This article is by Dave Roos
What is it about the fall season that convinces otherwise rational people to spend thousands of dollars and several coveted vacation days on a "leaf-peeping" tour of New England? What is it about the crisp, smoke-tinged air, the promise of warm apple cider and those wild colors -- an explosion of red, orange, and yellow -- that transforms even the biggest city slicker into a ruddy-cheeked nature lover? A big part of fall's charm lies in the scenery.
Fall time is photography time. The lighting is warm and subdued, the kids are everywhere, and you can't seem to turn around without spotting another frame-worthy shot of an apple-hued maple leaf dangling from a branch, a toppling pile of gnarly gourds or just about anything outside at dawn or dusk.
But before you fill your hard drive with 3,000 pics of leafy vistas, consider these fresh fall photography ideas along with some tips for capturing the sharpest colors and best memories.
What is it about the fall season that convinces otherwise rational people to spend thousands of dollars and several coveted vacation days on a "leaf-peeping" tour of New England? What is it about the crisp, smoke-tinged air, the promise of warm apple cider and those wild colors -- an explosion of red, orange, and yellow -- that transforms even the biggest city slicker into a ruddy-cheeked nature lover? A big part of fall's charm lies in the scenery.
Fall time is photography time. The lighting is warm and subdued, the kids are everywhere, and you can't seem to turn around without spotting another frame-worthy shot of an apple-hued maple leaf dangling from a branch, a toppling pile of gnarly gourds or just about anything outside at dawn or dusk.
But before you fill your hard drive with 3,000 pics of leafy vistas, consider these fresh fall photography ideas along with some tips for capturing the sharpest colors and best memories.
Lit from within by a flickering candle, the eerie orange glow of the
jack-o'-lantern is one of the oldest and favorite Halloween traditions.
Whether it's a simple gnarled smile or an elaborate recreation of the
shower scene from "Psycho," jack-o'-lanterns never fail to catch the eye
and the camera lens. But just like other Halloween photos, jack-o'-lantern pics are often doomed from the start.
First of all, the whole visual allure of the jack-o'-lantern is its otherworldly internal glow. The only way to get the full effect of that glow is to photograph the subject at night. The last thing you want to do is activate the flash, which spoils the whole idea of internal lighting. But if you don't use the flash, you're likely to end up with a blurry shot.
Here are some tricks from the New York Institute of Photography. First, load up the jack-o'-lantern with several candles, not just a single flicker. The more light you can generate from within the pumpkin, the sharper your photo will be. Next, you have to use a tripod. When shooting in low light, there's no other way to get clear results. Lastly, don't shoot when it's fully dark outside. Try to capture that late dusk light where just enough of the skin will be visible to give the shot some depth [source: NYIP].
The danger of going on a leaf-peeping tour -- or, yes, leaf-peeping cruise -- is coming home with hundreds of pictures of rolling mountainsides covered in a patchwork quilt of orange, red and yellow. While these vistas are undeniably beautiful in person, they lose much of their power out of context. Ever sat through someone else's vacation slideshow? Now imagine that your friend took nothing but pictures of trees.
But that shouldn't stop you from photographing landscape shots during the fall. You just want to be a little more conscious of the subject, the lighting and how you're framing the shot. For starters, look for a specific focal point that automatically catches the eye. Maybe you can shoot a single red-leafed tree in a sea of yellow or a swollen river cutting through a line of majestic oaks.
Take advantage of overcast or even rainy days. Cloudy skies have an interesting effect on lighting. They diffuse light, allowing the natural colors of the leaves to really pop. Also, try to take shots of the trees from someplace other than the window of your car or the railing of the boat. Get up close to the trees and take pictures of the canopy from below. And don't forget to look down. What about the field blanketed in leaves, or leaves floating on a calm river's edge?
First of all, the whole visual allure of the jack-o'-lantern is its otherworldly internal glow. The only way to get the full effect of that glow is to photograph the subject at night. The last thing you want to do is activate the flash, which spoils the whole idea of internal lighting. But if you don't use the flash, you're likely to end up with a blurry shot.
With all of the natural beauty that competes for our attention during
the fall, it's easy to forget that this is the ideal time of year for
portrait photography. Golden fall light is flattering, especially at
dawn or dusk, when colors are muted and shadows are long.
One of the challenges of portrait photography can be filling the rest of the frame. Fall makes that a lot easier. With the subject of the portrait in sharp focus, you can let the background remain a blurred collage of fall foliage. Or bring everything into stunning relief, shooting your subject from above lying on a bed of golden leaves.
Not all portraits need to be planned and posed, of course. Fall is also a great time to capture candid portraits. Think of all of the fun family events that we celebrate in the fall: harvest festivals, Halloween, Thanksgiving. Use these naturally joyous and colorful opportunities to catch your family and friends smiling big in beautiful settings.
One of the challenges of portrait photography can be filling the rest of the frame. Fall makes that a lot easier. With the subject of the portrait in sharp focus, you can let the background remain a blurred collage of fall foliage. Or bring everything into stunning relief, shooting your subject from above lying on a bed of golden leaves.
Not all portraits need to be planned and posed, of course. Fall is also a great time to capture candid portraits. Think of all of the fun family events that we celebrate in the fall: harvest festivals, Halloween, Thanksgiving. Use these naturally joyous and colorful opportunities to catch your family and friends smiling big in beautiful settings.
Here are some tricks from the New York Institute of Photography. First, load up the jack-o'-lantern with several candles, not just a single flicker. The more light you can generate from within the pumpkin, the sharper your photo will be. Next, you have to use a tripod. When shooting in low light, there's no other way to get clear results. Lastly, don't shoot when it's fully dark outside. Try to capture that late dusk light where just enough of the skin will be visible to give the shot some depth [source: NYIP].
The danger of going on a leaf-peeping tour -- or, yes, leaf-peeping cruise -- is coming home with hundreds of pictures of rolling mountainsides covered in a patchwork quilt of orange, red and yellow. While these vistas are undeniably beautiful in person, they lose much of their power out of context. Ever sat through someone else's vacation slideshow? Now imagine that your friend took nothing but pictures of trees.
But that shouldn't stop you from photographing landscape shots during the fall. You just want to be a little more conscious of the subject, the lighting and how you're framing the shot. For starters, look for a specific focal point that automatically catches the eye. Maybe you can shoot a single red-leafed tree in a sea of yellow or a swollen river cutting through a line of majestic oaks.
Take advantage of overcast or even rainy days. Cloudy skies have an interesting effect on lighting. They diffuse light, allowing the natural colors of the leaves to really pop. Also, try to take shots of the trees from someplace other than the window of your car or the railing of the boat. Get up close to the trees and take pictures of the canopy from below. And don't forget to look down. What about the field blanketed in leaves, or leaves floating on a calm river's edge?
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