The northern hemisphere's autumnal equinox fell on Saturday, 22 September, which means it was high time for a pilgrimage to one of the areas we love on U. S. Highway 64 between Tres Piedras and Tierra Amarilla.  As is typical in the Rocky Mountains, color in the aspen trees which give the mountains their veins of gold, comes at different times and with varying intensity.  There are places at which Fred and I typically stop because of particularly gnarly aspen or interesting groves of trees.  Many of those weren't "ready" for their close-up yet, but we did discover a great place in the forest into which we had not ventured before. It shared colors both brilliant and muted, in blocks of yellow, shades of red, orange, and greens that are in the transition phase, such as those shown in the more muted shot below.

color block - aspen 2

Sometimes the way in which light falls on the yellow gold of the leaves is so brilliant that it nearly burns the retinas!

aspen from the ground up-2

To me, aspen trunks are almost as interesting as the leaves.  Smooth or gnarled with wild branches, they come in the most delicious shades, ranging from almost pure blue white, to cream, green tinged and yellow.

aspen gold and trunks

aspen - the heart of the matter

This photographer's day in the aspen would not be the same if I did not lay flat on my back and shoot upward toward the sky to gather the trees in all their glory.

aspen from the ground up

I hope those of you in the vicinity of autumn colors are able to view and photograph them this season.

until next Monday,

DB 

a passion for the image@