Capturing the Season :: Autumn Photography Tips
Autumn 2012 , Connection
Rhythm of the Home1 CommentOne of the true joys of each season is capturing our children, our families, and our surroundings through the lens of a camera. Each season here at Rhythm of the Home we want to bring together photographers, both amateur and professional, to share the best ways to capture the light and essence of the season ahead. We hope that you will enjoy these helpful tips, as you capture all of your favorite moments.
My tip for autumn photography is push yourself past the red,yellow,orange beautiful leaves, and photograph your child candidly amongst a pumpkin patch (or vegetable garden full of squash and root crops), a farmers market with all of its autumn colors, or amongst hay baless and dried corn on the stalks. Living in the prairies, these settings are pretty easy for me to find, but if you live somewhere where you don’t have access pumpkin patches and corn crops, try taking a picture of natural grasses in the fall; I think their beauty is often overlooked! Serena Wilson Stubson
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Autumn in certainly my favorite season to photograph. The light is so rich and the colors are deep and vivid. I like to shoot in the early morning or late afternoon, before the sun is fully up or before it has set. Anytime we head out into nature (which is often), I bring my camera. The backdrop of the leaves and trees and rivers of the Pacific Northwest are stunning on their own. I take tons of photos and just keep clicking away; I edit thoroughly after the images are on our computer. I take pictures of my family hiking, or throwing stones in the river, or sitting amongst a field of pumpkins. I always take advantage of natural light and never use a flash. As the seasons change and the light gets darker, most of my photos are taken outside or by a window with the curtains wide open. Michelle Lamanet
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In Southern Arizona there are really only two seasons: hot and not so hot. The foliage in the desert doesn’t change much except for the loss of prickly pear cactus fruit and the last round of mesquite pods dropping to the ground. If you are near to a river, you might see the Cottonwood trees turn gold at the very end of the season otherwise it might go unnoticed. For good autumn pictures here in the desert, I would recommend going to a place that feels seasonal such as a pumpkin patch or corn maze. Go there in the late afternoon so you can capture the beautiful golden light. The change in light here is really key. It goes from being a harsh strong blue during the day to a softer warmer yellow. Photographing in grassy areas with deciduous trees in the late afternoon, during golden hour, will help your images get the feel of autumn even if it is still 90 degrees outside. Kathryn Pagano
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In talking to a friend last week, I told him I noticed the quality and color of the light was already changing. And I felt this surge of excitement– this is my favorite time of year. When photographing this beautiful golden light, my only true suggestion is: GET OUTSIDE! I spend my afternoons and evenings, camera in hand chasing the light. I have one favorite photo that I took of my daughter was backlit by the most golden sunset. It had been a very long day– I was arriving home at about 7 in the evening and I took the trash out. I saw that light, ran inside, grabbed my camera and coaxed Isabel into that golden glow. And in an instant. I captured her. Mary Mcleish Arteche
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Natural light is the best light, always take far more than you think you should, and remember…… often it’s the imperfect ones that unexpectedly capture the magic of the moment. Wild and Carefree Mama
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One of the best tips I received when experimenting more with photography on my blog was to always remember not to shoot in direct sunlight and to try to take photos in even lighting. When working with light, I try to play with it and use it as a tool – paying attention to how it reflects behind things or onto things in interesting ways. In autumn, I like to look for interesting colors that pop out in an otherwise neutral setting. When photographing children or adults, I try to remember to work with complimentary colors or neutrals rather than too many patterns and to capture people in their natural state, not always posed. Believe it or not many of my best pictures have not been taken with my nice camera but with my IPhone as there are now so many amazing applications available to edit and enhance with. Eileen Straiton
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