Autumn is a fleeting symphony of light and colour—a season that demands your attention as a photographer. The landscape ignites with fiery reds, molten oranges, and golden yellows, set against the somber greens of evergreens or the muted greys of stone. It’s a visual feast that lasts mere weeks, and for those of us who live for the chase, it’s a call to action. I’ve spent countless seasons knee-deep in fallen leaves, chasing the perfect frame. Here’s how you can harness autumn’s magic with intention, precision, and a touch of artistry—through technique, gear, and composition.
Shooting Techniques for Autumn Colours
Photographing autumn isn’t just about snapping pretty leaves; it’s about translating the season’s soul onto your sensor. Here’s how to do it right:
Chase the Golden Hour Glow
There’s no substitute for the golden hour—that fleeting window at dawn and dusk when the low sun bathes the foliage in a warm, diffused glow. Midday light is a harsh thief, robbing colours of their depth and casting unsightly shadows. Get out early or stay late; use apps like PhotoPills to nail the timing, and arrive with enough buffer to take in the scene before you shoot.
Wield a Polariser Like a Blade
A polarising filter isn’t optional—it’s essential. It cuts through the sheen on wet leaves, saturates those crimson and amber tones, and carves out a richer sky. Twist it slowly as you peer through the viewfinder; you’ll see the moment the scene snaps into focus. Just don’t overdo it—too much polarisation can kill natural contrast.
Own Your Exposure
Autumn’s vivid palette can fool even the best metering systems, leaving your shots dark and lifeless. Ditch auto mode. Dial in manual or nudge exposure compensation (+0.5 to +1 EV) to lift the brilliance without scorching the highlights. Shooting in RAW is non-negotiable here—it’s your safety net for recovering detail when the colours overwhelm. Lisa and I often play with our white balance in camera when shooting autumn colour; try Shade or Cloudy and see your yellows and oranges pop. Also, fiddling with your Kelvin can be fun… experiment and see what you like.
Play with Time
Shutter speed is your creative lever. Drop it low (1/8s or slower) with a tripod to blur a rushing stream or dancing leaves into an ethereal haze—think 3- to 6‑second exposures with an ND filter if the light’s still strong. Or crank it up (1/500s) to freeze a gust scattering leaves mid‑flight. Both approaches tell a story; choose yours deliberately.
Gear That Gets the Job Done
I’ve lugged gear through muddy trails and frosty hollows, and here’s what holds up when the leaves start falling:
Camera: A solid body with dynamic range is key. I lean on my Canon R5—its weather sealing laughs off morning dew, and the sensor handles autumn’s tonal extremes. Any mirrorless or DSLR with manual controls will serve you well.
Lenses: My go‑to is a 24‑105mm for sweeping vistas and tighter scenes—it’s sharp and adaptable. For compressing distant hills or isolating a lone tree, a 100‑500mm always delivers. And when the leaves beg for a closer look, a 100mm macro reveals veins and dew drops like nothing else.
Tripod: Wind and long exposures don’t mix. My LeoFoto carbon fibre tripod is light enough for a trek yet anchors like a rock—invest in stability.
Filters: A circular polariser is your first buy. Add a 6‑stop ND filter for those silky water shots when the sun won’t quit.
Essentials: The cold saps batteries fast—carry spares. A lens cloth beats fog and drizzle, and a rugged backpack like our Summit Creative one keeps it all together while you scramble for the shot.
Composition: Crafting the Frame
A good photo isn’t luck—it’s vision. Autumn gives you the raw materials; composition turns them into art. Here’s where to start:
Frame the Chaos
Use arching branches or a tunnel of trees to box in your subject—a weathered barn, a misty valley, a jagged peak. It tames the riot of colour and pulls the eye where you want it.
Hunt Reflections
Water doubles your canvas. Lakes, rivers, even roadside puddles after a storm—crouch low, align the reflection, and let the polariser dial in the intensity. A mirrored forest in still water can leave a viewer spellbound.
Lean on Contrast
Pit the blaze of a maple against a slate‑grey cliff or a fog‑drenched ridge. A lone scarlet oak in a sea of dark pines screams drama. It’s about tension, not just beauty.
Draw Them In
Leading lines are your guideposts—think a snaking track, an old wooden farm fence, or a creek cutting through the forest. Lay them out to pull the viewer deep into the frame, like a golden road vanishing into the haze.
Get Intimate
Not every shot needs a horizon. Drop to your knees and fill the frame with a frost‑kissed leaf, a reflective water droplet, or a spiderweb strung with dew. Macro work balances your portfolio and reveals autumn’s quiet poetry.
The Long Game
Autumn photography rewards the obsessive. Scout your spots weeks ahead—I use Google Earth to pinpoint overlooks and backroads, then get boots‑on‑the‑ground to confirm. Watch the forecast; a stormy front can turn a good scene epic. And if the light flops, come back tomorrow—peak colour waits for no one, and I’ve missed shots by a day.
Gear up, breathe in the crisp air, and let the season pull you in. These techniques and ideas are your toolkit—wield them with purpose, and you’ll freeze autumn’s fleeting glory in frames worth keeping. Get out there and shoot, and don’t forget to have fun!