With autumn’s arrival and the holidays just weeks away, now is a great time of year to take out your camera and start capturing beautiful, vibrant outdoor photos. Best of all, the brilliant hues of autumn photos are ideal for hanging in picture frames and adding dramatic, bold accents to blank walls. Check out our fall photography tips for taking rich and captivating photos of the colorful season.
Don’t Center It
To create a more interesting photo, don’t try to capture everything you see. By choosing something with visual appeal or interest, such as a fence, tree, bridge, or berry cluster and placing it off-center in your composition, you’ll add greater depth to your photo and will provide a framework for the beautiful fall foliage.
Timing Is Everything
Taking photos in the early morning or late afternoon will provide the most interesting light for fall photos. The contrasts of light and shadow at these times allow for interesting depth. Also, the sun sits lower in the sky during fall, and the afternoons provide you with warm and beautiful light for photography. Try taking photos just before sunset and using a warm, polarizing filter for dramatic color when you’re shooting colorful red and orange leaves.
Get Closer
Bright sunlight is also good for fall photos and can make fall foliage colors glow. However, if there’s too much light streaming through trees or too much bright sky, your camera’s meter may become confused and leave the rest of your photo dark. To avoid losing any color and interest, move in closer to your subject and cut out some extra light.
Try a Gray Day
Don’t let an overcast day keep you from taking fall photos. Gray skies actually allow fall colors pop out. Take advantage of these days by focusing on natural details, such as bright pumpkins or fallen leaves. A cloudy fall day is also a great time for taking outdoor portraits. The even lighting allows subjects to smile and look ahead without squinting, and you won’t have to contend with harsh shadows crossing their faces.
Shake Things Up
Have fun when taking your fall photos! Don’t restrict yourself to a certain subject or location. Move around and take many shots from different angles. Getting shots from low angles gives you the benefit of different lighting, making for a more interesting image. Also, take advantage of action shots. A waterfall, river, or windy day can give your photos motion and provide more visual interest.
Always Be Clicking
Fall is arguably the best season for taking outdoor photographs. Remember that there’s a very short window of opportunity for truly great pictures this time of year, so always keep your camera with you and take those shots when you see them. A sudden cold snap or windstorm can blow away your photo opportunity overnight.
Frame Fall’s Beauty
Of course, once you take the perfect autumnal photographs, you’ll want to print and hang them on your wall! Why not create customized picture frames for your treasured photos? Design the perfect photo frame for your office, your home, or for someone special on your gift list with our Create-A-Frame tools!
