The September Editors’ photo challenge
The theme for our October Editors’ photo challenge was “Fall Follies.”
With the last wisps of summer in the air and days getting shorter, we challenged you to show us what makes fall special. From vibrant leaves to fall harvests and annual traditions, we asked you to show us what Fall Follies looks like through your lens.
Our community of DPReview photographers didn’t disappoint, capturing nature’s grand finale in a blaze of color. As usual, we were overwhelmed with great pictures – many more than we can present here. Our favorites, showcasing a diverse range of vision and talent, are presented in random order.
Thanks to everyone who participated in this photo challenge. If you want to participate in other photo challenges, visit our Challenges page to see currently open or upcoming challenges, or to vote in a recently closed challenge.
Fall in upstate New York
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Photographer: mxzrevman
Photographer’s statement: I was very lucky with the timing. The leaves were just perfect, and the weather was perfect with the sun at a nice height above the horizon. This was at Thatcher State Park outside of Albany, New York.
Equipment: Nikon Z5 + Nikon Nikkor Z 20mm F1.8 S
Day of the Dead
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Photographer: JeffryzPhoto
Photographer’s statement: In Mexico, this time of year means preparations for Day of the Dead, or Día de Los Muertos: the time when departed souls can return to visit loved ones left behind. Marigolds feature prominently, their color and scent helping to guide them.
Equipment: Fujifilm X-T4 + Fujifilm XF 8-16mm F2.8 R LM WR
Hidden gem
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Photographer: JC-W
Photographer’s statement: The Moselle, a river between Luxembourg and Germany, is a famous wine region. In October each year, you can find these beautiful grapes on the hillsides separating both countries.
Acer
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Photographer: TheDispossessed
Photographer’s statement: An acer, photographed in Durham Botanic Gardens, England. Capturing these leaves involves being there at the right time on the right day to get the light just right.
Equipment: Canon EOS 80D + Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
Foggy fall in Norway
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Photographer: hach
Photographer’s statement: This photo was taken from the roadside overlooking a small farm. Underneath is the Tyrifjorden lake, covered by fog. The location is at Sollihøgda (Sunny heights), just north of Oslo.
Equipment: OM System OM-1 + OM System 40-150mm F4.0 PRO
Follow the colors
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Photographer: RacingManiac
Photographer’s statement: Early fall colors at the Kiyomizu Dera in Kyoto. I like the treeline, and the roof of the shops all lead to the pagoda on the opposite side of the footpath
Equipment: Sony a7 IV + Sony FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS II
Fall Sunset at Graveyard Fields
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Photographer: Sam Bennett
Photographer’s statement: Pink echoes in the valley of Graveyard Fields in Western North Carolina as the forest slowly heals itself year over year after the ravages of Hurricane Helene.
Equipment: OM System OM-3 + Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-45mm F4 Pro
Cypress trees
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Photographer: Gman58
Photographer’s statement: We were taking a fall road trip to visit friends in the mountains of Tennessee when I noticed these beautiful cypress trees, living in the water of the lake, at the terminus of the Ocoee River Gorge.
Equipment: Pentax KP + HD Pentax-DA 20-40mm F2.8-4 ED Limited DC WR
Joe Lay Reservoir, Grand Staircase, Utah
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Photographer: MtnBikerCalif
Photographer’s statement: I was fortunate enough to be in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Utah with four friends, mountain biking the Great Western Trail. My OM-1 is too heavy and inconvenient while biking through tough terrain, but my new iPhone was great for photography and helped with navigation. I wasn’t expecting the incredible fall colors of the aspens. They were the highlight of the trip. I’d never seen such expanses of golden leaves.
Equipment: iPhone 17 Pro
Autumn leaves
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Photographer: SergeAP
Photographer’s statement: Autumn is beautiful with its dramatic blend of vibrant, lush colors and the deep lyricism and silence of evening city parks, the already cold and damp air with the amazing taste of fallen leaves, and the warmth of melancholy memories of the past summer.
Equipment: Nikon D800
Fish and fog on the Rogue River
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Photographer: Eric Hensel
Photographer’s statement: I rarely arise before dawn, these days, with two exceptions: salmon fishing or a photography expedition. I managed to combine both pursuits on this particular morning, as I tried out a lens I had purchased from a local shop for twenty dollars. I couldn’t believe my luck when I rested the lens on the handrail of the Depot St. Bridge in Rogue River, Oregon, just as a drift-boat was heading toward me in the fog.
Equipment: Sony a7 + Vivitar series-1 70-210mm f/3.5
Fall in Silverton
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Photographer: Tough Gritz
Photographer’s statement: When the Aspens bring out their fall display, they make for exceptional landscapes like this one on Highway 550 facing north from Silverton, Colorado, toward the town of Ouray, Colorado, on the Western Slopes of the Rocky Mountains.
Equipment: OM System OM-5 II + OMS 8-25 f/4 PRO
Short lens, long shot
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Photographer: decentred
Photographer’s statement: Shot way back when, on Kodachrome. The light was low, the ISO was 64, I was crouched down, elbows tucked in, holding my breath, dialing in some self-timer to get the mirror slap out of the way early, and shooting at maximum aperture.
Equipment: Nikon FE + Nikkor AI 35mm
Autumn view of the valley
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Photographer: cbf_si
Photographer’s statement: The creeping morning mists herald the arrival of winter. But first, nature delights us with an explosion of autumn colors. Photographed from Mount St. James (Sv. Jakob) in Slovenia.
Equipment: Sony Alpha a99 + Minolta AF 35-70mm F4
Happy family
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Photographer: wim
Photographer’s statement: I’m always amazed by the shapes of leaves. They’re all different, just like people. I found these personalities and happily placed them side by side.
Equipment: Fujifilm X-T1 + Fujifilm XF 35mm F1.4 R
Autumn
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Photographer: Robert_Schild
Photographer’s statement: On a walk through the woods, I came across these branches climbing up trees with a display of beautiful autumn colors. It was still early autumn, and most trees were still green, but these leaves stood out.
Equipment: Pentax K-1
Fall color, Eastern Sierra
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Photographer: REHS
Photographer’s statement: When you hear the words “near peak,” you need to make your reservations, cancel pending appointments, and activate your back-up coverage. Charge your batteries, pack the essentials, and pray for good weather. And then, get there early!!! It all fell into place this year, but the only show seemed to be in the area just west of Bishop, California. I’m so grateful that I didn’t miss this event!!! Yaahoo!!!
Equipment: Nikon D850 + Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED
In the spotlight
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Photographer: more cow bell
Photographer’s statement: After some morning rain showers, a shaft of sunlight spotlights a fallen leaf whose journey from treetop to earth was interrupted by a tangle of branches.
Equipment: Fujifilm X-T2 + Fujifilm XF 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR
Yoshino colours
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Photographer: gnohz
Photographer’s statement: Many photos taken here depict a snowy night scene with street and building lights leading to the main Zao Hall building of the Kinpusen-ji Temple (at top right), so I opted for a different take to show the splendid autumn colors instead.
Equipment: Nikon D850 + Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm F1.4G
Equipment: Nikon D610
Old tree
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Photographer: brian505
Photographer’s statement: I captured this photo in a forest back in 2015, showing a giant beech tree that, I was told, might be around a 100 years old. Its trunk was so wide that it would take about four people holding hands to circle it completely.
Equipment: Nikon D7000