National Park Foundation Announces Best National Parks For Fall Foliage Viewing

--National Parks From Around the Country Named to Annual List—

WASHINGTON, Oct. 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, the National Park Foundation announced the 2010 "Top National Parks for Fall Foliage" list.  Each national park location offers unique ways in which visitors can view the colorful foliage.  Whether by water, foot, bicycle or car, however, the dramatic colors of the season are not to be missed.

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This year's list, and the optimal times for foliage viewing, includes:

• Blue Ridge Parkway – Peak colors expected mid-to-late October
• Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area - Peak colors are expected through Thanksgiving
• Fire Island National Seashore – Peak colors covering the dunes and beach plants expected late October
• Flight 93 National Memorial – Peak colors expected second and third week of October
• Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore - Peak colors are expected through the third week of October
• Jean Lafitte National Historic Park and Preserve- Peak colors for Fall wild flowers expected through November
• Minute Man National Historical Park - Peak colors expected Columbus Day weekend through October
• Olympic National Park - Peak colors expected through October
• Timpanogos Cave National Monument - Peak colors expected through October
• Yosemite National Park – Peak colors expected late October into November

The announcement is made in partnership with Olympus, the proud sponsor of the Share the Experience photo contest. Submissions are currently being accepted for this year's best photo of national parks. The grand prize winning photo will be featured on next year's Federal Recreation Lands Pass and will receive an Olympus PEN E-P2 Digital Camera.

To help amateur photographers make the most of both the Share the Experience contest and individual fall foliage photo documenting, Olympus offered the following tips to park visitors:

• Sun hiding behind the clouds?  Don't be disappointed.  Colors can often appear more vibrant on an overcast day.  This type of even lighting is also great for displaying shadow details.
• Consider different perspectives for each photo.  Look up toward the sky and down toward your feet.  You'll be amazed by the number of interesting subjects available beyond eye level.
• Look for the small details.  The landscape vistas will be beautiful with fall colors but close-up photos of small objects such as a single leaf or cluster of fall berries can also make for a striking photo.
• Think about backlighting your subjects on a sunny day.  Backlighting is when you intentionally place the main light source behind your subject.  Pictures of colorful leaves can be very striking when photographed this way.  Also, don't let the sun shine directly into your lens.
• Bring a lens cleaning cloth.  When capturing images outside, dust and moisture in the air can build up on the lens' glass surface.  You'll want to keep it clean so that the light can pass through evenly.

Amateur photographers interested in participating in the contest are invited to submit up to three photos to the Share the Experience website through December 31, 2010. In addition, at the end of the submission period the public will be invited to vote for their favorite photo. Enter by visiting www.sharetheexperience.org or pick up a brochure and entry form while visiting a Federal Recreation Land this year. Great prizes include: Olympus digital cameras, trips to a federal recreation area, Federal Recreation Lands Passes and more.

ABOUT SHARE THE EXPERIENCE Share the Experience is the official photo contest of America's national parks and federal recreation lands. Sponsored by Olympus and the National Park Foundation in partnership with the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Forest Service, the Share the Experience Photo Contest showcases the more than 500 million acres of Federal Lands and draws entries from all across the United States.

ABOUT OLYMPUS IMAGING AMERICA INC. Olympus Imaging America Inc. is a precision technology leader, designing and delivering award-winning products for consumer and professional markets.

Olympus Imaging America Inc. works collaboratively with its customers and its ultimate parent company, Olympus Corporation, to develop breakthrough technologies with revolutionary product design and functionality that enhances people's lives every day. These include:

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Olympus Imaging America Inc. is responsible for sales in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. For more information, visit: www.olympusamerica.com.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION The National Park Foundation is the official charity of America's national parks. Chartered by Congress, we work hand in hand with the National Park Service to strengthen and connect all Americans to our parks, so they are protected for present and future generations. It is a legacy that began more than a century ago, when private citizens took action to first establish, then protect and endow our national parks. Today, the National Park Foundation carries on that tradition as the only national charitable partner for America's national parks.  To learn more visit www.nationalparks.org.  

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CONTACT: Marjorie Hall, 202.354.6480

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SOURCE National Park Foundation