5 Tips That Will Take Your Fall Photography To A New Level

Are you ready for the fall season? Even though the calendar shows that we (in the Northern Hemisphere) have officially transitioned into fall, I realize that there are some places where the effects aren’t apparent yet.

Don’t fear — the crisp air and colorful leaves are coming. Fall is a photographer’s paradise and even if things haven’t quite turned the corner in your neck of the woods, it’s always good to be prepared.

Here are 5 simple tips that will help take your fall photography to the next level.

Note: Here are some other landscape photography ideas.

Chase The Light

Of course, this applies any time of the year — you always want to find the best light. But I think most will agree that autumn light is extra beautiful and it is a wonderful complement to the changing foliage.

Use the warm light to really convey the glow of the season by looking for backlit scenes and capturing the light as it filters in through the leaves.

Add Some Saturation

Again, fall is about warm, earthy colors. You can enhance the natural beauty of these tones by adding a bit of saturation in post-production. It’s easy to go overboard, so try to avoid being heavy-handed with slider. You just want to make the image pop a bit.

Pick The Perfect Time

This is particularly important for those interested in photographing colorful leaves. Although fall may last for a period of three months, the colorful foliage sticks around for only about a third of that time.

Ideally, you want to catch “peak foliage,” which varies according to the region in which you live. If you’re a veteran fall photographer, you will likely know what that timeframe is.

If you are in the US, check out the Fall Foliage Prediction Map. You can use this visual guide to track the progression of the changing colors and plan your photography around it. If you have something similar in your part of the world, then tell us in the comments below

Venture Into The Fog

To me, fog and mist are captivating treats any time of year, but they definitely add the perfect dynamic touch to fall photos.

Fog and mist tend to appear just after sunrise. If accompanied by cloud coverage they’ll linger longer into the day, otherwise, you need to be prepared to capture fog and mist pretty quickly.

Vary Your Perspective

Wide-angle lenses are great for fall photography, as they allow you to capture vast, colorful scenery. On the other hand, fall brings with it plenty of opportunity to photograph details, so get low and get close to things.

You might also try working with very shallow depth of field or perhaps trying out something a bit more abstract where colors dominate.

Final Thoughts

Fall provides unique visuals for photographers to play with. From seasonal colors and tones to atmospheric conditions, the autumnal wonderland will keep you busy for weeks on end.

Create classic wide angle compositions that will appeal immediately to everyone, but also take the time to experiment with the bevvy of colors and textures at your disposal to convey a different take on the season.