Great Falls Park, VA, October 24, 2026

Yesterday morning, I spent some time at Great Falls Park in Virginia, camera in hand, taking in the quieter side of autumn along the Potomac.

A veil of steam fog hovered over the river, softening the view and giving the morning a cool, almost dreamlike mood. It drifted above the water and along the distant tree line, while dark rocks and shallow shoals broke through the river’s reflective surface. A few fallen leaves floated by.

Across the river, the trees were beginning to turn—gold and yellow mixed with green, with touches of orange and muted red. The foliage hadn’t reached its peak, but that early change gave the landscape a gentle, understated color. Warm light caught some of the leaves, creating a lovely contrast with the cool haze over the water.

The river was calm in places, its surface catching the soft morning light. Dark rocks and shallow shoals broke through the water, while a few fallen leaves drifted by. Across the river, the trees were beginning to turn—gold and yellow mixed with green, touches of orange and muted red. The steam fog created a The foliage hadn’t reached its peak, but that early change gave the landscape a gentle, understated color.

All photos taken with my little full frame Canon EOS R8 Camera and Canon RF 28-70mm IS STM lens, shot in RAW and post processed in Adobe Lightroom.