This is a comparison from a magazine that is no longer in print. The quality from some of these labs has changed.
The lab you choose and the kind of file you send to your lab can make a huge difference in the quality of prints you get back. How do you pick a good online photo lab? How do you get the best results from your lab? What color space should you use for your digital files and how do you convert your files to the right color space? How big a print can you make from your digital files?
Fall color in southern Iowa.
Blue-winged Teal at Lake LaShane. November 1, 2026.
They aren’t supposed to be in southern Iowa this late in the year, but there it is.
Margarita, October 30, 2009
Margarita is a Russian model. This photo shoot was 17 years ago today.
Horseshoe Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. October 29, 2012.
Trip with John, Day 3.
We spent the entire third and final day of our Colorado trip in Rocky Mountain National Park. This overlook on deer mountain has a nice view of the valley (“park”) below.
Arkansas River along U.S. 50 between Salida and Cotapaxi Colorado. October 28, 2012.
Trip with John, Day 2.
When we were growing up, several times a year our parents would take us along the Arkansas River to get to the mountains in the west.
John (left) and Jim, O’Haver Lake sign, Colorado. October 27, 2012.
Trip with John, Day 1.
My brother John had not been back to Colorado since 1969, so we decided it was time to go on a trip to Colorado and visit our favorite childhood places. The fall colors were gone, but this was the only time we could both make the trip. This sign marks a very special childhood place.
Seney National Wildlife Refuge. October 27, 2025.
My fall in Michigan series.
My last morning in Michigan. Before driving home, I stopped at Seney National Wildlife Refuge which is just two miles north of Germfask Michigan. Seney is one of my favorite places on the planet. The roads that loop through the refuge close after October 20 and they are not open to foot traffic, but you can see two of the ponds from the road to the visitor’s center. I stopped to take this picture of one of them before pointing my car toward home. From May 15 to October 20 when the roads are open, I highly recommend Seney as a place to visit and take pictures.
Fall color in Michigan. October 26, 2025. 8:55 am.
My fall in Michigan series.
I spent the day driving from Kalamazoo Michigan up the west side of Michigan, across the Mackinac Bridge, across the U.P. on U.S. 2 and up to Germfask Michigan. I stopped periodically to take pictures along the way.
Fernwood Botanical Garden. October 25, 2025.
My fall in Michigan series.
One yar ago today, this was the second day of my Michigan fall color trip and my first full day. I began at Fernwood Botanical Garden near Niles Michigan.
Anoush Anou, Sarett Nature Center. October 25, 2025.
In addition to driving to Michigan to create landscape images, I was also in Michigan to create portraits of Anoush at some of the same places I was doing landscapes.
Trillium Ravine Nature Preserve. October 24, 2025.
My fall color in Michigan series.
One year ago today I left Iowa in the morning and arrived at Trillium Ravine near Buchanan in far southern Michigan at 5:38 pm. My plan was to capture fall colors before it got too dark. It turns out the best color was on the outside edge of the preserve. The interior of the preserve was still mostly green.
Covered Bridge over the Batten Kill River and Norman Rockwell’s Home. Arlington Vermont. October 23, 2017.
It was a beautiful fall day in Vermont and I was in Norman Rockwell country. Rockwell’s home is just a couple of miles west of Arlington Vermont.
The Sugar Shack, Arlington Vermont. October 23, 2017.
I stopped at the Sugar Shack just north of Arlington Vermont. It was a happy find. They have several grades of delicious maple syrup and lots of other goodies, plus two great people who run the place. They also have a Norman Rockwell museum with Rockwell’s Saturday Evening Post covers. You can also buy small Rockwell reproductions.
Cemetery, Shaftsbury Vermont, Shires of Vermont Scenic Byway. October 23, 2017.
I was on my way home from Acadia National Park and spent part of a day checking out the scenery in southwest Vermont. The Shires of Vermont Scenic Byway is a beautiful drive in the fall.
Jesup Path, Acadia National Park. October 22, 2017.
My fall in Acadia National Park Series.
This was my last day of 5 splendid days in Acadia National Park. When I was writing about the best national parks to visit in the fall, I checked articles by two photographers and eleven travel writers. The most recommended national park for fall colors is Acadia. (See the two links below.) After my 2017 trip to Acadia I can see why. I highly recommend a trip to Acadia in the fall.
Dawn on top of Cadillac Mountain, Acadia National Park. October 21, 2017.
My fall in Acadia National Park Series.
Dawn at Otter Cliff, Acadia National Park. October 20, 2017.
My fall in Acadia National Park Series.
Otter Cliff and Granite Ledges at Sunrise, Acadia National Park. October 19, 2017.
My fall in Acadia National Park Series.
Acadia National Park at Night. October 18, 2017.
My fall in Acadia National Park Series.
Manistique River south of Germfask Michigan at the Manistique River Roadside Park. October 17, 2023.
My fall in Michigan series.
Lamkin Road near Good Hart Michigan. October 16, 2023.
My fall in Michigan series.
All but one of these images were taken three years ago today on the same one day trip.
Michigan photography workshop. October 14, 2023.
My fall in Michigan series.
This is Michigan’s Tunnel of Trees which is one of the prettiest scenic drives in the state. It is between Harbor Springs and Cross Village. This particular year it was still early fall and the leaves have not fully turned.
Autumn Leaves, Columbus Ohio. October 14, 2012.
My fall in Ohio series.
I was walking our dog Sunny in our neighborhood when I found these leaves on the ground. I grabbed a photo with my phone. We were on Sugarmaple Drive which is lined with maple trees. In the fall it is the prettiest street in our neighborhood.
Point Iroquois Lighthouse, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. October 13, 2008.
My fall in Michigan series.
The Point Iroquois Lighthouse is a great fall photo location in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Aspen, Moraine Park, Rocky Mountain National Park. October 13, 2022.
My fall in Colorado series.
Ava, Slip Bluff Lake. October 12, 2025.
One year ago today, when we made plans, the light looked promising for water portraits. But clouds rolled in and the light turned blue by the time we got to the lake. I hate to ask someone to get into the cold October water when the light isn’t optimum, but she volunteered anyway. So she waded out into the cold water and I did my photographic best. To my pleasant surprise we ended up with some nice images, and most important, she is pleased. She picked out some preliminary personal favorites from the back of the camera. We got together at a later date and looked at the images on a computer to make our final choices. We picked these two as favorites.
Cut River Bridge in the Fall, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. October 12, 1994.
My fall in Michigan series.
You will see this bridge again in four days when I post Michigan, October 16.
Aspen Grove, Moraine Park, Rocky Mountain National Park. October 12, 2007.
My fall in Colorado series.
Horseshoe Park, Ypsilon Mountain, Rocky Mountain National Park. October 11, 2007.
My fall in Colorado series.
As you can see from these photos, fall colors can hang around for quite a while in Horseshoe Park, Rocky Mountain National Park.