Tips for Photographing Fall Colors

Fall and spring are my favourite seasons as a photographer. It’s the time nature does her best to impress and I have yet to be disappointed. What are some things you can do to improve your fall color photographs? The list is long, but not difficult.

• Pick the best times to photograph. What are those times?

a. Sunrise and sunset are always the best times to photograph any subject and, in particular, fall colors. The light at these times is magical. Morning is especially good for fall colors as the soft golden light of sunrise brings out the reds and golds in your photos.

b. If it’s sunny and late afternoon, when your shadow is longer than you are, you have the opportunity to get some  fabulous side lighting to accent the fall colors. Sunny days are also fun for photos of leaves backlit.

c. Cloudy days are super for fall colors. The light is soft and even, and the colors are more saturated.

• Use a circular polarizing lens. A polarizing lens will increase the contrast, saturate colors, making them richer, and reduce reflections. If you don’t have a polarizing lens, underexpose your photos by 0.7 to 1.0 (look up Exposure Compensation in your manual, or take one of our courses!)

• Most photographers are so overwhelmed and excited about the colorful scene before them that they concentrate on taking wide shots – which is good—but don’t forget to photograph the details. Zoom in on the leaves themselves, either on the tree or on the ground. Often the leaves on the ground have some wonderful patterns of color.

• Search out creeks and rivers. There are usually colorful trees along the shoreline reflected in the water – making for some awesome photographs. We’ve often gone to Trepanier Creek in Peachland or the Similkameen River on Hwy 3 just east of Princeton.

• Don’t forget wineries. As the grape leaves change color, you can make some beautiful photographs.

• Don’t just concentrate on nature – search out your local farmers market. You’ll find piles of pumpkins and seasonal gourds. Bear Frasch’s Farm Market in Keremeos has some wonderful arrangements during the fall. We’ve spent many hours there with our cameras.

• Want to get some practice with your camera? Take a photograph of the same tree from the same spot at the same time of day for a month. Then you can build a time-exposure slide show.
• For something entirely different, set your shutter speed to about 1/8, zoom in on some colorful leaves, or leaves and tree trunks, and move your camera sideways or up or down as you take your photo. This will give you a lovely blur of color as if the leaves are moving.

The fall colors are starting, so get outside and enjoy a few hours with nature and your camera. You won’t regret it!