Shooting Autumn
Ross is a multi-award-winning professional photographer with a lifelong love of nature and the outdoors. He’s a Benro Ambassador, LEE Master and Nikon Alumni, and is also the author of eight books.
It is that time of year again when the hours of daylight are growing shorter and there is a crisp, cool bite to the air each morning. The landscape is changing, with an array of fiery colours replacing the fresh, green foliage of spring and summer. The light is more attractive thanks to the sun’s lower position in the sky, and moisture in the atmosphere produces glistening dew and eerie mists. The weather is generally less predictable, resulting in dramatic skies and gorgeous transient light. Berries, seeds and the fruits of autumn are everywhere, along with toadstools, decorating gardens and woodland. The fall is nature’s most bountiful time of year – and it can prove hugely fruitful for photography too.
Surely no season provides more colour or seasonal opportunities than autumn. But to get the most from it, you need to plan, prepare and anticipate. A little inspiration and some creative ideas don’t go amiss, either. Which is why we’ve compiled a collection of top tips to ensure you’re ready for the seasonal delights throughout September, October and November. To make the most of the season, carry a range of focal lengths, from wide-angle to telephoto, plus a close-up attachment. Wrap up snug and make a thermos of tea or coffee – it’s time to head outdoors and shoot autumn.
Autumn’s fruit
Nature’s harvest is abundant, providing plenty of great close-up subjects and the opportunity to be creative with your photographic compositions
1 FUN WITH FUNGI
As summer’s warmth collides with the cool dampness of autumn, the conditions are ideal for weird and wonderful fungi to appear on lawns, tree stumps and among leaf litter. The biggest explosion is within ancient woodland, so autumn is a great time to visit a local wood. Fungi come in all shapes and sizes, but many are quite small in stature, so a macro lens or close-up attachment is the best choice. They do have a habit of growing in low, awkward places, so carry a groundsheet to keep you and your kit clean and dry
