The colors of fall are just beginning to show now in Montana’s high country. Reds are getting an early start.
(Photo taken along F.S. Trail 345 near the top of Bighole Peak in the Teepee-Spring Creek roadless area in the Cabinet Mountains of western Montana. Mount Baldy in the background.)
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Wonderful shot Terry, the reds are beautiful, can’t wait till fall gets here. What is the fire situation like now?
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Comment by Bernie Kasper — August 28, 2007 @ 12:52 pm
Fall seems to be getting here quickly this year. It’s getting into the 30’s at night already. The major fires that we’ve had so far are fairly will under control, but we still haven’t had any rain so a thunderstorm can start the think all over again. The first snow is still about a month away, so we’re keeping our fingers crossed.
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Comment by montucky — August 28, 2007 @ 1:17 pm
My eyes are drawn to several areas of beauty, simultaneously…I’m sending you my optometrist’s bill.
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Comment by Pinhole — August 28, 2007 @ 5:23 pm
I keep noticing on the weather map that some of the high temps have reached up into NW Montana. Here in Georgia, the heat and the drought are causing some of the hardwoods to start dropping some of their leaves earlier than “schedule.”
Typically, weather like this leads to an autumn in the GA and NC mountains that’s less colourful than usual. Don’t know how MT will end up, colourwise, but those reds are a nice start.
Malcolm
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Comment by knightofswords — August 28, 2007 @ 6:38 pm
That happens a lot up here, Pinhole. Then add the smell of the pine and fir, a touch of a fall chill in the air and the sound of a breeze in the tree tops. It takes a whole team of specialists!
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Comment by montucky — August 28, 2007 @ 7:44 pm
Knight,
Yes, we’ve had record heat this summer. Lot’s of all-time records for individual days, but also an all-time record number of days over 90, which is really hot for us. That, coupled with an almost total lack of rain makes it really tough on the forest. It makes me wonder how the trees can stay alive, and yet in the area where I took these photos it’s still green and lush.
I don’t know what it will do to the fall colors, but the reds don’t seem to be affected and most of the yellows around here come from the Larch and I don’t think they are affected either. The colors will probably be earlier though. Most of the small bushes on the open hillsides have already turned.
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Comment by montucky — August 28, 2007 @ 7:52 pm
Wow that is beautiful. You all are cooling off a lot faster than we are – so far nothing but 50 at night. However, I can feel a crisp clear chill in the area and my body welcomes it! *phew* finally. (Once agian Pinhole got me laughing) Anyway that is some serious red action I think you photograph colors really well. I attempted it on the trip but can never get it blasting like you do. Nice work.
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Comment by aullori — August 28, 2007 @ 9:34 pm
I’m also very happy to have cooler weather, although we are supposed to get back into the early 90’s again for awhile.
I’ve been working on color after being inspired by the stuff Bernie Kasper does. I’m still having problems getting the camera to see what I see, but it’s a lot of fun trying! Fortunately, digital film is cheap!
On this shot I lay down on the ground in the middle of the red leaves to let the camera know I was interested in that color.
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Comment by montucky — August 28, 2007 @ 9:47 pm
I will so try that! I don’t mind getting dirty if it means getting a great shot. thank you montucky for the tip.
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Comment by aullori — August 29, 2007 @ 12:20 am
nice, and what a great way to get a good shot…
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Comment by silken — August 29, 2007 @ 5:34 pm
Well, it worked. I don’t know what the bears thought about it though.
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Comment by montucky — August 29, 2007 @ 6:34 pm