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This image was taken on a trip to the east coast in the fall of 2009. Algonquin fall colours peak around the end of September.
This was reported to be the best fall colour in Algonquin in the last thirty years.
The quality of fall colour is determined by a number of factors. To start you need a moist summer so the leaves develope fully. Wet summers produce better fall colours. As the fall approaches you need cold but not freezing nights with warm sunny days. As the photoperiod changes and the days get shorter the leaves begin to change colour.
It is this change in sunlight that triggers the colour change. It is the other factors that determine the quality of colour.
As it happened it was raining lightly when these images were taken. Wet leaves have more saturated colour than dry ones.
It is interesting that the most intense colour was along the highway where the road right of way allowed sun to hit the leaves. As you walk into the bush the change is not nearly as dramatic.
The colours in this image are explosive when viewed under lights. When people view this print, West coasters can't believe the colours are real....people raised in Ontario comment that they are, because they have experienced it first hand.