"In Living Color" by Max Foster Photographyīack lighting (sun in front of you) is something many people avoid. Scenes with strong sidelight tend to look best when the sun is lowest in the sky, as the light is diffused. It enhances textures, and allows great color separation. Side light (sun to your right or left) is great to add three dimensionality and depth to your images. "Northwoods Contrast" by Max Foster Photography However, this type of lighting situation also tends to make scenes feel flat and two dimensional. "Gold Standard" by Max Foster Photography Understand Direction of Sunlightįront light (sun at your back) works well if you want to enhance color separation and make colors really stand out. I always try to have my camera with me on shooting days so I don’t miss unique light and compositions. This is a mistake! Watch the weather conditions and light, and always have your camera ready when out exploring. Photographers tend to pack up after sunrise, and not shoot again until sunset. "Opposing Forces" by Max Foster Photography Shoot All Day When Possible The light changes rapidly once the sun is up, so make sure to be ready at your chosen composition ahead of time. The golden hours surrounding sunrise and sunset are great any time of the year, but in autumn they enhance the warmth of scenes and can lower contrast from the brighter times of day. "Mist Rising" by Max Foster Photography Shoot During the Golden Hours Camera light meters often underexpose when large portions of the scene are white or gray. Since fog is white, check your exposure to make sure you are not underexposing your images. Typically, morning is best for capturing fog, as it burns off throughout the day. Look for low lying areas or bodies of water that are more likely to gather fog overnight. Shooting in foggy conditions is ideal for fall colors, as it reduces contrast and gives your photos a dreamy atmosphere. With cooler days, fog becomes more common. "Watercolor Memories" by Max Foster Photographyįoggy days can create incredible atmosphere. Make sure to account for any movement in foliage by reviewing your images in the field and adjusting to faster shutter speeds if necessary. During blue hour and golden hour when the light is low, this is especially true. Since the focus of fall color shooting is on foliage, wind is the enemy. Bonus: Overcast weather means you can shoot all day! "Into the Woods" by Max Foster Photography Avoid compositions that include the white, colorless sky to maximize the impact of your images. Without direct light on leaves, there is much less glare to deal with as well. The soft, low contrast lighting on overcast days means foliage colors look saturated and rich. However, fall is the best time to shoot when clouds are thick overhead. At other times of the year, overcast days can leave your photos feeling flat. Overcast days are great for shooting fall colors. "Reflections of Change" by Max Foster Photography Watch the Weather: Overcast is Best Timing is everything to make this successful, but it can have very pleasing results. Shooting early means more color contrast and visual interest in images. Minnesota DNR's Fall Color Finder Go When Colors First Start TurningĪs much as I love shooting a sea of yellow aspen, I prefer shooting the beginning and middle of the foliage color turn even more as it allows for maximum color variety. Other states and regions have similar reporting online. In Minnesota (my home state), we have a fall color finder managed by the DNR that is extremely helpful. There are also several groups on Facebook for sharing current fall color conditions in specific areas. Avoid booking travel too far ahead of time, as colors change at different times each year depending on rainfall, temperatures and more. Whether you are photographing locally or traveling long distances for fall color shooting, make sure to check color reports ahead of time. "A New Dimension" by Max Foster Photography Research Locations and Check Fall Color Reports The 15 tips below will explain how to take your fall foliage photos to the next level! Photographers' favorite time of year is just around the corner…fall! To make the most of your photography sessions this Autumn season, you’ll need to be prepared.
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