One of the great ironies of landscape photography is how easy it is to overlook what's closest to home.
I've traveled thousands of miles to photograph autumn colors across the Continent, from New England's maples to Colorado's aspens and Washington's alpine larches. Yet in more than a decade, I'd never taken the time to explore the fall colors just beyond my doorstep.
This weekend was a reminder of what I'd been missing. What began as a gray, chilly morning unfolded into a stunning display of color. Hillsides glowed gold, evergreens stood in contrast to brilliant aspens, and every bend in the road revealed another palette of yellow, green, orange and red. From sweeping vistas to intimate details, the entire forest seemed determined to put on a show.
Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest
WA USA