It's hard not to be happy right now—the aspens are putting on their annual glow show, which means ski season is just around the corner. It's a week like this that reminds us all why we live and love to visit here and why Colorado is such a great place, no matter what the season. That being said, there are few photo-ops better than capturing the aspens in their gilded glory against a backdrop of snow-capped peaks, so charge the batteries in your camera and grab a few shots before the valley becomes a winter wonderland and the snow comes in earnest.

Photo Tips For Fall

• Shoot in the morning or afternoon. Lower light angles create dramatic shadows and highlight fall colors.
• Don't be afraid to get up close and personal. Close-ups of leaves can capture the delicate transition of colors.
• Play with angles. Shoot straight up or when lying on the ground. Play with  composition to get interesting visual results.
• Have fun. Experimentation is part of photography, play with your camera (stand alone or the one in your phone) or the filters in Instagram to create your own unique style.

And if all else fails, just remember ...

It's hard to take a bad photo anywhere in the Vail Valley, but if you need to some inspiration to get the perfect shot, Avon's Walking Mountains Science Center offers Family Fall Color Hikes every Wednesday (9 a.m. to 1 p.m., September 5 through October 31, $30 per person, or $25 for Vail Recreation District taxpayers) til the flakes start to fly (walkingmountains.org).