Bald cypress backlighting
The 2016 fall season has been unusual to say the least. Warm temperatures in October and early November (especially warm nights) have prevented the fall color peak we normally get in late October. Although Ozark scarlet oak has finally turned brilliant red in southeast Missouri, the normal progression of forest fall color just didn't happen this year.
One tree species that is a reliable fall color producer year in and year out is the bald cypress that occurs in some of our remnant lowland swamps and sloughs of southeast Missouri. Warm weather or drought never seems to prevent the fall red/orange color of this deciduous conifer. I have been photographing it for many years, and I like it in both soft overcast light and direct backlighting. This particular scene is from the edge of Allred Lake, a Missouri Department of Conservation Natural Area in Butler county. Early morning backlight creates a color lightshow that is hard to beat for fall color.