Fall Color Primer
Fall color primer 7: Sugar maples, Acer saccharum
Fall color primer 07: Sugar maples
Acer saccharum, the sugar maple, is a North American tree whose native range includes a southern strip of Canadian provinces that borders the USA and roughly the northeastern quadrant of the USA. Its sap was used by Native Americans in the colder northern parts of its range as a source of sweetener, a practice that was enthusiastically embraced by European immigrants.
The trees provide some of the earliest and most spectacular fall colors in the hardwood forests of its range. Colors typically range from yellow through orange, or burnt orange, to near fluorescent red-orange, though shades continuing into true red and even purple are known. I personally have never seen sugar maple leaves that are deep red, much less purple. One aspect of the fall coloration that I tried to suggest in this poster is the color variations found not just in individual trees, but in individual leaves. Only the fully yellow sugar maples present a solid color. Even then, when the leaves are examined closely, variations in yellow tones can be seen.
Wikipedia has a ‘color wheel’ of sugar maple leaf colors that you might find interesting.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acer_saccharum#/media/File:Autumn_leaves_(pantone)_crop.jpg
That image also shows the typical sugar maple leaf shape, which is described in Wikipedia thusly: “The leaves are deciduous, up to 20 cm (7.9 in) long and wide,[5] palmate, with five lobes and borne in opposite pairs. The basal lobes are relatively small, while the upper lobes are larger and deeply notched. In contrast with the angular notching of the silver maple, however, the notches tend to be rounded at their interior.” Basically, think “Canada flag maple leaf”
A large number of sugar maple cultivars are available commercially. They’re tailored for different growing conditions, among other things. One notable type is columnar – very tall and skinny. Some photos of one such, a Temple’s Upright sugar maple, are available in this gallery: https://arctangent.smugmug.com/SeasonsoftheYear-3/4th-Fall/Fall-Trees-by-Kind/Maples-in-Fall-Non-Asian/
Driving through a fall landscape and seeing these glorious trees standing out from all the greenery is a special treat. But the real amazement comes from walking among them, especially in wooded settings, and seeing the leaves glowing from the light pouring through them. From seeing the leaves raining down during a burst of wind, swirling around, lying in a technicolor carpet at your feet. From my description of sugar maples, you might think it's my favorite tree in fall. That distinction belongs to sassafras, however. That tree will feature in a later post.
uploaded 10-29-19
My BCAM post will come later today.
arctangent2019Octobernatureseasonsfallautumnfall foliagefall colors
geoghanart
on October 30, 2019Beautiful work. You have mastered these framed composites. Love the fall colors.
Rick Willis
on October 29, 2019Super Info, PP and Composition 👍...
Lgood
on October 29, 2019What a wonderful primer on the Maple trees and all their types and colors. I love that the individual leaves can have variations of the color wheel that it will eventually display in a single leaf. This is a gorgeous collection, and the color just explodes off the page. Fall color is certainly one of my favorite collections of colors.
Thanks so much too for the idea of the 3 x 5 page to carry to photo after a certain shop has been taken to "recall" where you were and the details. I will nearly always photograph any data details if they are in situ; however, I always have good intent of typing the photo number on a document on the laptop we carry with us, then any details and location. But, like I said - that's not working consistently for me as I get to excited and forget to make notes. Thanks again! I'm going to give this a try.
Wayne Wendel
on October 29, 2019I hope you got some of these fall series printed. It would make a great set.
Janet McQueen
on October 29, 2019Amazing variations in the colours of these magnificent trees, and you have captured that so beautifully! I wish we had them here, but alas, we do not. After seeing them years ago in Southern Ontario in the fall, I'm afraid our Manitoba colours just never looked quite as glorious as they did before I saw these wonderful sugar maples.
KDP450
on October 29, 2019Awesome series of autumn shots. Lovely colours and light, superb presentation.
Greg&Rose Photography
on October 29, 2019Beautiful Autumn Collage
Judith Sparhawk
on October 29, 2019Wonderful primer on Sugar Maples. When I was in Michigan in June, I was so enthralled by all the green (we are rather green-starved in SoCal summers), but even then I knew I was missing the real glory that would come in the fall. I'm so glad you are sharing these with us, especially those of us that barely have a fall!
Terry Allen
on October 29, 2019Such a fiery collage; well done!
My daily photo is here: https://www.allenfotowild.com/DailyPhoto/Daily-2019/i-tjZSLbt/A
Bruno Suignard
on October 29, 2019Again a gorgeous autumn collage!!