Peak fall color is just around the corner here in the DC area. Explore some of these tips to help improve your fall captures.
1. Play with opposite colors ion the color wheel. Orange leaves against a blue sky, purple asters mixed with yellow mums.
2. This is a perfect time to think about textures; close ups of crisp leaves, intricate seedpods, leaves carpeting the forest floor, etc.
3. It’s a great time to capture friends or family. Plan a group photo session with a lovely fall scene in the background.
4. Look for scenes that can be beautifully framed with fall foliage.
5. Play with your White Balance setting. Try using Shade even when its sunny to give your fall frames a warmer, more vibrant look.
6. A circular polarizing filter will help to remove glare on the leaves, even on a cloudy day. They’ll also add increased saturation and contrast.
7. Watch the weather. On a sunny day, early morning and late afternoon are going to give you the prettiest lighting opportunities. Cloudy days are great for soft, even light and give you the flexibility to shoot at any time of the day.
8. Get the wide shots but continue getting closer to get the tight details.
9. Get Creative! Try intentional camera movement for some abstract colorful shots filled with reds, yellows and oranges.
- While shooting, zoom the lens, turn the camera, or move it up or down.
- Set a small aperture (f16 or 22) and a low ISO so you can use a slow enough shutter speed for the intended movement.
- You may need a polarizer to help prevent overexposure.
10. We all seem to be busier these days but don't despair if you can't take advantage of all the photo ops, just make yourselves a note of the places you'll try to enjoy next year.
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