Cover photo by masa
※ cizucu-certified writer masa contributed this magazine article.
As temperatures drop, the season of autumn foliage has arrived once again. Autumn leaves are a captivating subject that beautifully represent the transition of seasons.
While vibrant autumn leaves may seem photogenic from any angle, capturing trees full of leaves in an impactful way can be surprisingly challenging. Let’s explore some key points to keep in mind when photographing autumn foliage.
Choose the Right Lighting and Timing
As with everyday snapshots, paying attention to how light is incorporated is even more important in autumn foliage photography. If the contrast in brightness is too low, the leaves may appear flat and lack depth. By incorporating light and emphasizing contrasts, you can create striking photos with a sense of dimension.
For this reason, shooting in forests or mountainous areas where light is scarce can be more challenging. Parks, temples, or tree-lined streets where light is more accessible are great options for beginners. Additionally, warm-colored light complements autumn leaves well, so shooting during the golden hour, when the sun begins to set, can result in warm, seasonal photos.
Shoot in Aperture Priority Mode
For vibrant subjects like autumn leaves, using bokeh to blur the background can be an effective technique. On the other hand, narrowing the aperture allows you to capture the intricate details of the leaves across the entire frame. There’s no right or wrong approach—adjusting the aperture based on the situation and your preferences can help you take more captivating photos.
When heading out to photograph autumn leaves, it’s recommended to shoot in Aperture Priority Mode (A or Av mode). During daytime shoots, set the shutter speed to auto and adjust the ISO sensitivity based on the camera and lighting conditions. Then, simply change the aperture to achieve your desired photo.
Change Your Perspective to Find Subjects
When you see beautifully colored ginkgo or maple trees, it’s easy to focus solely on the trees themselves. However, to create diverse works, it’s essential to explore autumn leaves from various perspectives.
For example, try focusing on fallen leaves for close-up shots or capturing the vibrant colors reflected on water surfaces. While it’s natural to look up at the beautiful foliage, occasionally looking down can also lead to unique and compelling compositions.
Things to Keep in Mind When Photographing Autumn Leaves
As mentioned earlier, incorporating light is crucial, but when photographing detailed subjects like tree branches, be mindful of chromatic aberration (color fringing that appears on the edges of high-contrast subjects).
While chromatic aberration isn’t always a dealbreaker, consider your lens and post-processing capabilities to ensure the final result matches your intended style, especially when shooting against backlight.
Additionally, achieving natural colors is an important consideration. While artificially enhancing the vibrant hues of autumn leaves is one way to express creativity, keeping the colors close to their natural tones often results in more universally appealing photos that resonate with viewers.
