The weather is turning chillier, but don’t let that be a reason to not go out to photograph. Fall is full of activities that you don’t get to experience the rest of the year! Keep your camera with you and don’t miss these opportunities.
Fruit orchards and vegetable patches: It is time to pick the fruits of this year’s labors! Fruits and vegetables are at full blazing color and ripe for the picking. It is so much more fun walking through a pumpkin patch to search for the perfect pumpkin for jack-o-lantern carving or the squash to go along with dinner. There is more of a photo opportunity than walking the vegetable aisle at the supermarket.
Sports: Games that fall in the morning or early evening provide some great light for your shots. The long shadows and the way the sun highlight people make for some spectacular photos. Days that are overcast or after dark provide some challenges for the photographer. A tripod will eliminate camera shake, and open your aperture a bit to let in more light.
Raking the leaves: Who hasn’t loved to pile all of the leaves together to make a soft spot to fall into? Or toss someone special into?
Nature walk: Don’t forget your jacket! This time of year is cooler, but completely worth the chilly fingers to enjoy nature at its best! Try experimenting with framing your shots in a new way. If you normally take wide landscape photographs, use a macro lens or setting and get up close to those colors! If you normally take closeups of bugs and flowers, try composing a shot with interesting landmarks and colors in your area. Taking a day trip to close-by scenery that you don’t get to see everyday is a great way to find some inspiration!
Set a Halloween scene: Last year my kids spent hours stretching glow in the dark spider webs all across our trees and house and then installed a black light. Do some experimenting with low light photography and go for a “spooky” look. A tripod is necessary for low light shooting. If you don’t have one, find something sturdy to brace your camera to (such as a fence post) and holding it there firmly to avoid camera shake. Experiment with different shutter speeds for different effects. If you have access to work lamps that can be set up around the scene, these are a great way to light up area meant to be seen in your photos. As you are decorating, stop and look through the lens of your camera to see how it will look in a photograph. This will help you spot ways of setting things up to be picture perfect!
Fall seems to be one of the shortest seasons of the year, but it has a multitude of offerings for the photographer. Don’t let this season pass you by without adding some great shots to your portfolio!
