Photographing fall foliage

Published 5:40 am Thursday, October 4, 2012

The change of seasons has been in the air for a while now at the North Coast. Temperatures have dropped, and the light has thinned, casting lengthening shadows. When the sun is out, theres often a golden cast to things. And, of course, trees are starting to shed their leaves. Autumn has arrived, and the season brings with it the promise of fall colors to be captured on film.

So dust off those cameras, fall foliage enthusiasts. Deciduous trees are starting to shift from their spring and summer greens to bright gold, rich red and rusty orange. Actually, in Oregon, the dominant leaf colors are yellow and red, and the peak foliage time, on the average, runs from about mid- to late October. Be sure and check out a new blog dedicated to Oregons fall foliage (ff) at OregonFallFoliage.wordpress.com. You can get daily updates on the ff factor throughout the state.

Dave Myers is an adjunct art instructor who teaches photography at Clatsop Community College. His take on leaf color this year? The fall foliage probably isnt going to be wonderful this year, but we can expect to get some color.

If you dont want to waste your time, Myers advises keeping an eye on the weather and trees around where you live to increase your chances of pics that will yield bigger payoffs in terms of their wow appeal. In other words, dont just head out looking for good leaf color; there will be indicators close at hand signalling when its time. Myers favors driving small roads out through the countryside. Old logging roads can be rewarding, he finds.

Currently an Astoria resident, Myers lived in Eden Valley, Wash., for about 30 years. Subsequently, he knows plenty of promising spots for catching fall foliage that are relatively close by. Hes had good luck in the following areas:

Youngs River Loop, Oregon Hwy. 202; from Olney to Jewel;

Naselle, Wash. to Long Beach, including Rosburg, Wash.;

From Seaview,?Wash. around Willapa Bay, Wash.;

Grays River, Wash., and Eden Valley, Wash.;

Deep River, Wash.

Myers likes taking little back roads that look like theyre heading into the hills. You dont want deep woods or open pasture. Youll be looking for hills with vine maple open enough to get good sun, he maintains.

In terms of tips for taking quality pictures, Myers recommends including a bit of green or maybe a tree trunk or two in your shot for contrast. This makes the full colors stand out more. They (the leaves) are wonderful the way they reflect the light, especially with the sun coming from over the shoulder, he enthuses.