Fall Foliage for Everyone

Molly & Michael. Getting married in 8 days.

You see fall in all it’s multi-hued grandeur.

You take your camera and shoot away.

And you get home and wonder why you didn’t quite capture the rich, eye-popping color you saw with your own eyes.

While I am nobody’s idea of a landscape photographer, there are a few basic tips that I can share to improve upon your images of fall at it’s peak.

1. Stay away from midday sun.

Remember how bright midday sun washes out people? It does the same thing for fall colors. To really appreciate those gorgeous shades of red, orange and yellow, shoot in the early morning or late afternoon and let the soft tones of light bathe the leaves.

cc by Rod the Rabid Rodent

2. If you can’t stay away from the midday sun, use it to your advantage.

Take a leaf or leaves, and shoot with the sun behind them, backlighting the leaf.

cc by clairity

3. Think small.

Sometimes the whole vista is just too much to take in. Think small and get close, look for some stunning detail in the fall scenery.

cc by Lost My Headache

4. Make it pop.

For the real vivid colors of fall, a polarizing filter on your camera can’t be beat. Don’t have a SLR or a polarizing filter? USE YOUR POLARIZED SUNGLASSES! Seriously. Give it a try and you might be surprised at the intensity of your blue skies and orange leaves.

cc by psoup

Happy fall, everyone! Can’t wait to see what you shoot this month.

And this is my “fall” photo for the fall theme at Stacy’s today,plus my entry into the fall photo contest at Hip Momma’s Journal.

Happy love, Molly & Michael!

Anna Sawin

Anna Sawin is a Connecticut-based portrait, wedding, and editorial photographer. She lives in the shoreline town of Stonington with her family and has discovered the perfect cupcake. Just ask, she is willing to share her secret.

7 Comments

  1. Molly on October 16, 2008 at 7:57 am

    That last picture? One of my absolute favorites. Thank you again 🙂

  2. thelandofka on October 16, 2008 at 8:30 am

    Those are great engagement shots! Nice tips, too. I love overcast skies or late day sunshine to shoot the fall the colors.

  3. JenBun on October 16, 2008 at 11:06 am

    ACK, I WISH we got fall!!! I am just CRAVING it right now…

    I Loooooooooooooooove those pics of Molly and Michael. Gorgeous!

    Happy love!! ♥ ♥

  4. Maggie on October 16, 2008 at 11:03 pm

    Great tips!

  5. MelodyA. on October 17, 2008 at 6:58 am

    Hmmm, I think we may have to go back to New England to get Fall. It has been cooler here though. But it could also go back up to the 90s next week.

    Thanks for the entry!

  6. Christina on October 17, 2008 at 10:00 am

    One more tip to add to the list of how to get great fall colors – don’t live in the south! 😉

    I’m so glad you’re doing these photo tip posts – they are great! And I love that last photo.

  7. Maya on October 22, 2008 at 12:21 pm

    Love these tips Anna!

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anna

Anna Sawin is a Connecticut-based portrait, wedding, and editorial photographer. She lives in the shoreline town of Stonington with her family and has discovered the perfect cupcake. Just ask, she is willing to share her secret.