8 Tips for Better Autumn Photography

If the camera was invented for only one of the four seasons, it would have to be autumn. The colours, cooler weather and threat of the long winter ahead inspires countless photographers to get out and photograph the beauty of fall. If you are one of those photographers, here are a few tips and techniques that I use.

1

MAKE IT VIVID

In the debate between shooting RAW or jpeg, I say shoot both! Like most photographers, almost all of my images have a degree of post-processing applied to them. But with today's digital cameras, I now "pre-process" my photos as well by using the various Picture Modes available on my OM SYSTEM cameras. Autumn is all about the colors so switch to the Vivid picture mode and really make them pop! Use the Super Control Panel to change the Picture Mode to Vivid. You can also adjust Sharpness, Color Saturation, and the Tone Curve. The increased color saturation is only applied to the jpeg file. Should I decide to process the RAW image I now have the jpeg as a frame of reference. The reflection below should make the difference obvious.

Another way of improving the colors in your images is to attach a circular polarizer. When adjusted properly, the polarizer will increase the color saturation of both the leaves and sky. It will also reduce glare, which is perfect if you go out after a rainfall or are photographing near water. Just remember that a polarizer is most effective when your subject is at a 90 degree angle from the sun."

2

DON’T LET THE WEATHER STOP YOU

Fall weather can certainly be unpredictable, but if you only wait for the beautiful sunny days to go shooting, you are definitely missing out. As a matter of fact, bright sunshine can wash out the colors and create unwanted glare on the leaves. Keep in mind that the first strong wind can drop those leaves and leave you with a colorful carpet and bare branches. Speaking of wind, stormy weather can also make for a great subject. If you have a weather-sealed camera like the OM-1, OM-5, E-M1 series, E-M5 series or Tough series, that's just another reason to get outside.

3

SHOOT HIGH, SHOOT LOW

Try to find some hiking trails or roadways that provide a panoramic view of the tree tops. That 1970s shag-carpet look can really add dimension and depth to an already splendid view. Of course, if you find yourself under a canopy of colour, put your camera near the ground and point it upwards. The articulating or swivel LCD on all OM SYSTEM interchangeable lens cameras can make composition easy.

5

PERFECT PORTRAITS

While you are out for your autumn hike with family and friends use the opportunity to capture some portrait shots in front of a beautiful backdrop. The sun is at a lower angle in autumn creating warmer light. You may have to bump up the exposure value by a full stop or more in order to ensure that faces are properly exposed. As well, select a wider aperture to soften the background and isolate your subjects.