We’re here to remind you about all the amazing things Autumn has to offer! With September in town, it is now clear that summer waves a big bye only to rejoice our hearts after the next 9 months. In the meantime, it is important to avoid the dimness by embracing the best of what Fall 2016 brings to the table. There’s really nothing to feel low about; autumn is a terrific, ease-inducing and unbelievably photogenic season, so pick up your device, fill your thermos with a hot brew, and invite that special person who’ll enjoy the beautiful moodiness on the same level as you. Here’s a bit of how to take photos of fall.

The Most Suitable Time

Typically, the most suitable time for taking beautiful photos of fall is from the end of September to mid and late-October. However, this may strongly depend on your geographic location; thus, a Google research (look for websites that register changes in the autumn foliage) and a couple of cool apps that help to track the best spots for leaf peeking will come in handy.

The Preferable Lenses

As we’re dealing with large-scale landscape photography, the size of equipment is imperative to capture some truly wall art-worthy shots. The suggested focal lengths are:

• 85mm
• 70-200mm
• 300mm

However, you can also go with low fidelity shots using disposable cameras and Instamatics. This will provide a subtle indie vibe and a bit of atmospherics that weren’t there in the first place.

The Chilling Sunrise

Sipping a warm beverage from a mug whilst observing the colorful and awe-inspiring transformations of nature is what the perfect autumn Sunday morning is made of. An ordinary autumn day begins with the same wonderful spectacle that sets up every day regardless of the season – the sunrise.

However, the autumn morning sun produces a very specific illumination and, if photographed when it’s just barely over the horizon, can produce a “golden hour” photography no other season is quite capable of. Even more, thanks to the sun being positioned so low for most of the autumn/winter period, the natural light is constantly perfect for photographing outside. And, trying to get that awesome morning shot may be the best way to wake up your brain!

The Morning Mist

Autumn, due to the considerably lower nighttime temperatures, is a period when a layer of mist fills every delve there is to fill. This, in turn, leaves us with ethereal scenery full of shadowy silhouettes, half-sunken trees and rays of light desperately trying to squeeze through the thick coating while legitimate wonders of nature usually can be seen over the surfaces of waters. This is where the most ethereal photos of fall are usually made.

Despite the mist somewhat muting the autumn color palette, the effect of moodiness it produces is irreplaceable. To capture the autumn mist at its most impressive, the first three hours after sunrise will be the best. This is also the most suitable time to exercise your long-exposure skills. Set up your tripod next to a water reservoir, preferably a river. The steaming early morning mist combined with reflections, river rocks and contrasts on the water surface is the perfect material for slow shutter speeds.

The Crouching Leaves

Autumn is also the season of intensive flavors all around, the most prominent being the aroma of burning leaves. Little piles of yellowy-brownish leaflets lie on the sides of country roads, ready to be lit up. However, they are also great material for textural photography. The natural pattern they’re assembled in can make up an intricate drawing-like composition.

Zoom in, and use the polarizer filter for especially striking results! In this case, a wide angle or telephoto lens would only add to the amazing shot. Nevertheless, a good smartphone camera will also produce desktop-worthy stills. Another great pattern would be that of mushrooms growing on the side of a tree. Focused close-ups with blurry backgrounds would come off as great kitchen decor!

The Ethereal Sky

Most of us will agree that the autumn sky is not quite the same thing as its summertime counterpart. The clouds start to lose the predominant contouring, and you can totally forget about the goliath cumulonimbus clouds. However, a new type of autumnal cloud soon takes the throne. Cirrocumulus clouds are as airy and volatile as the fall itself. Make sure to have some naked branches or orange canopies of leaves in the foreground and voila – you have a perfect wall art shot!

The Naked Forest

Here, it’s preferable to shoot with the sun behind your back to avoid over-exposure. Search for sceneries that provide story – footpaths, worn-out fencing, avenues of trees, possibly even an old sculpture coated in fallen leaves. While shafts of light squeezing through the skeletons of trees will provide fantastic atmospherics, it’s important to keep the sun out of the shot. A simple solution, besides shooting with tree trunks blocking the source of light, is to shoot perpendicular to the sun.

Harvest 2016

And, of course, what would be photos of fall without any of those rustic baskets filled with all kinds of ripe, russet groceries, stockpiled on top of each other. Just like it is with the leaves and mushroom photography, focused close-ups is what seals the deal in this case. Be it a shiny pumpkin or a collection of neatly garnished pickles, all of it is not only useful as a source of nutrition but also as a great subject before the lens.

Autumn is an astonishing period for photography. The search for the right location alone is an adventure worth undertaking, so embrace what the season is offering – pleasant moodiness, burning hues and a sense of coziness that’s unrivaled.

*images – stocksnap.io

Der Beitrag Capturing the Best of Autumn – Photos of Fall erschien zuerst auf My-Picture.co.uk blog.