Last days of autumn

Shenandoah National Park, Virginia 

The winter solstice will mark the end of autumn on December 21st, but here in central Virginia the cool, pleasant weather and colorful foliage that we associate with fall will mostly be gone in another week or two. November is a transitional month, but is often more winter than fall.

Join us next week as we continue to explore autumn along the Skyline Drive and in the Shenandoah National Park. Enjoy your weekend no matter what the season where you live and thanks for reading Photography In Place.

Tree trunks

Shenandoah National Park, Virginia 

Soft rain, autumn woods

Shenandoah National Park, Virginia 

Hogcamp Branch

Shenandoah National Park, Virginia 

Early morning clouds

Shenandoah River State Park, Virginia 

Last week I spent three days camped in my travel trailer at Shenandoah River State Park, which is about 9 miles south of Front Royal, Virginia. The north entrance to the Skyline Drive is located in Front Royal which gave me easy access to the Shenandoah National Park. Friday morning, this is the scene that greeted me as I got ready to leave for another day exploring and photographing in the park.

View from above

Shenandoah National Park, Virginia 

Skyline Drive - Autumn Report #5

Shenandoah National Park, Virginia 

Mountain overlooks can be breathtaking in person, but photos rarely capture the experience. For that reason I seldom bother to photograph from an overlook. This east facing overlook on the Skyline Drive with a field of autumn color in the foreground framing the distant valley shrouded in clouds provided the exception.

Hope you have a colorful weekend, and thanks for reading Photography In Place.

Skyline Drive - Autumn Report #4

Shenandoah National Park, Virginia 

The trail to Dark Hollow Falls follows Hogcamp Branch, a small mountain stream that creates the falls. It is an easy hike, less than a mile and a half round trip from the Skyline Drive.

There were plenty of people on the trail with cameras, and a couple of serious photographers with professional looking equipment carrying tripods. It struck me as curious that not one person stopped to look or photograph along the trail. They were interested in the falls, their destination, not the path to it.  I never made it to the falls. The woods and stream along the trail were so beautiful that I stopped to take pictures every few feet until I ran out of time and had to turn back. Dark Hollow Falls will be there for me another day.

 Hogcamp Branch

Skyline Drive - Autumn Report #3

Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

The predominate colors along the Skyline Drive were yellow, orange and gold the afternoon I was there. Very little red was visible. These maple leaves are in the process of turning from green to yellow to red. I expect to be back in the mountains during the next couple of days. Maybe I'll see more red.

Skyline Drive - Autumn Report #2

Shenandoah National Park, Virginia 

This photo was taken at the Lewis Mountain campground. The Skyline Drive is about 50 yards away through the trees even though it looks like we are deep in the forest.

Skyline Drive - Autumn Report #1

Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

My first stop, after entering the Skyline Drive at the Swift Run Gap entrance which is close to my home, was an east facing overlook where this tree in full autumn color caught my eye. The afternoon was cloudy with sun poking through now and again, creating some nice lighting. Last week and weekend were probably the peak of the fall colors on the mountain, although there is still plenty of green in the lower elevations. The past couple of days have been windy, and a lot of leaves have come down.

Third Sunday - October 2014

Louisa County, Virginia 

Born Again Chapel

Autumn colors

Greene County, Virginia 

The photo above was taken day before yesterday (Tuesday) just as it was starting to rain. We have had plenty of rain here the past couple of weeks, and along with the cooler weather the leaves are putting out their fall colors.

In the higher elevations, where it is cooler, the leaves are even more colorful so yesterday I drove up the mountain and spent the afternoon along the Skyline Drive photographing the foliage. The leaves in this part of the Shenandoah National Park are near their peak, and the trees were gorgeous.

Next week I will be reporting on the autumn colors on the Skyline Drive. Hope you will stop in for a visit. Thanks for reading Photography In Place.

Botanical #21

Greene County, Virginia 

Ford F-500

Orange County, Virginia 

Early 1950s.

Chevrolet 3100

Orange County, Virginia 

Chevrolet introduced its Advance Design Series trucks in 1947. The 3100 was the half-ton pickup truck.

Early Autumn

Greene County, Virginia 

The colors of autumn are beginning to show here in central Virginia. The past couple of days have been rainy and cool. The dogwood and sycamore leaves are starting to turn. The oaks and maples will not be far behind. When the rain passes and the Blue Ridge mountains emerge from the clouds, I expect the fall colors will be well along.

Fly away

Bertie County, North Carolina 

While Canada geese are more likely to be seen in open water or marshland, they do turn up from time to time in the swamps. The goose in the picture above was one of a pair that I flushed up in a North Carolina swamp this past April. Goose and gander perhaps, seeking a little privacy? I hope I didn't interrupt anything.

Enjoy the weekend and, as always, thanks for reading Photography in Place.

Still life

Vicksburg, Mississippi 

Gourds

Vicksburg, Mississippi 

Clouds, yellow flowers

Greene County, Virginia 

Botanical #20

Greene County, Virginia 

Conversation

Orange County, Virginia 

There are still more pictures from the 38th Annual Somerset Steam and Gas Pasture Party held last month and I will be sharing some of them from time to time in the coming weeks.

Here in the shadow of the Blue Ridge, the first hints of autumn are in the air and I look forward to getting out with the camera to take advantage of the beautiful light that spreads over the mountains this time of year. Whether it is early fall or early spring where you are, enjoy the weekend and thanks for reading Photography In Place.

Leaves

Greene County, Virginia 

Window and pews

Orange County, Virginia