Contributing photographer Rebecca Latson decided to follow in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark along the Washington state portion of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. In the first of several photo columns, Rebecca writes about what she saw and photographed during her exploration of Horsethief Butte, Columbia Hills Natural Area Preserve, and the Mighty Columbia River.

If you are ever near the port town of Astoria, Oregon, you should take a little time for a side trip to Fort Clatsop, at Lewis and Clark National Historical Park. Contributing photographer Rebecca Latson visited during her exploration of the Pacific Northwest portion of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail and returns with a little history as well as ideas for capturing photos of what you might see during your own visit.

There are many faces to winter in a national park. Some park units have no snow, while others host feet of the fluffy white stuff. On sunny days, the atmosphere is clear and sharp, producing saturated colors for your camera. On not-so-sunny days, your camera’s LCD lens might be filled with varying shades of gray and white. Contributing photographer Rebecca Latson provides examples of what you might see through your camera’s lens and how to prepare for winter photography in a national park.

Fall is that magical time of year when the air is crisp and clear and the leaves in many park units change from summer green to saturated shades of yellow, gold, orange and red. In this month’s column, contributing photographer Rebecca Latson discusses capturing those colors in your national park photography.