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Are Sugar Shacks magnets for Fall Foliage?
A natural subject for fall pictures
by Jeff "Foliage" Folger
Shallow depth of field but is it enough to make it interesting?
A shot to show color working with subjects.. Your thoughts?
A different angle
Greetings Leaf Peepers
One of the things that make a great fall foliage picture is a strong subject and without that you pretty much just have color which is wonderful to behold but if you want to take your photos to a higher level read on...
In the first photo I went for a walk this last weekend and I took my camera which caused a short walk to be an extended outing. I like the shallow depth of field (narrow band of focus) but how long does your attention stay on the picture?
Or! does it move back to the article, or the next picture? The next photo has two strong elements, the rock on the pond and the boat house at the water's edge. With this one where does your attention travel to? Does it wander from object to object searching out more details? (It does for me)
In the last two shots, your eye travels among the blaze of color, it also settles on the building and pulls out details like all the wood laid in for the spring. It creates visual interest and makes the picture more interesting. (If you disagree, comments are open below)
Now I don't usually visit a sugar shack in the fall but given that they are usually centered in an area heavy with sugar maples, it makes sense to search them out in the fall.
If you find a sugar shack they are normally weathered buildings (a good subject? ...Hmm... By Jove, I may be onto something here) and then you add the color ingredient with the maples in the vicinity of the sugar shack and you may create a really nice image.
So where I'm leading with this?
I was out in October looking for color (as usual) and I headed up route 4A towards Enfield NH. I suddenly came upon a sugar shack on the side of the road and it was surrounded by colorful maples.
I pulled over and walked back to get a better view of it. The shack was across the driveway from the house and I shot these from the side of the road with a 24-70mm telephoto lens.
So when you come up next fall for your foliage trip, plan on looking for the sugar shacks in your area and see if they will allow you to photograph on the property.
So the final take away is... you locate someplace that in the springtime feeds your sweet tooth and in the fall it takes care of our soul with a spectacular show of color.
Next week, A guide book for finding iconic fall foliage images.
If you find yourself with some time and you would like to discuss your foliage discoveries, you can always discuss your fall thoughts either on the Yankee foliage forum which is a great place to chat with foliage peepers from around the world. Or if you prefer the social network of Facebook, you can discuss your thoughts over on the Yankee foliage Facebook fan page .
Click here to follow my foliage reports in real time on twitter? Visit my Facebook fan page for Vistaphotography
Reader Comments
Comment from Mary Jo Mappe on November 25, 2009
Jeff, that third photo is just amazing... really colorful and beautiful. Thanks for the tip on looking for the sugar shacks.
Mary Jo
P.S. The foliage on the lake ain't half bad either. :) Enjoyed all your photos this fall; especially since I didn't get to experience it in person. A mistake I won't make again. lol
Comment from Jeff Folger on December 1, 2009
Well it stopped me in my tracks and made me go hmmm... which made me think other might not think about look for the sugar shacks either... So I give away another depp dark secret! :-)
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