This wraps up my favorite month with some color. Dianne and I took a short vacation to Lynchburg, Virginia, to see some things we’ve never been able to get to, and we timed the trip to coincide with the predicted peak of the fall colors. The 85mm lens wasn’t ideal for a lot of what I captured, but I did manage to get a few shots with it that I am proud of. Here are a couple.

This shot was taken at the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, VA, a short drive from Lynchburg. Bedford is said to have suffered the greatest loss as a community of it’s members during D-Day in WWII. The Memorial is spectacular, and in a perfect setting. This is looking up the exit toward the arch, one of the prominent features of the memorial.

EXIF: ISO 100 85mm f?6.3 1/400 sec.

Part of the Memorial is dedicated to Gold Star Families. If you don’t know, Gold Star refers to families who have lost someone to war. This part of the memorial is set on the outside perimeter, which means it’s a little quieter, plus it’s shaded. Dianne, as the daughter of a WWI Veteran took a few minutes to reflect on what those losses mean to their families.

EXIF: ISO 100 85mm f/5.6 1/125 sec.

We’ll call this the bonus photo for the week. This was taken high above the James River from Lynchburg’s Riverside Park. There’s a trail there that provides some great views, including this one from a stone overlook.

EXIF: ISO 100 85mm f/9.0 1/160 sec.