You
can shoot pictures of fall
colors, carved pumpkins, or
children dressed Halloween
costumes. Besides photographing
colorful leaves, look for
any subject matter that says
"fall," such as
pumpkin patches or old barns.
Because
there are so many colorful
photo opportunities around
every corner, don't overlook
black-and-white photography.
Photographer Ansel Adams shot
many fall images in black-and-white.
There are a lot of great black-and-white
films on the market, and if
you're shooting digitally,
you can experiment by turning
color images to black-and-white.
Fall
color is so pretty, it can
make even simple snapshots
look good. Nonetheless, you
should give your picture-taking
a little more thought. Composition
is very important, as it is
in most photography. You may
be tempted to shoot large
areas of colorful trees randomly,
but don't forget about the
smaller picture, which can
be as simple as a fallen leaf
on a pathway, or the reflection
of fall color in a mountain
stream. Complementary colors,
like yellow leaves against
a bright blue sky, create
dramatic contrast. Mixing
broad views with more intimate
close-ups will give your photos
a lot of visual variety.
Also,
be aware of lighting conditions
when shooting fall foliage.
Because these colors are so
bright, they photograph well
in a variety of lighting conditions.
When it's sunny, take your
photography early or late
in the day for most dramatic
results. Take some pictures
of fall leaves backlit by
the sun—the leaves will
take on a beautiful glow.
Overcast
skies also provide subtle
lighting with no shadows,
resulting in fall colors that
take on soft, muted tones.
You may want to concentrate
on shooting nature close-ups
and exclude the sky from your
pictures on gray days like
these, as the sky will appear
too bright and washed-out
in your photos. Also, large
areas of blanched-out skies
can fool your compact camera's
meter, and you'll wind up
with a lot of dark, underexposed
pictures.
Don't
put your camera away during
inclement weather, except
during a heavy downpour or
a blizzard. You can get some
appealing photos during a
light rain or snowfall—the
colors of fall leaves become
very saturated when wet, and
a light dusting of snow can
lend a frosty texture to them.
When
you're out in bad weather,
keep your point-and-shoot
camera inside your jacket
or another warm place until
you're ready to use it. A
plastic bag will keep your
camera dry, but if it gets
wet, dry it off immediately.
If you're going to a very
wet area, consider getting
a single-use waterproof camera,
or even a compact camera that's
splashproof. These cameras
operate well under most inclement-weather
conditions, as long as they're
not submerged.
Finally, you’ll want
to finish off your fall photos
by mounting and framing for
a perfect presentation to
be proud of. |
