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Fall's First Colors Spread Through Washington
Orange leaves backlit by a setting sun on Tuesday evening in Glover Park, D.C.
Mid-autumn is one of my favorite times for photography. The weather is typically quite pleasant, haze-free skies are the norm, and the trees show off their colors before the first real signs of winter arrive. While the thermometer has recently claimed that summer is still here, growing signs of autumn have appeared.
Continue reading for more photos and commentary. Also, see our full forecast, UnitedCast for tonight's game at RFK, and SkinsCast for Sunday's game against the Browns.
When photographing fall color in rural areas, it is sometimes as "easy" as finding a hill full of (or a body of water lined with) trees and pointing the camera at the scene. In the city, it's a little trickier. While many autumn photographers think big scenes with lots of trees, there is good reason to remember small and isolated subjects. This is especially crucial during the first few weeks of color while much of the landscape remains green.
Late-day sunshine is not as harsh as during the middle of the day, and it can be used to create pleasing and surprising results. Sadly for light lovers, the sun is starting to set quite early (6:29 p.m. on Wed., and dropping about a minute each day), so the window of best light is not a large one. Remember that changing leaves are bright -- they don't need much help to be captured. Photographs can continue in the shade right through dusk. Of course, a tripod (and light winds) are key.
TUESDAY EVENING
Leaves with varying levels of color change.
Fall colors in the sky, one of numerous recent colorful sunsets.
Just after sunset, with orange/pinkish glow from sky still accenting the landscape.
WEDNESDAY EVENING
Colorful vines on a tree sidelit by the setting sun.
Colorful leaves and an apartment building in Glover Park, D.C.
Summer's green leaves and autumn's orange mingle.
All photos taken in Glover Park, Washington, D.C. Look for more autumnal scenes in the coming weeks.
By
Ian Livingston
| October 16, 2008; 10:45 AM ET
Categories:
Photography
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Posted by: Steve Tracton | October 16, 2008 1:00 PM | Report abuse
Ian, these are gorgeous pics. I didn't know you were THAT talented.
Posted by: Bilal Saab | October 16, 2008 1:48 PM | Report abuse
Amazing pictures, please keep them coming!
I don't think I've ever seen a more beautiful fall in my 10 years here in DC... (It's extra nice to enjoy it on a leisurely motorcycle ride.)
Posted by: Tracey | October 16, 2008 2:23 PM | Report abuse
Maybe I am prejudice, but City is as breathtaking in the Fall than the District, and actually the whole DC Area. I live in NY now, but my son and I make several trips to DC a year and we are natives so for us it is a homecoming!!
Posted by: NIck | October 16, 2008 4:54 PM | Report abuse
Fall is so bittersweet. Such beautiful colors that we are blessed with, but with Winter right behind.
Oh, for the Spring!
Posted by: Tony | October 16, 2008 11:29 PM | Report abuse
Absolutely beautiful. I like the green and fall color contrast ones best.
Posted by: maki | October 17, 2008 9:30 AM | Report abuse
Awesome shots!
Posted by: dc rules | October 17, 2008 10:37 AM | Report abuse
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Ian, great pictures - fall is a great, gloriously colorful time of year.
For the past several days the weather is clearly within the category of "It doesn't get better than this" - except for a winter-time blizzard.
Down here at Lake Anna (north central VA) the air temperature has been in the 80's and water temperatures remain in the mid 70's. Great - as good as it gets - for late season swimming, boating, and just enjoying the aura of perfect fall days - even while feeding my obsession of keeping up with things from a laptop close at hand.