5 Basic Ideas For Autumn Landscape Photography
May 31st, 2007Autumn arrives and the nature is about some colossal changes. What does it mean for a photographer? In autumn the photographer will find the wealth of vivid colors and tones and a rich diversity of patterns and textures.
In the middle of autumn the day lasts about 12 hours. In good weather, especially in the morning and in the evening, you can enjoy soft light, which is ideal for landscape photography.
The temperature drops down, leaves fade and change their color to red, yellow, and then fall on the ground to form a colorful carpet. Autumn is not only the harvest time, but also the time of fog and rain, and even frost. These all create great conditions for landscape photography. No wonder that autumn is a favourite season of many nature photographers.
1. Shoot in early morning and at late night. Don’t miss an opportunity to photograph a bright navy blue sky on a sunny autumn day. Early mornings and late nights are the best time for landscape photography in autumn. The light is warm and the sky is deep blue.
Besides, early morning is a good time for woodland photography. The sun is low over the horizon and trees throw long shadows. Open areas in the forest are good places for shooting. You can place shadows in the foreground and include in the shot backlit trees with glittering leaves.
2. Take advantage of different filters:
- Make use of a polarizing filter to accentuate the blue of the sky.
- Besides, you can intensify the natural warmth of autumn light and landscape using 81B or 81C filter.
- You can use a polarizing filter even on a nasty day. It will help get rid of the shine on wet leaves and makes the colors brighter.
- Experiment with orange and other warm color filters to accentuate the yellow colors of leaves.
- Diffusion filters help to create special atmosphere, especially in photographs of trees, which are backlit.
- Color filters that emphasize red colors will make warm tones more saturated.
Find more information about polarizing filter in Color Accent in landscape photography.
3. Shoot small details (Read Landscapes in Details). There are so many diverse natural patterns and textures around us – these are small details that form a landscape. Look attentively under your feet and you are sure to notice a rich diversity of patterns, colors and textures in the carpet of fallen leaves. Include them in the shot, using a standard or zoom lens.
4. Get up early in the morning and you will be able to capture dense fog hang over the water and the first sun that create an intense light effect.
5. Take smooth water photos (Read Beginners Guide to Shutter Speed). Brightly colored leaves look very beautiful in a water and on grey stones. Set a low shutter speed to create a silky water effect.
Read more about landscape photography:
- What Photographer Ought to Know About Seasonal Variations
- Give Me a Minute and I will Give You the Secret of Summer Landscape Photography
- Winter photography: tips for beginners
- Ten Landscape Photography Tips
- Winter Photography tips: Part II
Technorati Tags: landscape photography, nature photography, digital photography, photography tutorial, photo tips


Canon - is a high-powered Japanese company that specializes in imaging and optical products, including cameras, photocopiers and computer printers used by advanced amateur and top-notch professional photographers.
Mamiya is a high-powered Japanese company that is best known for its professional film cameras, especially medium-format film