Breathtaking drone footage captures fall foliage in Utah

GARDEN CITY, Utah (WTVD) -- Fall is officially here! But Autumn isn't just about Pumpkin Spice Lattes and sweater weather, it's a time where we say goodbye to those long summer nights before we welcome the breezy winter mornings.

For some, the best part of the season is watching the changing foliage. And that's true for outdoor, aerial photographer Justin McFarland.

McFarland covers a wide range of outdoor scenes - from winter escapes to mountainside trails, he does it all.

But it's his breathtaking drone footage of Bear Lake in Utah that is capturing the eyes and hearts of social media users.

The video is a sea of yellows, reds, oranges, and greens, and it's absolutely awe-inspiring.

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On his Instagram page, McFarland said it took him three times to capture the magnificent sight because rainstorms kept getting in the way.

"I made three attempts to take the drone up and finally caught a break," he posted on Instagram. "The first two times I would have it CLEAR out there, and a raindrop lands on the lens, waste a whole battery just to bring it back in and land it so I can wipe the lens! Anyways, these made it worth it."

While the seasons continue to change, one thing remains the same - McFarland's fans are thrilled with his work.

But he said he's just glad people are getting to enjoy the sights around them.

'It's fun, I shoot a lot of videos so it's fun to see a lot of people enjoying them too."

But McFarland said it's a double-edged sword.

'Well, there's definitely a balance between wanting to photograph and share it and then hoping my media also doesn't cause any negative effects like overcrowding or overrunning these natural resources," he said.

With the popularity of Instagram, overrunning is happening more and more frequently.

McFarland said one of the more recent cases was with Sockeye or Kokanee salmon.

"They are protected now, and a lot of people want to try and get the perfect photo with them so they pick them up and pose with them, and that is restricted," McFarland explained. "I hope we can keep the balance of sharing and enjoying nature without overrunning it."