Photo Techniques Landscapes : Fall Foliage

4 Try out various compositions

Take an arboreal close-up (wide angle)Take a snippet of fall foliage gradationTake close-ups of leavesPay attention to fallen leaves
Looking down at the rootsLooking up from a low angleTaking in the whole tree from the front

Take an arboreal close-up (wide angle)

Leaves take the leading role when shooting foliage, but think also about the tree's branches and trunk. The angle when looking down on the roots from eye level is also good, but shooting low-angle shots (from a low position) while boldly looking up through a wide-angle lens can emphasize the tree's strength.

Looking down at the rootsLooking up from a low angleTaking in the whole tree from the front
The first snow accumulates on the tress as their colors start changingThe green inside the red looks freshGradations found within the bluish tones of shade

Take a snippet of fall foliage gradation

In talking about fall foliage, it's easy to generalize, but in truth there is a lot of color variation between different trees and even among individual leaves. Try taking pictures of green, yellowish green, and yellow colors or even the colors as they change to red. Capturing such beautiful gradations makes for pictures you'll never get tired of looking at.

The first snow accumulates on the tress as their colors start changingThe green inside the red looks freshGradations found within the bluish tones of shade
Letting light pass through leaves with nice colors and shapesTaken gently, making use of blur

Take close-ups of leaves

Try paying attention to individual leaves. Even if foliage looks beautiful in large volumes, it is surprising how few leaves actually have nice colors or shapes. Finding the ones that do and shooting them, however, is fun. To get leaves to overlap, if you aim for them with a standard to telephoto lens, it is easier to shoot them in such a way that the gaps between them become less noticeable.

Letting light pass through leaves with nice colors and shapesTaken gently, making use of blur
Including the tree’s roots to show how they spreadAfter yesterday’s rain and windWet leaves can look glamorousThe colors of the sky reflected in a puddle

Pay attention to fallen leaves

When the fall foliage is at its most colorful peak is not the only time to shoot, though. Fallen leaves are also quite photogenic. There is beauty in the figure of a leaf after it has completed its purpose and before it begins to decay. Especially just after a rain, wet leaves look particularly beautiful. Try looking down while you are walking. Something you would not normally notice is almost sure to catch your eye.

Including the tree’s roots to show how they spreadAfter yesterday’s rain and windWet leaves can look glamorousThe colors of the sky reflected in a puddle
Take an arboreal close-up (wide angle)Take a snippet of fall foliage gradationTake close-ups of leavesPay attention to fallen leaves
Bring in the surrounding scenery
Emphasize the main subject
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