Make those Autumn leaves POP.
Autumn leaf color is a phenomenon that affects the normal green leaves of many deciduous trees and shrubs by which they take on, during a few weeks in the autumn season, various shades of yellow, orange, red, purple, and brown. Although some autumn coloration occurs wherever deciduous trees are found, the most brightly coloured autumn foliage is found in the northern hemisphere and in particular North America.
Conditions needed for ideal autumn foliage include a warm and wet spring, typical summer weather, and mild, sunny autumn days with cool, crisp evenings, Conversely, if autumn daytime temperatures are too warm for a relatively long period, the colours may be less intense, and foliage season may extend later into the autumn. Different tree species produce varied hues of foliage—from the brilliant reds of certain maple varieties, to the golden yellow of aspen and poplar, to the drab brown of an elm.
Knowing when and where to go is a key to capturing great autumn foliage images. The right trees must be present, and they need to be the right colour to maximise your opportunities.
Autumn photography is all about the colour, the reds, orange, yellow and browns of the deciduous tress against the background of green conifers and bright blue autumn skies.
The best time of day to photograph the autumn colors is early in the morning or in the evening. The light is softer at these times and can produce deep rich colors. The midday light can be harsh especially on a very sunny day but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t shoot at midday, just be aware of the conditions.
Sunny days crank up the brightness and contrast, casting lots of deep shadows in wooded areas. If you’re taking photographs within a park or forest, use the shadows and backlit leaves for dramatic effect in your images.
Think about using a polarising filter on a bright day-coloured leaves washed out by reflective light will become saturated with colour again.
The midday light can be harsh especially on a very sunny day but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t shoot at midday, just be aware of the conditions.
Don’t be afraid of the autumn rains. Wet colorful scenes can be very spectacular. Showing drops of water just about to fall from a leaf, branch or berry can make for a very artistic shot especially if you can capture any reflections in the drop.
Once back home you can use your digital editing skills to further enhance the colours.
Adjust the warmth of the photo with White Balance
Crop out any unwanted parts of the image and straighten up.
Pull out shadows with the shadow slider
Reduce highlights and blown ut areas with the highlight slider
Increase saturation and vibrance. Be careful to keep this subtle. In more advanced packages you can select the colours to work with, so for autumn, the reds, orange and yellow channels.
Sharpen up your photo
