Reflections

Our last look at Waterfall Glen reminds me that more and more, I love the fall colors reflected in a stream, a river, a pond, a lake. It multiplies and enhances the colors and adds a depth I love.
More fall color in the next post, a milestone post for me, but from a different location.

Love the Waterfall

Waterfall Glen is a sprawling forest preserve, actually appearing to ring the well-known Argonne Laboratories. With the scope of the space included, there are several parking areas and trailheads, and the fall vistas are as varied as they have seemed in these posts. Plenty to see.
But don't neglect the waterfall. Find it on a map, follow a path along the stream, let yourself wonder how impressive a waterfall could be generated from the sleepy, meandering stream. And when you find it, you will know. It becomes a secluded, peaceful place to watch the water cascade over the falls. A true hidden gem, although with its name on all the signs, how hidden can it be?
Once more peek at Waterfall Glen in the next post.

Contrast

Hard to choose which image shown here is more powerful to me. Sure, fall color starts with leaves preparing to, well, fall. But the contrast here between the firy leaves in one image and the naked tree etched against the blue sky in the other really works.
For a week we have been looking at fall color at Waterfall Glen. In the next post we will finally get to the waterfall.

Look for the Wildlife

Lots of wildlife can be seen in the best fall color shoots. Sure the massive banks of trees with the leaves in varying colors is awesome, but the army of turtles who have crawled up onto a branch in the pond and the sun-colored butterfly visiting the last of the summer's wild flowers? Those details work, too.
More fall color in the next post.

Fall Color in a Tough Year

Fall color is on my list annually, looking for places to go to capture images of the leaves and the other flora showing off their wonderful colors. Doing so in a month with more than 20 days of significant rain and about four or five days of strong sunshine is tough.
Over the next several posts we will look at some images that we managed to collect despite the tough conditions. Enjoy.