There is something special about autumn in New Hampshire's Great North Woods. As summer fades and the temperatures begin to drop, the forests surrounding Colebrook, Dixville Notch, Pittsburg, and the Connecticut River Valley begin their annual transformation into a landscape of brilliant reds, oranges, yellows, and golds.
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This fall, I am excited to share that a collection of my photography will be on display at the Tillotson Center in Colebrook, New Hampshire, bringing together some of my favorite images of northern New Hampshire, New England fall foliage, wildlife, landscapes, and one of the region's most recognizable historic destinations: The Balsams Grand Resort in Dixville Notch.
The exhibition is a chance to experience the North Country through photography and to see some familiar places from a different perspective.
Fall Foliage in New Hampshire's Great North Woods
If you are looking for fall foliage in New Hampshire, the Great North Woods is one of the places where autumn arrives early. The northern location and higher elevations mean that color often begins developing here before many other parts of the state.
According to the current New Hampshire foliage report, the Great North Woods is already beginning to show significant color, with the Dixville Notch area approaching peak conditions.
For photographers, this is one of the most exciting times of year.
The roads around Colebrook, Dixville Notch, Pittsburg, Errol, and the Connecticut Lakes region provide countless opportunities to photograph mountains, forests, rivers, lakes, wildlife, and historic North Country locations.
Route 26 through Dixville Notch is particularly spectacular in autumn. The dramatic cliffs, forests, waterfalls, Lake Gloriette, and surrounding mountains create a landscape that changes almost daily as the foliage progresses.
Some of these familiar places are featured in my photography collection.
A Large Collection of Balsams Grand Resort Photography
One of the highlights of this exhibition will be a large collection of photographs featuring The Balsams Grand Resort in Dixville Notch.
For generations, The Balsams has been an important part of the history and identity of New Hampshire's North Country. The historic resort and surrounding Dixville Notch landscape have inspired photographers, artists, historians, visitors, and residents for decades.
The history of the area is particularly meaningful because the building that now houses the Tillotson Center has its own connection to The Balsams. The original structure was known as the Balsams Barn, where horses and coaches were kept to transport guests between the Colebrook train station and what eventually became The Balsams Hotel.
That connection makes the Tillotson Center an especially fitting location for this photography exhibition.
The collection will include numerous photographs of The Balsams Grand Resort, Dixville Notch, surrounding landscapes, and the North Country, giving visitors an opportunity to see this historic area through a photographer's eye.
The Balsams continues to be part of the region's story as plans for its future develop, and its historic architecture and dramatic mountain setting remain some of the most recognizable sights in northern New Hampshire.
Photography Around Dixville Notch
Dixville Notch is one of my favorite areas to photograph because there is so much variety packed into a relatively small area.
From the towering rock walls and waterfalls to Lake Gloriette and the mountain views from Table Rock, the scenery changes dramatically depending on the season, weather, and time of day.
Dixville Notch State Park is particularly beautiful during fall foliage season. Route 26 passes directly through the notch, providing access to scenic areas, hiking trails, waterfalls, and some of the most recognizable mountain scenery in Coös County.
Dixville Notch State Park
For photographers and visitors exploring northern New Hampshire, Table Rock, Lake Gloriette, Huntington Falls, and the surrounding Dixville Notch landscape are all worth experiencing.
Table Rock
These are the kinds of places that make the Great North Woods such a rewarding destination for landscape and nature photography.
From Colebrook to the Connecticut Lakes
The exhibition also celebrates the broader landscape around Colebrook, New Hampshire.
Colebrook is located in the heart of the Great North Woods and serves as a gateway to some of northern New Hampshire's most scenic destinations. From the Connecticut River to mountain roads, forests, waterfalls, and nearby communities, there is no shortage of places to explore with a camera.
One nearby favorite is Beaver Brook Falls, located just north of Colebrook along Route 145.
Beaver Brook Falls Wayside
The waterfall is especially beautiful when surrounded by the colors of autumn and makes an easy scenic stop for anyone exploring the area.
Whether you are traveling through Colebrook, Pittsburg, Stewartstown, Errol, Dixville Notch, or the Connecticut Lakes region, autumn provides an incredible opportunity to experience northern New Hampshire.
A Celebration of New Hampshire Photography
For me, photography has always been about more than simply taking a picture.
It is about capturing a place at a particular moment.
The way morning light falls across a mountain. The color of the trees reflected in a lake. Wildlife appearing unexpectedly along a road. A historic building surrounded by autumn foliage. A familiar landscape looking completely different because of the weather.
Those moments are what make photographing the Great North Woods so rewarding.
This exhibition brings together photographs from that ongoing exploration of New Hampshire landscapes, wildlife, fall foliage, historic places, and the unique character of northern New England.
Visit the Photography Exhibition in Colebrook
If you are planning a fall foliage trip to northern New Hampshire, visiting Colebrook and the Great North Woods is a wonderful way to experience autumn away from some of the state's busier tourist destinations.
And if you are already in the area enjoying the foliage, I hope you will stop by the Tillotson Center in Colebrook to see the exhibition.
Tillotson Center
The Tillotson Center is a community arts and heritage venue featuring visual arts, performing arts, and local history. Its gallery regularly showcases work by area artists and craftspeople.
The Center is located at 14 Carriage Lane in Colebrook, New Hampshire, and gallery hours are currently listed as Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with appointments also available.
This exhibition is especially meaningful because it brings together several things that make the North Country special: art, photography, history, autumn foliage, and the landscapes of the Great North Woods.
If you love New Hampshire fall foliage, landscape photography, wildlife photography, or the history of The Balsams and Dixville Notch, I hope you'll come see the collection.
After all, there is nothing quite like autumn in the Great North Woods.
