There’s a certain electricity in the air when fall arrives—brisk mornings, the scent of wood smoke curling into the sky, and trees erupting into bold shades of crimson, gold, and amber. As a travel imaging tech, you’re in a unique position to not just witness this fleeting masterpiece, but to align your next assignment with it. Imagine stepping out of the imaging suite after a shift to find the mountains glowing in late day light, or taking weekend drives along roads that wind through entire forests aflame with color. With the freedom of short-term contracts and the ability to choose your next destination, autumn can be more than a backdrop—it can be part of your story.
In a permanent role, your surroundings are fixed. As a traveler, you get to write your own map. With contracts ranging across the country, you can decide exactly where you want to be when the leaves begin their annual transformation. Want to sip your morning coffee on a cabin porch overlooking a ridge awash in orange and gold? Or end your workday with a scenic trail just steps from your housing? Autumn is a season of movement and transformation—perfectly in sync with the spirit of travel imaging.
If your heart beats a little faster at the thought of fall colors, here are three iconic routes where breathtaking scenery meets exciting contract opportunities.
Peak Color: Late September to Early October
Known as “The Kanc” to locals, this 34.5-mile stretch through New Hampshire’s White Mountains is a fall icon. Secure a contract in nearby towns like Conway or Lincoln, and you’ll have alpine beauty at your fingertips. Off days can be spent chasing waterfalls, capturing golden ridgelines through your camera lens, or cozying up in a mountain cabin. The surrounding White Mountain National Forest feels like it was designed for explorers.
Peak Color: Early to Mid-October
Often called “America’s Favorite Drive,” the Blue Ridge Parkway winds 469 miles through Appalachian peaks and valleys, from Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smoky Mountains. Imaging assignments in Asheville, Roanoke, or tucked-away mountain towns offer not just career growth but front-row seats to one of the country’s most photogenic regions. Every commute feels like a postcard.
Peak Color: Mid-October
Tracing the Mississippi River from Minnesota to Louisiana, the Great River Road is both a scenic drive and a step through history. The upper Midwest section—particularly Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa—comes alive in autumn, with rolling hills and bluffs draped in vibrant color. Contracts in towns like La Crosse, Dubuque, or Red Wing mean crisp mornings, farmer’s markets, and endless riverside overlooks.
The season is fleeting—but that’s what makes it so extraordinary. Between imaging shifts, you could be hiking beneath golden canopies, sipping cider at local harvest festivals, or watching the sunset turn the horizon to fire. This year, let your career take you somewhere that feeds both your craft and your soul. The road ahead is lined with color—go find where it leads you.