Get Closer

If you find a particularly pretty leaf lying on the ground, zoom in for a more creative shot, like this aspen leaf after a rain shower. The magnification of the leaf surface through the raindrops adds an intriguing abstract feel to the photo that draws the eye. Notice that the main vein of the leaf is not centered, but on the right third of the frame—the rule of thirds again!

Lead the Eye

Another basic rule of photo composition is to lead the viewer’s eye from the bottom left to the top right of the frame. Leading the eye gives depth to the image. The picture feels three-dimensional even when it is printed on a flat page of a magazine or mounted in a frame. In this photo, the log leads the eye from bottom left to top right, while also following the rule of thirds. The edges of the log are on the vertical thirds of the frame. What’s more, the yellow maple leaf on the log, which is the main subject, is on the bottom third of the frame, not bull’s-eye centered in the photo.

Even Lighting

Here’s a different shot of maple leaves and early snow. Notice the even lighting and the fact that the snow has texture. It’s easy to blow out snow or create a “hot spot” in a photo, particularly if it’s midday and the sun is out. All photographers love the “golden hour,” just after sunrise and just before sunset, when the light is rich, but you can successfully shoot fall images any time of the day if there’s a high layer of clouds creating even light. The key is to avoid images that show a monotonous white sky, or simply get closer, as I did in this shot. By now, you can also see the rule of thirds and how the bold elements of the image—the snow and yellow maple leaves—lead the eye. In this case, it was also important that the bright snow not “flow” out of a corner of the frame.

Wet Works

One of the nicest aspects of autumn is the crisp, clear weather, but for photography, wet is better. A dry, crunchy leaf about to fall from a branch or one that’s already on the ground looks lifeless in a photo, whereas a damp leaf appears perky and bright. Moisture enhances color, like wet paint on a wall. This photo of maple leaves floating on tannin-stained water is a favorite due to the dramatic contrast between the red leaves, which virtually glow from being wet, and the black background. The pattern of the leaves on the water leads the eye, bottom left to top right, too.

Surface Tension

The pattern of the leaves on water in this shot also draws the eye bottom left to top right, and the leaves “flow” out the side, not the corner, of the image. The rule of thirds is present in the background with the reflection of the blue sky on just the right third of the frame. This is all good, but what makes this image an award-winner is the surface tension of the leaves on the water. You can feel it. Most people tend to shoot straight at (or down at) leaves. However, to capture surface tension, you need to shoot at a slight angle, which also adds depth to the photo.

Add a Person

When shooting a photo of a friend or loved one during the fall, to apply the rule of thirds, avoid putting the person in the center of the frame. There are two other tricks for making compelling images of people with a fall background, rather than just another snapshot: 1. The person(s) should look into the frame, which draws the viewers eyes toward the scene and gives depth to the photo; and 2. the person(s) should look toward the view, not at the camera, but in a way that you can still see at least some of their face. 

Level the Horizon

A big mistake that photographers often make is concentrating so much on the subject, in this case the boy hiking down the slab, that the horizon tilts. Horizons in fall panoramas should be level. Likewise, shorelines and boats on flat water should also be level.

Beyond the Maple Leaf

Not all attractive fall images need to be maple leaves. Wildlife against a colorful background or farm products harvested in the fall are just a couple of the many subjects that capture the hues of the season. Neither of these sample images is about leaves, but the dull-colored toad is on a bed of them, telling the viewer it’s autumn. The opposite effect happens in the pumpkin photo. The pumpkin, which is surrounded by drab, dead leaves, is the source of fall color. Can you see the rule of thirds in the photo of the toad and in the photo of the pumpkin? The toad’s eyes are across the top third of the frame. The pumpkin’s stem is on the left third. Lastly, if you take a photo of wildlife, be sure its eyes are in focus regardless of the season!

Bring Out the Color

There are really two ways to bring out the color in a fall image, with contrast and exposure. In the photo on the right, the colorful leaves lie in contrast behind the birch trunks in the foreground. In the photo below, leaves are in the foreground and seem to swirl upward. If the contrast in the photo wasn’t correct, the leaves in the foreground would not “separate” from the background, and the photo would look too busy. In addition, both photos are properly exposed. If a photo is too light, the color washes out. If it’s too dark, you can’t see important details.

Note: Be careful using the contrast and color saturation functions in a photo processing program like Photoshop. They tend to overdo it.

Appealing Oddballs

Sometimes an unlikely fall foliage shot catches the eye because it’s a little odd. Take this photo of a bug-eaten maple leaf. If you saw this leaf hanging from a tree on Smarts Mountain (where I took the shot), you might walk right by. However, the play of light on leaf, the hint of other leaves behind it on the dark background, and the holes somehow work. This photo, called Lacy Maple Leaf, is popular with galleries and won a national award. Of course, it has elements of a good fall image, including following the rule of thirds (the main stem and vein traverse the top third of the frame) and the use of natural contrast. But it’s also different, imperfect, which brings up perhaps the most important tip of all. Just get outside, shoot, and enjoy the spectacular
foliage! You never know what beautiful image might fall out of your camera.