I love all seasons for photography.

Each season has it’s own beauty and it’s own potential to yield beautiful images.

But I suspect that I may have agreement among many photographers in saying that autumn (or fall) has that something extra that other seasons don’t offer in the same way, and that is abundance and vibrance of colour.

YouTube is currently full of videos from photographers offering tips and ideas for getting the best out of your autumn photography, and I'm grateful for these as I always pick up something new to add to my own photography practice.

But the truth is, even with all these ideas under your belt, when you go out with your camera, and are faced with colour and beauty all around you, it’s hard to know where to start, how to turn this abundance of colour into a worthwhile photograph, how to capture an image that truly showcases the beauty of this wonderful season.

Over the last few weeks I have been getting out as much as possible to photograph autumn. And it feels different this year. It feels as though I really do want to showcase the beauty of the season, not just have a few photographs to say I photographed in autumn.

Now that I have a bank of images that I quite like, I want to share what I have learned this season and share 3 tips, tips that are not just for making better autumn photographs, but which are also ways to use your photography to showcase the abundance of beauty which this season brings.

PREPARE

As the season began to turn from summer to autumn, I decided to pay attention to the changes that were happening around me. I watched for subtle signs of the approach of autumn in the woodland, in the countryside, and in the urban parks. I noticed how the summer flowers, many times my macro subjects, were dying away, while fungi were appearing in abundance on fallen tree stumps and along the edges of paths.

Being an explorer of the in-coming season gave me a greater appreciation for potential autumn subjects, a greater readiness for the season to come and a greater connection to my resulting photographs.

DIVERSIFY

Often in the past when I was ‘photographing autumn’ I tended to focus on the wider landscape of colourful trees and leaves, frequently believing that a pretty scene would translate into a beautiful image. Walking along a tree lined street or a path covered with a multitude of different coloured leaves, may provide a feast of autumn colour for the eyes but an image of such a scene is often a disappointment.

The problem is that although these scenes are beautiful to see they are just too ‘busy’ for a decent composition.

This year I have taken a different approach. I have looked for more intimate autumnal scenes, or I have tried to pick out small details in bigger scenes, such as examples of vivid colours in the midst of dull browns and greens.

I have also visited several locations and used a variety of focal lengths to gain a range of perspectives. I have experimented with wide-angle shots, used a macro lens for close-up work and taken a standard zoom lens on walkabout down country lanes, exploring the hedgerows as I walked.

I have attempted to use natural light to my advantage, preferring it’s effect to that of an artificial light source, but given the generally dull conditions experienced this season I did try (unsuccessfully) to make some images using a  portable light. I have much to learn in this area!

Another option I used was to get out early for my autumn photography. All autumn subjects benefit from the soft light which is available just after sunrise and just before sunset. This light gives a soft,  more painterly image, which I like. The low-angle sun can enhance textures and the long shadows it creates add drama to an image. Alternatively, I used the sun to backlight my subject to create different effects.

Misty autumn mornings are great for capturing dewdrops or frosty spiderwebs, while going out after a rain shower will present you with beautiful raindrops to photograph. They may not be the conventional autumn images that you see but these conditions are a natural part of the season and are worth documenting too.

Taking a range of different viewpoints can help you see more of the autumn scenery that exists all around us. You can get down low, get close with a macro lens, or shoot from a creative angle to get a different perspective. Often a phone camera can be used to create interesting viewpoints that are not normally seen.

Finally, since autumn will be all around you for a short while, why not try to bring the autumn theme into your images and interpret the autumn season in your own way.

Having chosen to diversify with the autumn theme this year I now have a diverse set of images showcasing this season.

KEEP IT SIMPLE

Autumn photography often comprises colourful wide-angle images photographed with powerful lenses which can maximise the beauty of the scene. For those of us with lesser equipment it can be a better option to keep our compositions simple and try to capture some of the more accessible features of the autumn landscape.

Fungi make for a great subject and can provide a range of potential images ranging from individual mushrooms to groups of fungi in a miniature landscape.

Groups of trees or individual interesting trees in a woodland can be used to create simple yet compelling autumn compositions, which can be enhanced by the use of leading lines or by using overhanging branches as a natural frame.

Autumn foliage on walls or old buildings can provide colourful abstract images or serve as subjects for ICM (intentional camera movement) photography.

And if you really want to include some of those colourful leaves on pathways, why not use them as foreground interest for a subject such as a bridge or tree.

Ferns can be a difficult subject to photograph in an interesting way but with some creative thinking you can produce some simple, captivating images. They are in abundance in autumn, and it can be a mistake to ignore their potential.

For those starting out in photography, those with less experience or less expensive equipment, keeping images simple is a great way to showcase the beauty of autumn while still having some very satisfying images to show for your efforts.

FINALLY...

Autumn is beautiful, it’s photogenic and it offers a rewarding experience for photographers. But it’s also short and one day or night of strong wind can strip away much of the colour, so why not get out while you can and showcase the beauty of this wonderful season.