Red and yellow and orange, oh my! It’s just about to officially be fall, and you know what that means: gorgeous colors everywhere begging to be photographed.
But fall colors can be a tad tricky to capture accurately, so we’re giving you some tips to get it juuust right. Put on your cutest autumn accessories, grab your camera, and let’s go!
1. Polarize It
Use a polarising filter on your DSLR lens or a clip-on polarising lens for the camera one your phone.
Wait, Polar-what?
A polarizer is like a teeny tiny set of mini blinds that block light from only one angle. So it blocks only the harshest of highlights–or the reflection in a window–and still lets in all the other light to capture a glare-free scene.
Why use it?
Not only does a polarizer reduce glare on things like leaves so you don’t lose any of that amazing color, it also helps saturate your colors so they really pop. This is especially helpful for making a blue sky even more blue!
And it’s easy to use, too. Whether you’re using a filter on your DSLR or a lens on your phone, just rotate the outer wheel of the polarizer until you’re satisfied with what you see in your shot.
2. Underexpose (Just Slightly)
It may seem that brighter is always better, but try keeping your fall shots a bit on the darker side by underexposing ’em.
Why?
Underexposing your shots is another helpful way to keep your colors deep and dynamic! If you overexpose you risk losing some saturation, resulting in washed-out tones.
How?
On your DSLR, lower the exposure compensation to between -0.5EV and -1.0EV. On your iPhone, long-tap the screen until a brightness slider appears. Swipe down to make the shot darker.
3. Experiment With White Balance
It’s tempting to trust the auto setting, but try different white balances until you find one that best complements your subject and light!
Why?
The auto white balance settings may leave you with cooler rather than warmer tones, which will turn your pretty yellows into not-so-pretty greens. A setting like “cloudy” or “daylight” will keep things warmer!
4. Shoot During Golden Hours
Grab your camera right after sunrise or right before sunset. These are the “golden hours” of the day and they’re ideal for shooting autumnal colors!
Why?
The lighting during golden hours is very soft and warm (they don’t call it golden for nothin’!). This light bring out the reds, yellows, and golds of autumn leaves. Your shots will look truly magical when taken at this time of day.
More tips?
Overcast days are also great for capturing deep, saturated tones ’cause harsh sunlight won’t be around to wash out your colors!
