Each season certainly offers something unique for photographers and October may be the best month to get outside and photograph nature in the mid-Atlantic area. The obvious reason is the brilliant color palette of the fall leaves – nature’s grand finale before going to sleep for the winter. The mix of bright reds, oranges, yellows, greens and browns will enhance any landscape shot. If you can mix this with a foggy sunrise or a memorable sunset, even better.
The cool October morning temperatures produce fog more than any other time, particularly around lakes, water or mountains. But you will need to get out early to capture this beautiful and mysterious effect. By 9 or 10 o’clock, the show is usually over. Similarly, dew covered insects and spider webs are common and create very interesting photo subjects. Use your macro lens, or extension tubes to get in close. Other fall favorites at farm markets, hayrides and fall festivals are the colorful flowers, oddly shaped gourds and pumpkins. And don’t forget about the many Virginia vineyards. The grapes may be mostly gone but the ordered rows of vines with colored leaves also make very good subjects. Check your local papers or the Washington Post’s Weekend section for local events.
Where to go
The most popular destination in October is to head for the mountains: the Blue-Ridge Mountains and Parkway in VA, Smokey Mountains in TN, Canaan Valley and Dolly Sods in WV. (Just remember that the leaves at higher elevations can peak weeks earlier than those at sea level.) But the DEL-MAR-VA beaches are also interesting and worthwhile. The crowds are mostly gone and some hotels may offer off-season rates. Sunrises along the east coast’s breaking surf can produce remarkable results. And, the shorter days in October mean you can sleep in a little later before getting out to catch the best light. You might also want to cruise on over to see the boats at St. Michael’s or the birds and marshes of Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, both on the eastern shore. For something different, take a ferry ride from Crisfield, MD to Tangier Island, a small fishing community on the south end of Chesapeake Bay.
Closer to home we have Great Falls National Park, the C&O canal (NVPS field trip on October 19), Claude Moore park (Sterling), Meadowlark Botanical Gardens (Vienna), Brookside Garden (Wheaton), Burke Lake Park (Burke), Mason Neck State Park and the Tidal Basin in DC to name just a few great places to get fall pictures. The large Koi at Meadowlark’s pond will be happy to pose for you, especially if you bring along some bread to feed them. Did you know you can actually spend the night at one of the C&O Canal lock houses? For more information and a longer list of places to go, check out DC Photo Destinations on the NVPS website.
Final thoughts
You don’t have to travel far from the DC area to find great subjects to photograph during the month of October, but you will need to set your alarm clock a little earlier to find the best conditions and the best light. Come join us for NVPS’s monthly field trip along the C&O canal on October 19. Novices are most welcome and we will have field trip mentors along to help answer questions. Get out and take advantage of this this wonderful time of year to create some beautiful and colorful nature scenes. You might happen to capture some award winning photos – just in time for Nature Visions .
Mike Whalen
