Lenny Lensworth Frieling

Lafayette’s Autumn Storm: Lenny Lensworth Frieling Captures Nature’s Wild Beauty

It was one of those unforgettable Front Range afternoons — the kind where the sky turns copper, the air thickens, and every tree in Colorado seems to let go at once. Driving through Lafayette, near the aptly named Autumn Ash Park, award-winning photographer Lenny Lensworth Frieling spotted a moment he couldn’t ignore.

Lensworth

The wind was howling, gusts topping 40 miles per hour, sending golden leaves swirling like confetti. For most of us, it would’ve been a good time to stay in the car. But for Lenny Lensworth Frieling — a nationally syndicated, as-seen-on-TVartist and a former Photographer of the Year — this was exactly the kind of chaos that calls to him.

He eased his car to the shoulder, braced against the gusts, and raised his lens. What he captured next became one of his most striking seasonal images yet — a photograph that defines autumn in Boulder County.

The Magic Behind the Lens

Frieling is known for transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary. His work has graced galleries, magazines, and news features across the nation. But even he admits that this day felt different.

“I’ve never seen so many leaves moving at once,” he said. “It wasn’t just a photo — it was an experience. You could feel the power of fall.”

That’s the essence of Frieling’s artistry. He doesn’t just document a scene; he translates a feeling — the wild breath of Colorado’s changing seasons, the poetry in motion that defines life along the Front Range.

For readers who want to explore more about the changing colors across the state, Colorado Public Radio’s fall foliage tracker gives a great overview of when and where to find those golden peaks. And for photographers inspired by Frieling’s courage to chase the wind, the Boulder County Open Space Program provides stunning backdrops year-round.

A Moment That Defines a Season

Standing near Autumn Ash Park, Lenny Lensworth didn’t plan to create a masterpiece — he simply followed instinct. That spontaneity is what sets him apart. While others waited out the storm, he leaned into it.

The resulting photo — a swirling mosaic of amber, red, and gold — feels alive. It’s not just a picture of leaves; it’s a snapshot of motion, memory, and mastery. You can almost hear the wind when you look at it.

For Frieling, photography isn’t about chasing perfection. It’s about connection — between light and shadow, between artist and nature, between Boulder County and the people who see its beauty through his lens.

This Outdoor Picture of the Day reminds us that art often happens in the unplanned moments — when the world is at its wildest, and a true artist decides to stop the car, step into the storm, and Lensworth it.

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