The weather is cooler, the air is crisp and leaves are changing color. Fall is in full swing in cities and destinations across the country. Take advantage of this exquisite season by going outside and taking pictures of the stunning fall foliage. While your camera’s batteries are charging, read these tips to make the most of your fall pictures.
There are many types of light throughout the day. Natural light in the morning is softer when compared to the harsh light found at noon. Play around with light by taking pictures throughout the day. Watch as the mood of each image changes with the light of the sun. Pro tip: shoot in the evening for vibrant colors, more detail and a golden glow.
Before you take out your camera and start photographing, spend some time walking around the area. Discovering the best landscape shot or portrait background is serious business! Don’t waste time on a location that isn’t spectacular. Pro tip: pack a 32GB memory card or higher so you don’t run out of memory while photographing.
Think outside the box! Change your camera’s focus from the trees to smaller details surrounding you. Look around for seeds, mushrooms, tree rings, frost and other unique signs of autumn. Pro tip: switch your camera to “Macro” mode so it knows to focus on nearby subjects. Try taking pictures as close as you can before cropping the image until you have the desired result.
Take your photography to the next level—and increase the number of ‘wows’ your pictures will get—by backlighting your subject. Simply move around your subject until the light source is directly behind the subject, creating a halo of light around them. Pro tip: if you’re taking fall portraits, bring a reflector so the subject’s face isn’t too shadowy.
Streams, lakes, rivers and other bodies of water are a great addition to any autumn-themed image. Ponds and lakes’ still water can often create a mirror-like reflection. Whereas rivers and streams are constantly moving, turning the fall reflection into a unique blur of yellows, reds and oranges. Pro tip: take plenty of pictures in landscape and portrait orientations to increase your options when editing.
Fall is the best time to photograph new color combinations. Experiment with framing your shot with bright orange leaves juxtaposed with green leaves of trees that haven’t turned color yet. To increase the detail, change your camera’s mode to “landscape.” Pro tip: if you have a DSLR camera, add a neutral-density filter to increase vibrancy.
When you think of fall, what comes to mind? Most likely vibrant orange trees, yellow scenery and falling leaves. For your next fall photoshoot, photograph other seasonal items, including pumpkins, apple orchards or corn mazes. Pro tip: take pictures from different perspectives. Try shooting from the ground up, or up high looking down for unique points of view.
Autumn is a seasonal explosion of color, though not an explosion of light. Keep your camera steady during low-light times of day with a tripod. There are special tripods for every type of camera: DSLR, compact and smartphones alike! Pro tip: if you’re in a windy area, hold down your tripod with bags or rocks so it doesn’t wobble.
The fall season is too short to miss a photography opportunity. Celebrate the season by traveling around the nation following foliage with Best Western Hotels & Resorts.
