Autumn is considered the favorite time of the year for photographers and artists to capture the perfect fall photo.
The weather is pleasant and the dramatic light and the stunning red, orange, and yellow palettes of the season bring an array of photography conditions.
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Here are some amazing autumn photography tips to help you photograph stunning autumn colors.
Use a polarizing filter
The use of a polarizing filter can eliminate glare from the non-metallic surface, and it includes autumn leaves. Since leaves have a waxy coating when viewed from certain angles, they give out a glare.
When you use a polarizing filter, it makes fall color appear more colorful and saturated. In reality, it’s only letting you see the color that’s already there. And if you are photographing on a rainy day, the leaves will create even more glare. Thus, a polarizing filter is essential.
A polarizing filter also comes in handy if you are working near water as it will remove the glare and reflections from the surface of the water, water vapor, and particulates in the air.
The maximum polarization happens at 90-degree angles from the sun. And no polarization will take place when you shoot directly at the sun or away from it. So, you won’t need a polarizer if you are photographing sunrises or sunsets.
Shoot the autumn colors in isolation
Another great tactic is to photograph the autumn colors in isolation. The lovely shades of red, brown, yellow, and orange will appear eye-catching.
You might also want to search for patterns amongst leaves. It can be anything from single to complementary colors and other fascinating shapes.
When you focus your lens on a particular segment of a forest canopy, try to add order and impact to your images while you create visually attractive results. A short telephoto lens can be a great choice.
Photograph a wide view
You can also document the autumn colors by capturing a wider field of view. When you photograph trees as part of a broader landscape and have colorful leaves in the background, it gives excellent results.
This tactic will bring out a more visually attractive image than an image of a landmark on its own. Plus, the viewers will also know the time of year the image was photographed.
Use backlight
If you are shooting fall foliage, make sure that you are shooting directly toward the sun. If you shoot into the light, you can capture more stunning images as the backlit leaves will glow and reflect the vivacious colors.
When you are using a backlight to shoot into the sun, be aware of flare. You can partly shield the sun behind a tree to decrease any annoying flare.
However, you should also avoid underexposure. When you are using a backlight, the meter of your camera will tend to underexpose the scene. Try to add a stop or two of exposure since it will keep the image from becoming too dark.
Look for fallen leaves on the ground
When looking at autumn color scenes in the landscapes of forests, look down for scattered fallen leaves along the ground, river rocks, or trails. You will find a lot of fallen leaves in late autumn.
You can capture the tiny scenes within the leaves. In fact, you will find different scenes in the patterns of veins and different colors in one single autumn leaf.
Look for reflections
Go out on a sunny autumn day and search for a water body in the shade. It has to be near some well-lit autumn color.
For instance, a grove of colorful trees.
In such a scene, you will find plenty of opportunities to photograph fall reflections.
Also, try to find still water as you will be able to capture some literal reflections creating a mirror image of the primary subject. Or if the water is moving, you can still create abstract reflections, or with long exposures, you can create colored water.
Shoot with sidelight
You can use sidelight to your advantage while capturing autumn colors. Leave the camera side-on to the angle of the sun while capturing the canopy of colors. The balance of oranges and yellows, combined with a blue sky, can give you stunning pictures. Since the foliage has warmer tones, it will perfectly complement the coolness of a blue sky.
Incorporate fog and mist
When you incorporate fog and mist into your autumn photos, it will create dramatic conditions that boost a picture. It will add a touch of mood, atmosphere, and mystery to a vibrant scene. In the early morning, look to the mist rising from a lake. A forest hid in fog, or a subtle mist over a city can also create a visually spectacular element.
Textures are interesting
Textures are always interesting. It may be trees, leaves, or fruit. The textures get even more attractive during autumn as they take on lively, warm pallets.
Go for a close-up shot of a falling leaf. If you use the correct shutter speed, you will be able to catch all of its details, and it will be noticeable amongst the different shades. Fruits and vegetables look great when there is a lot of light. Here are some fruits that perfect for macro food photographs.
Embrace bad weather
For creating the most dramatic conditions for landscape photography, bad weather days are your best friends. When the skies are stormy, and the sun breaks through, there will be a sunlit foreground below a layer of gloomy clouds.
Aim to capture your images close to sunrise or sunset in the above conditions. You will get stunning images as the light will be a gorgeous gold color.
Since you can’t predict when these conditions will occur, you can prepare yourself and go outside so that you’ll be prepared when it happens.
Wrapping-Up
Autumn is one of the best seasons for nature photographers to go out and capture stunning images. Try to get out there as much as possible.
You won’t get stunning photos without careful planning or in one shot – it needs perseverance and careful planning. The only way to increase your chances of capturing beautiful scenes is by going out and exploring nature often.
Author Bio:
Hazel Raoult is a freelance marketing writer and works with PRmention. She has 6+ years of experience in writing about business, entrepreneurship, marketing and all things SaaS. Hazel loves to split her time between writing, editing, and hanging out with her family.
