The leaves are turning, the air is cooler and pumpkin spice is back. Autumn is a wonderful time to be out with a camera. The colours and textures are beautiful, and there is no shortage of subjects. Here are seven tips for capturing it.
1. The colours of autumn
Red, orange, yellow and brown leaves are what make the season. Look for a spot where several colours come together, and try different angles and compositions. Get in close as well as standing back.
For something more abstract, try moving the camera during a slow exposure, sweeping it up the line of the tree trunks, so that the scene becomes streaks of colour.
If your camera allows it, shoot in RAW format, which gives you far more control over colour when you edit.
2. Head for the woods
Woodland is at its best in autumn, and there is plenty of it. Search online for autumn photography locations near you.
Try backlighting: shoot towards the sun with the leaves between you and the light, and they glow like stained glass. A wide-angle lens takes in more of the scene. Pointed straight up, it makes the trunks converge on the canopy.
3. Autumn wildlife
Animals are busy in autumn. Squirrels are gathering nuts, birds are migrating and the deer rut is under way.
Wildlife photography takes patience and luck. Go out early in the morning or late in the evening, when animals are most active, and keep as quiet as you can. A telephoto lens lets you fill the frame without getting too close. Keep a safe distance from rutting deer in particular.
4. Include water
Water is the landscape photographer's friend, and we are heading into the wet season. On a still day, lakes and lochs give perfect reflections of the autumn colour. Place the far shoreline across the middle of the frame, so that the landscape and its reflection balance.
With moving water, try a long exposure. With the shutter open for a second or more, a stream or waterfall turns smooth and silky. Use a tripod. A polarising filter cuts glare from wet leaves and water and makes the colours richer.
5. Use the clouds
Clouds give contrast and texture to what would otherwise be a blank sky, and autumn skies are often dramatic. Be patient and wait for the clouds to move into a good position.
A graduated filter darkens the sky so that the clouds stand out. For something different, shoot a time-lapse: a series of photos taken at intervals and joined into a short film of the clouds on the move.
6. Make the most of the sun
In autumn the sun stays lower in the sky, so shadows are longer and the light is warmer for more of the day. Sunrise and sunset come at kinder hours as well.
Photograph the sun setting behind trees or a building, so that they stand in silhouette. Take several shots from different positions and choose the best.
7. Catch the fog and mist
Fog and mist give a photograph atmosphere, and autumn mornings are the time to find them, especially in valleys and over water. They do not last, so get up early.
Mist simplifies a scene into layers. Look for a strong shape, such as a single tree, to stand out against it. The light will be low, so use a tripod and a longer exposure.
When you have an autumn photo you love, our made-to-measure picture frames will show it at its best, and we are glad to advise on the right one.
Call EasyFrame on 01234 856 501 or email sales@easyframe.co.uk. We are happy to talk it through even if you do not want to buy.