How To Take Awesome Autumnal Photos
Autumn is approaching, and with it the opportunity to take some absolutely amazing pictures using the beautiful colours of the season. Whilst of course there’s every chance you’ll get lucky and get awesome pictures anyway, the old maxim applies – the harder you work, the luckier you’ll get. Here are some ways to maximise the effect of your autumn photos.
Be Prepared
Autumn foliage will only be at its peak for a short period – and although you may see people saying that the best times are towards October and November, this can vary considerably based on weather conditions. Because we’ve had a pretty warm summer, it may be earlier this year – so keep an eye on the leaves, and be ready to grab your camera as soon as the right conditions arrive.
Use the Golden Hour
Get your diary out, and start making note of the sunrise and sunset times for the days when you want to go out with your camera. The “Golden Hour” is the first hour after sunrise and the last hour before sunset, and at these times the angle of the sun makes the light softer and warmer – perfect for bringing out the rich hues of autumn leaves. The best thing is, in autumn the golden hour tends to be at more sociable times than it is in summer!
Use Water
If you can find a location with stunning autumn trees standing over water – and there are so many lakes, rivers and canals around that this should not be a problem – you can create a great contrast between the warm reds and golds of the leaves and the cool blue of the water. If you’re really lucky, and the water is still, you may be able to use the reflection of the trees as a focus instead of the trees themselves, which can create stunning images.
Use the Clouds
Summer skies tend to be clear blue expanses – lovely accents to a picture, but not so interesting on their own. In autumn, however, as the weather changes you can spot some stunning cloud effects which can be used to add interest to your images – or even as the focus by themselves.
Experiment with Settings
You’ll want to try a few different things to find the best settings for each picture; a little underexposure can make colours stronger, or you can try using a higher ISO instead of auto white balance to warm colours up. You can also use some settings creatively, to create dreamy autumn woodlands or almost surreal high-definition colours, so don’t be afraid to experiment.
If you want to get a better camera in time for autumn, now is the time to upgrade; with our camera exchange services, you can get money for your old model, making it easier and more affordable to upgrade. For more information, contact us today.
