5 Essential Autumn Photography Tips

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INTRODUCTION

Do you want to take your best shots this season? In this article, I’ll share 5 essential autumn photography tips that will help you capture stunning fall photos. Practical tips whether you’re shooting on a DSLR, film camera, or even your iPhone.

Way before peak colour, pumpkin-spiced lattes and comfy knitted sweaters, the lust for colder months may be out of mind. But it won’t be long until you get a little reminder of what is just around the corner. Drawing back your sliding door one morning, the first chill in the air rushes up your nose. That first hit awakens the senses and puts you in gear for transitioning from summer to autumn once again.

The warmth and shelter of a campervan does sound appealing, but autumn isn’t a season to stay wrapped up entirely. And, it isn’t just when the forests are at peak colour or when a thick layer of fog covers the landscape when you should be shooting. The beauty and significance of autumn are certainly found in key photographic opportunities, but consider some of the following autumn photography tips. You’ll be put on the path to shoot a much more comprehensive photo collection this season.

UNDERSTANDING AUTUMN PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS

The Essence of Autumn Timing

Autumn photography, for many, is all about the rich colour palettes on show. If you’re looking for autumn photography tips for timing, the best results often come at the following times of day:

• Pre-dawn: when the atmosphere is best shot with longer exposures to capture fog drift and desaturated colour
• Sunrise: the first burst of light brings vibrancy to a scene
• Daytime: a good time to look for subjects in the campervan or perhaps with street photography. Think food, drink and that sort of vibe
• Sunset: saturated goodness
• Dusk: the chance of spotting wildlife

Importance of Autumn Light

Autumn might be one of the best seasons to experiment with light. One of my most useful autumn photography tips is to use overcast days to soften shadows and make colours pop. Overcast days help to soften the spill of light, resulting in no harsh shadows. And photographing after a period of rain can help boost the saturation of colours and increase contrast.

If you are ready to increase the creativity of your autumn photography, then consider practical lighting. You could use headlights to illuminate a figure, or capture your van driving through a moody forest with long exposure. I’ve tucked a few more examples into the section about mood below.

So whether you are charging the batteries for your DSLR, loading a roll of film into your vintage camera, or simply shooting on an iPhone, consider implementing the following 5 tips to make you better at autumn photography this year.

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1. WEATHER

When it comes to autumn photography tips, understanding the weather is just as important as making sure that batteries are charged and the memory card is loaded. If you are counting down the days for peak foliage, then you need to understand how the best colour forms. Wet summers followed by warm sunny days, and cool (but not freezing) nights will bring out the very best colours in autumn. However, dry summers and early frosts could lead to premature leaf drop and upset the timing of a great fall foliage display.

Setting aside the allure of colourful leaves for one moment, the changeable weather throughout autumn leads to opportunities that you can’t get in other seasons. Fog can create very interesting scenes when combined with a focus subject. The photo shown below draws us into this moment and evokes a few thoughts: calmness, quiet, peace. The desaturated colours due to the time of day help control the overall colour palette, which results in a very pleasing image on the eye.

2. COVERAGE

Another of my favourite autumn photography tips is to think about coverage — how your images work as a collection, not just single shots.. Whether you intend to post to Instagram or want to print out your photos for a portfolio, you need to capture and put together a curation of images that capture coverage of the theme, which is autumn in this case.

What are the things that come to mind when you hear the word “autumn”? For me, some of the things I think about include pumpkin-spiced lattes, log fires, and early evenings. Write a list of your own and use it to tick off some essential imagery that will help you nail some great coverage of autumn in your photo collection.

Shot lists

Let me break down my ideas into micro-shoot plans to help you create a vision for what you could be shooting towards for your own autumn photos. And by that I mean I don’t intend to photograph a something like a pumpkin-spiced latte on the table.

I could imagine shooting through the window (from outside) to capture a shot of people inside. They’re warm, enjoying drinks, and this is the scene-setting image I need at the start of this collection. If the exterior doesn’t offer anything for a great frame, then I’ll consider moving inside and shooting through, or over the heads, of the customers in line. Here, you’ll likely be able to capture something of the barista working the machine. Check for steam as the milk is frothed, and consider slowing down the shutter speed to capture people in motion.

Another exciting autumn feeling is getting a log fire going. This topic gives me a lot of ideas for photographs to construct. Pair a wide shot of someone collecting the wood from the forest with a close-up of the axe splitting through a piece, to create a well-paired set of images. A well-timed photo of kindling igniting will add a flash of colour and texture to otherwise quite static imagery. And a wide scene showing people around the campfire and smoke floating up in the cool air will give a sense of place.

Coverage such as this will give you so much variety in your shots. Everything from physical framing to subject matter. Padding out a single subject with a considered shot list like this is the type of thing magazines such as Advanture Magazine look for when examining imagery for an article, or even selecting a photographer for a gear guide assignment. Ultimately, seeking out mood in your autumn photography is going to make you a better photographer all around.

3. BEST LENSES FOR AUTUMN PHOTOGRAPHY

Your choice of lens can transform your autumn photos. If you’re looking for autumn photography tips about lenses, here are my suggestions that have served me for years while travelling on the road. The lens selection, or focal length, is a powerful way of creating better images in-camera. While possible to crop in on a photo in post-production, but physical aspects such as depth of field and compression cannot be represented authentically. Here are some great lens choices that contribute towards my top autumn photography tips.

50mm – fixed lens with fast aperture 

A lens of 50mm on a full-frame body is the closest focal length that represents how the human eye sees, so naturally, this results in pleasing images. These lenses can be found quite cheaply and often have fast apertures of f1.8 and lower. This will give you the ability to let a lot of light in, allowing you to work with low ambient autumn light. These lenses do not tend to focus on very close subjects, so think of them as your street photography and portrait lenses. But other than capturing images of faces, it is a great lens to frame up hands wrapped around that warm coffee. I recommend this Yongnuo 50mm f1.8 II for a cheap option, or if you have the budget and want your shots to be the very best, this Canon 50mm f1.2 is what you are going to need.

70mm-200mm – fixed lens with fast aperture 

A telephoto lens isn’t my favourite to carry around due to weight and size, but I’ve found it to be my favourite tool come autumn. Being able to shoot across landscapes at the longer focal end results in images that look like postcards – square on, neat vertical lines, and pin sharp when using a professional lens like this Canon 70-200mm f4 II. It is expensive, but once invested, you will have a weather-sealed lens (essential for autumn photography) that will likely outlive your camera body. I bought mine in New Zealand ten years ago!

One note I would give about shopping for a lens like this is that IS (image stabilisation) is necessary. Lenses can come without it, but you will have to rely on using a tripod in low light, or dial up the ISO so high that digital noise may degrade your images beyond a reasonable amount. But you do not need to buy the latest version of a lens to get the best results. For example, the newer 70-200mm III version is heavier, double the price (£2000!) and apparently the IS isn’t as fast or accurate to find its subject.

A long focal length allows you to selectively isolate subjects within busy scenes. By taking a few steps back and zooming in on a frame, the depth of field is increased and throws the background out of focus more than when shooting at a wider focal length. A long focal length is also great for aiming down tree-lined roads, which creates compression. This gives the effect of background images appearing closer, resulting in tighter autumn photography.

A macro lens 

While I don’t currently own a macro lens, I had previously owned one while I focused on underwater photography. Its use in autumn photography will open up a whole new world of discovery on a micro level. To get the very best results, you are going to need to pair a macro lens with a good tripod and set your camera to self-timer so that your hands are off the body when the shutter clicks (removing vibration and giving a sharper image).

Think close-ups of mushrooms peaking out of the forest floor, or growing off damp logs. Little clusters of fungi backlit by soft autumn light make for a classic photo to go and search for during the season.

A small series of photos you could set out to capture with a macro lens could also include the close-up details of various leaves. Just like I found when photographing coral reefs, the intricate details in plants and animals found through a macro lens expose nature on a totally different level.

That is my round-up of the best lenses in my opinion, which contribute towards 5 tips to make you a better autumn photographer.

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4. MUST-HAVE ACCESSORIES: AUTUMN PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS

Some pieces of gear will make your time photographing during autumn that little bit more comfortable. Here are three accessories that may be overlooked, but will help you protect your expensive camera equipment.

Dry stuff bags for photographers

These come in a number of sizes and are very cheap. If you only want to spend the bare minimum, but have the chance of protecting your camera, lenses and other electronics in wet weather, then pick up a dry stuff bag. These roll top stuff bags can be stuffed with anything really, from cameras to dry clothing. You compress them by squeezing out the air and clipping the buckle closed. Then drop them into your backpack and worry less about your gear when it rains.

Try these ones out from Decathlon, from the brands ITIWIT.

Waterproof backpack to carry camera gear

A step up in protection would be to opt for a fully waterproof backpack. The price of a good one has come down considerably in recent years. This affordably priced Jackson & Cole backpack on Amazon boasts a number of features normally found on higher-priced packs. On the outside, you have multiple cinch points to carry gear ranging from a tripod to a tent. Hook points are useful for hooking on pots and pans. And the wide roll top opening makes getting to the gear in the bottom of your pack an easier task.

This is the sort of backpack you can safely carry around expensive camera gear in, and worry less about breaking things and more about seeking out beautiful shots.

Nanuk hard case with DSLR and drone inserts

When you are on the road, you need to think about safely storing your camera gear inside the vehicle. A hard storage case not only protects the contents from water and dirt, but it also gives you a secure case to lock up and fit securely to a non-removable anchor in your vehicle. I have been using the Canadian-made Nanuk cases for years, and have chosen the dedicated Nanuk 925 DSLR case for my camera bodies and lenses, and also the Nanuk 920-MAV3 case for my DJI drone.

You can choose from multiple colours for the outside, which is a refreshing change from the standard black cases available elsewhere. The 925 comes with wheels and an extracting handle, making transport no problem when the case is packed with gear. Secure clips positively latch down to close the lid, sealing off the elements. Eye holes allow you to padlock the case closed. I then use a wire lock to attach the case to my seat base in the campervan. This cable lock from Stanley is a good place to start.

Inside the case, pre-cut foam offers complete protection for lenses, camera bodies/drones, batteries and accessories. Having everything neatly laid out has huge advantages over an empty box with everything thrown in. Not only does it protect your gear completely, but it also increases productivity, resulting in more time spent outside implementing my autumn photography tips.

5.SUBJECT MATTER – IT ISN’T JUST ABOUT THE LEAVES

When it comes to the subject matter, this might be the most important out of the 5 tips to make you a better autumn photographer. Autumn needs to be thought about as a vibe. If you were to present a spread of photos for consideration to Advanture Magazine, as an editor I’d be looking for a collection of images that present the vibe of autumn, with coverage of each scene. That will give me options when it comes to pairing images to words. Or even using the images on their own to tell the story as a photo essay.

Keywords I would use to describe autumn as a whole would include: fall, leaves, harvest, pumpkin, cooler, orange, red, brown, sweater, bonfire, rake, acorns, migratory, shorter days, cool, foraging, cool air, brisk, gathering, and cozy.

A list like this gives me a huge amount of ideas to get started on. It takes me far beyond the idea of chasing peak colour, and into the details that gives autumn its vibe. Let’s consider pairing some of these keywords to vanlife related photography. Images of people snugged up in sweaters could also be captured with heavy blankets. And shots from outside of the van of people keeping warm inside. 

You may even be as inspired to visit a new location such as a farm or farmers market. Get there early and you’ll be able to snap some candid moments of stalls being set up in pre-dawn light.

6. BONUS TIP – POST PRODUCTION

My style of photography is to capture as much of a perfect in-camera as possible. Which means when it comes to post production, I do as little image manipulation as possible. When it comes to editing, there is one choice that transforms the mood of your images into ethereal moments.

Experiment slightly with the clarity slider within Lightroom/Photoshop. Drop the value just a touch and look at how the edge softness of the image starts to glow. Use it sparingly. It can really soften up otherwise harsh and sharp iphone shots, with great effect. I think this and some careful balancing of the individual colour levels can really help make an autumn photo pop.

AUTUMN PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS SUMMARY