“I realized that making photographs is a way to experience beauty instead of just looking at it.” — Monte Nagler

A little over 10 years ago I discovered a passion for distance running and developed into a triathlete a few years later. I am fortunate to live in an area with a number of parks and trails that are great for running and biking. As a photographer, I am thankful for my phone because it has made it easy for me to combine my love of photography with my outdoor adventures. Running and biking help me cover a lot of ground where I take in some beautiful scenery. At times it feels like the workout is secondary and running or biking is just a means of getting from one photo spot to another. When autumn rolls around and the leaves start to change, it brings a refreshed spark of inspiration and motivation to get out the door. I make a point of taking my workouts to different locations to make the most of the short window of time when the colors really pop. Mixing the endorphins from a good workout with the excitement of observing and capturing nature during this time of year really makes me feel alive.

This is a sample of some of the beauty I’ve captured around the metro Detroit area during the “Pure Michigan” autumn season.

Click on each individual image to see a larger view.

Janet Boltz is an automotive photographer for one of Detroit’s Big 3. She spends most of her free time logging miles as she trains for marathons and triathlons, capturing images of nature and wildlife she sees along the way. You can follow her adventures on Instagram: @janetboltz