Autumnal Photography

PHOTO CHALLENGE | Look for micro and macro scenes that highlight the autumn season.

Documenting the seasons, much like the holidays, is a great way to slow down your observation of the present time and fully take it in. It’s no secret I’m a fan of fall as the temperatures begin to cool, fall flowers emerge, the hard work of the garden begins to slow, apples ripen, and of course, trees begin to change their pigments for a breathtaking reveal of color. It’s always been important to me to find ways to tell the story of that time, and the changing season is one way to collect the most interest.

In the Pacific Northwest, we are fortunate to have ample opportunity to view brilliant fall foliage at every turn. It’s a great time to get to a park, drive down back roads, or head up to the mountains. RAW files give you the most color information, but even still, your photos can seem lacking. Slightly adjust your saturation or HSL color panel to give the color some punch, just be careful not to overdo it.

Here are a few things to keep in mind as you begin your hunt for all things autumnal:

CHASE THE COLOR | Fall color doesn’t all happen in the same place at the same time. Instead, it spreads in waves over the course of days and weeks. To capture it at its best, you might need to journey out to chase it a bit. Keep a close eye on your local weather forecasts as they will inform you on how the color is spreading and if any unpredictable weather is going to impact the foliage.

TIME OF DAY | If you can get out in the early morning fog or late afternoon golden hour, you’ll be greeted with maximum color interest and layered opportunities of texture and interest.

PREPARE FOR WEATHER | If you aren’t able to take advantage of nice days when we have them, don’t be afraid of using weather as a source of interest. If it is raining, use that opportunity to grab that macro lens (CANON, NIKON, Macro Filters) and capture rain drops on leaves (learn how to get macro effects without a macro lens). If an unexpected storm comes through and knocks most of the leaves off the trees, capture the leaves blowing in the wind. Overcast or light rain can leave a brilliant sheen of rich saturation too, a rain cover for your camera is a worthy investment this time of year.

GET CREATIVE | Fall lends a lot of unique opportunities to photograph. One way to change things up is to grab a different lens than you normally shoot with. Another way is to change your settings: if you typically shoot with a low aperture, try shooting with a higher aperture, or vice versa. Consider bumping up your ISO and changing your shutter speed too.

Try different perspectives and angles. Look straight down at fallen leaves, apples, or pumpkins. Get down low and shoot upward to capture the majesty of the trees in front of you. You also don’t have to depend on nature to give you all the color, incorporate fall tones through clothing and other environmental elements. Being creative during this time of year breaks you from your usual habits and puts you into a creative space.

LOOK AT THE DETAILS | If you just missed peak season for color or most of the leaves are on the ground, focus on interesting compositions, textures and patterns that surround you. Beautiful details can be found in your own backyard, like acorns, leaves, and produce and zoom in on the textures that make them special. Seeing these items in a new way can reveal an extra layer of magic of the season.

It’s all too common to be thrown by the seasons. Learning how to keep style consistent, not adapting it each season or for each location to suit how you think you should shoot. If you look through photos from years gone by, do you recognize your style, or could be by anyone? By simply accepting the seasons as they come, finding your space in it, and trusting your creative instincts, you’ll see your photos flow throughout the seasons and feel consistent in their tone.