It's not easy to say when or if the trees are at their peak as there is a great deal of variability from drainage to drainage due to micro-climates. It is not like Yellowstone or Teton. Moreover, it's very hard to predict and almost impossible to plan a trip to see. In most years, the trees start to change and then we get a cold snap followed by high winds in the 50-70 MPH range and all the leaves are blown from the trees. There are places here where the trees have lost all their leaves already, so, it is impossible to tell you when the peak is or was.

I believe the colors are bit early this year due to a lack of rain this summer. . .

The key, in my view, to great fall shots, (and other shots for that matter) around here, is great LIGHT! I like to use backlight, like the shot of the aspens and crow. . . That was taken with strong back light thus you get the glow of the leaves making them look much more dramatic and vibrant than you would think.

I believe it takes a great deal of effort to take photo’s during non-optimal shooting periods, like early fall. So, you have to be more creative with lighting and do things like shoot into the sun when your logic tells you to put the sun to your back. If I would have shot the aspen crow shot with frontal light, it would have been very average and bland. . .

Take care, Tony