The Three Lakes-Michigamme area provided ample eye candy for this recent shoot. (Journal photo by Andy Nelson-Zaleski)

MARQUETTE — Autumn is the perfect opportunity to grab your camera and your car keys and go for a drive or a walk in the woods. Whether you’re an amateur or professional photographer, using digital or film, cell phone camera, point-and-shoot, or digital single lens reflex, you can bet you’ll have the opportunity for some beautiful photographs. The magnificent colors of red, yellow, and orange leaves are now painting the landscapes throughout parts of Marquette County. According to the Pure Michigan Web site at www.michigan.org, most of the Upper Peninsula is currently averaging about 50 percent color change. Both amateurs and professionals agree that an hour after sunrise and an hour before sunset are great times to take photographs. Aladino Mandoli, an Ishpeming amateur photographer, prefers shooting in the mornings. “Primarily because the light is warmer and dew or frost adds an exceptional dimension to a photograph.