Fall Foliage Photography

Use These Tips to Improve Photos of Colorful Autumn Leaves

By Kyle Schurman, About.com Guide

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Photos of fall foliage provide great opportunities for interesting colors in dramatic landscape photos. If you want your fall foliage photos to stand out, follow these tips.

Consider the weather before you plan a fall foliage photography session. Autumn weather can be damp and cold, which can cause problems with your camera. Additionally, a cloudy day can leave fall foliage photos lacking in brightness and vibrancy.
Consider the area and climate in which you’ll shoot as well. Northern climates will see the leaves change colors much earlier than climates to the south. Mountainous regions will see changes in leaf color earlier than other regions, too. If you’re going to make a long trip to shoot fall foliage, be sure you know when is the best time to shoot for the region you’ll be visiting.
Don’t always shoot in the same spot. If you have multiple opportunities to shoot fall foliage photos during the autumn, try a different location every day.
If you have the option of shooting near sunrise or sunset, the colors in the fall foliage will really look great in your photos with the sun low in the sky.
Look for interesting items to include with the photo, such as a stream or lake, if you’re shooting an overview of a fall foliage scene. Maybe a windmill, a log home, or a classic red barn can provide a focal point inside a scene containing fall foliage.
Don’t ignore the color green in your fall foliage photos. The reds, oranges, yellows, and browns are the primary reason to shoot fall foliage photos, but some leaves will still be green, and adding some green into your color scheme will help the overall look of the photos.
Think about shooting some close-up photos of individual leaves. For example, you may find some leaves featuring multiple colors, and a close-up -- or macro -- photo can really highlight those interesting color changes.
If you’re going to shoot some close-ups, either of an individual tree or of individual leaves, look for a variety of trees, as different trees will have different shapes, colors, and textures of leaves.
Finally, don’t limit your fall foliage photos to trees. Consider shooting photos of other items you’ll only see in the autumn, such as a pumpkin patch or maybe a field of unharvested corn.

Fall Foliage Photography

Use These Tips to Improve Photos of Colorful Autumn Leaves

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