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I do not think that anyone who photographs nature or for that matter, simply enjoys the colorful change from summer to fall will argue with Albert Camus’s poetic impression. For photographers, this is like the grand finale of a fireworks display. When conditions are just right the explosion of color across many portions of North America will make you squint and repeat more times than you can count, a profound wow with a sprinkling of oh my goodness. The less vocal of us usually just look with ear-to-ear smiles soaking it all in.
As intensely beautiful as fall can be, it can be equally and frustratingly difficult to capture with a camera. For one, the fall color display will vary in intensity from location to location and from season to season. Many areas of the upper Midwest for example, have had drought like conditions for most of the summer and this stresses trees to the extent that they change early and drop their leaves in as little as a couple of days or the leaves simply turn brown and drop. The other major factor in how long the display lasts is the weather. Indian summer is known for its warm pleasant days and cool frosty nights. It is also a time of volatility. Strong weather fronts literally blow in, wreaking havoc on the "fall flowers". The message here is be prepared for a multitude of conditions and have a plan for how you will respond to each condition you are confronted with.
Perspective or how photographers compose a landscape image is categorized basically in two forms; grand and intimate. The grand perspective is typically represented by images containing broad, sweeping views. Looking across a rolling scene from a high viewpoint or down a shoreline of an inland lake where the trees line the edge in colorful attire are a couple examples. Many amateur photographers shoot these scenes when the sun is shining and often during the mid day hours. The common results are vibrant colors, azure blue skies and shots that look much like countless other fall shots already taken.
So how do you avoid taking a typical fall grand landscape shot? Well, first let me say that there is nothing wrong with taking this type of shot; they are beautiful. If you want something that is not only beautiful but also unique and powerful, go against the grain. Shoot your compositions during moments of soft light. Early morning light, including that light before sunrise and right after sunset is much softer than during midday and reduces contrast allowing you to render the image’s lighting more evenly. Atmospheric conditions like fog, which is very common in autumn when the early morning air is much cooler than the ground or water temperature is, will add a moody feel to your image.
While on the theme of moisture, rainy days can be incredible to shoot fall color. Moisture saturates color plain and simple. Leaves take on a luster and even tree bark becomes rich looking. Now, bear in mind that we are talking about lower light levels so always use a tripod and shutter release when possible for razor sharp images. Next, use a polarizing filter to reduce glare or the reflection that water causes. The polarizing filter will also be of value to you when you shoot on sunny days. Depending on the direction you are shooting in the polarizing filter can greatly intensify a blue sky. Always experiment as you can create an unnatural looking sky by over polarizing. And finally, try to shoot when wind conditions are calm. Soft light will require longer exposures and the slightest breeze will blur at least portions of your images.
In the next segment we’ll look more closely (no pun intended!) at how to create better fall images by utilizing a more intimate perspective to composition. A closing thought for you...
"You learn to see by practice. It's just like playing tennis; you get better the more you play. The more you look around at things, the more you see. The more you photograph, the more you realize what can be photographed and what can't be photographed. You just have to keep doing it."
- Eliot Porter
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