Photo by Aarthi Arun
The days are mellow, the sun sets earlier and the birds and butterflies are well on their southward journey. It’s only a few days until the leaves change colour and Mother Nature paints our world in myriad hues of reds and yellows.
If you want to take stunning images of this stunning, short season, you’re in the right place. Whether you use your smartphone or a dedicated camera to take photos, here are my tips for elevating your autumn photography game.
1. Compose Your Photo
Photo by Aarthi Arun
Gorgeous photos don’t happen by accident; they are intentionally made with care and thought. Rather than taking a picture of a scene as soon as you see it, spend some time exploring different perspectives. Look for interesting subjects and check for distractions in the background. Think about compositional rules—like the rule of thirds, leading lines and symmetry.
For a perfectly symmetrical subject, like a leaf, you can place it right in the centre to emphasize the symmetry. But with a wide landscape shot, try putting a prominent subject slightly off-centre to add movement and energy to the scene. This technique, called the rule of thirds, is an excellent one to use if you’re near a lake with a canoe or kayak on it. For leading lines, look for bridges, paths and waterways that can be used to guide the viewer’s eyes.
One way you can train your eyes to see strong composition is by looking at others’ artworks and photos. A visit to the art gallery is sure to sharpen your compositional skills.
2. Adjust the Depth of Field
Photo by Aarthi Arun
The easiest way to make your images stand out is by adjusting the f-number or aperture. The opening of the lens, also called the aperture, can be used to control the amount of blur in the background. You can do this on your camera or smartphone. In your camera, dial the shooting mode to A (Aperture Priority) to adjust the f-number. On your mobile, use the portrait mode.
Use a smaller f-number to isolate your subject and get a beautiful background blur or bokeh. For instance, you can make a loved one or a tree stand out against the fall backdrop by using f/2.8 or lower. To take a crisp image of a fall vista, use a larger f-number, like f/11. This way, you’ll get a photo that is sharp from edge to edge.
3. Get Creative
We always associate fall photos with landscape scenes. But why not zoom in on your lens and focus on the details? You can isolate a vibrant tree or the veins on a fall leaf. If you have a zoom or macro lens, you can do this easily. Many of the latest smartphone cameras are also equipped with telephoto and macro lenses. Consider buying a clip-on macro lens if your phone lacks macro capability. The texture of the leaves or the ripples on the lake, reflecting the patchwork of hues, can be great to showcase your shutterbug skills.
Another fun thing you can do while taking photos in the fall is to use a slow shutter speed to create motion blur. Look for flowing water to get this dreamy effect. Waterfalls in the middle of a forest, surrounded by autumn colours, are perfect for this type of shot. Make sure to carry your tripod to get a sharp image. If you don’t have a camera, you can still get this effect with an iPhone—just convert the live photo into a long exposure one. You can also use apps like Slow Shutter Cam.
You can also creatively frame your shots with fall foliage. Use your imagination and let your lens peek through the fall leaves and branches to see the subject or the lake beyond. In addition, shoot at sunrise or sunset, during the golden hours, to emphasize the warm tone. Cloudy days are ideal as the clouds diffuse the sunlight and accentuate the rich autumn shades.
4. Edit Your Photos
Photo by Aarthi Arun
Many new photographers believe that using their latest phone or camera is enough for taking fantastic photos, but editing is non-negotiable if you want your photos to stand out. At the same time, too much editing can make your photos look unnatural. So, aim to achieve balance in your editing; you want your images to pop without going overboard.
I highly recommend using the Lightroom mobile app for editing your images. The free app has many useful features, including a histogram which shows the amount of light in your photo. A perfectly exposed photo shows a graph with a nice peak in the middle. If the graph leans too much to the left, your image is too dark or underexposed. A right-leaning graph indicates overexposure.
There is no one formula for editing, but generally, start by bringing down the highlights to see details in the sky. Then, increase the contrast to add depth and bring out vivid details. Add vibrance and saturation judiciously, and avoid over-sharpening your photos. Keep an eye on the histogram but go with your heart to find your own style.
Fall’s fleeting nature is precisely the reason why we cherish it. And what better time to capture the colours and coziness through your lens? Remember to photograph intentionally with the camera settings and composition in mind. Don’t forget to be creative, try new things and have fun—your Instagram page and your living room wall will thank you for the masterpieces!
READ MORE: Creative, environment
Aarthi Arunkumar is a writer and photographer based in Toronto. She has written about outdoor activities, parenting, photography and technology. As a photographer, she loves capturing wildlife and macro photos, showcasing the diverse creatures that coexist with us.
When she is not chasing deadlines, she can be found hiking and birdwatching on one of the many trails in the GTA with her family.
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