Missouri later in the afternoon. I must say...the aspens this year are confused. Some have already turned and dropped their leaves - but most are still green and just beginning to turn (they're late by at least a week). However there are a few colorful stands, and this is one of them. The very best time to photograph forests are when they are out of direct sunlight. This stand was north of Crested Butte on a north-facing slope, so were in the shade. The color tone is simply amazing with very subtle coloring and without the harsh shadows had it been taken with direct sun.