![Stepping stones in stream](https://i0.wp.com/lestaylorphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Step-Stone-Woods_smaller.jpg?fit=1024%2C679)
Step Stone Woods of Mt Mitake
I’ve been sitting on this shot since I took it last September while hiking around Mt. Mitake. I did an edit a while back on my iPad, and I liked it, but I thought I could do better, so I gave it a go in Photoshop over the last week or so. A lot of subtle but important edits went into this image, primarily centered around coloring and lighting. Most of the coloring edits were...
![Shiraito Falls Nagano](https://i0.wp.com/lestaylorphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Water-From-The-Rock_smaller.jpg?fit=727%2C1024)
Shiraito Waterfall in Nagano Japan
During my Autumn photography trip this year, I got to take an afternoon trip to Shiraito Falls in Nagano Prefecture. This shouldn’t be confused with the Shiraito Falls in Shizuoka Prefecture, as they’re completely different locations relatively far away from each other (although both are beautiful). The Shiraito Waterfall in Nagano is actually a unique type of waterfall. With most waterfalls, a river reaches a cliff where it tumbles over and continues the river below....
![Photo of road in autumn](https://i0.wp.com/lestaylorphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Colorful-Curves-of-Autumn_smaller.jpg?fit=683%2C1024)
Colorful Autumn Road in Japan
There’s really nothing quite like driving down a country road in the autumn. This particular country road is in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. When I saw this scene I knew I wanted to capture it, but there were cars continuing to come, so it took me a few times of running out, snapping, and running back to the side of the road before I got it like I wanted. Also, along with today’s image I also...
![Photo of Usui Lake Gunma Prefecture](https://i0.wp.com/lestaylorphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Sunset-on-Usui-Lake_smaller.jpg?fit=1024%2C683)
Sunset on Usui Lake
The last stop on my most recent photography trip ended up being a lovely little lake in Gunma Prefecture called Usui Lake. It was really the perfect ending to the whole trip; the lake was calm and quiet, the autumn leaves and sunset were both vibrant, and there was plenty of time to take in the scene and shoot it at a variety of different angles. I wasn’t really expecting to get to do any...
![photo of Nanayo Falls](https://i0.wp.com/lestaylorphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Nanayo-Waterfall_smaller.jpg?fit=678%2C1024)
Nanayo Falls at Mt Mitake
One of the main spots I wanted to hit on my hike around Mt. Mitake was Nanayo Falls. At a height of 50 meters it’s not a major waterfall by any stretch, but it’s still quite lovely and a nice resting spot for hikers along the way. That said, it’s also quite a climb down and back up to the main hiking path, with a line of very steep stairs leading the way. The fall...