It’s almost the time of year again when deciduous trees burst into vibrant colors, causing photographers to run for their cameras. Some parts of the United States are famous for their brilliant fall color displays, but no matter where you live you should be able to find some signs of the coming autumn season.

Here are five tips to help you make the most of this great photographic opportunity.

1. Pay attention to the time of day you are shooting.
Early morning and late afternoon are usually considered the best time to shoot. One hour after sunrise and one hour before sunset are called the “magic hour” because the sunlight is softer and produces long, low-contrast shadows. The warm color of the light will also help to make the fall colors stand out and glow. The general rule is to shoot when your shadow is longer than you are tall.


Les feuilles magiques by darkpatator on Flickr

2. How to shoot when midday is your only option.
When the sun is directly overhead you won’t get the dramatic shadows and colors of the morning or evening, but there is still a lot you can do. Bright, intense noon light is perfect for backlighting fall colors. Consider getting up close and filling the frame with a single leaf, being careful to get the sun directly behind the leaf. If your camera can focus close enough to do this, you’ll end up with a fascinating photograph of the internal structure of the leaf. Try the same thing with a whole tree, but be careful about lens flare.


Sycamore Leaf by Clearly Ambiguous on Flickr

3. Lens accessories can also add drama to your photos.
Polarizing filters have the effect of darkening blue skies, giving them a deep intense color instead of a washed out look. Reflections can also be reduced with the use of these filters, which can help you get more intense colors in the leaves, especially if it has been raining.


Yellow leaves by jpctalbot on Flickr

4. Take some time to consider the composition of your images.
The vibrant colors are beautiful, but you’ll soon get tired of images that are just a jumble of colors. Look for interesting tree trunks, creeks, rocks or even mushrooms to include in your shot. Remember things like the rule of thirds—which says to place the subject of your photo 1/3 of the height or width of the frame away from the edge to give it a more interesting, unbalanced look.


A photo of wild mushrooms by elbfoto on Flickr

In addition, look for lead-in lines to include in your photo. A lead-in line is any compositional element that extends from the edge of your photo into the middle, with the best results being elements that come from the corners.


Langholz by Wolfgang Staudt on Flickr

5. Change your point of view!
Don’t take all your pictures from eye level—that’s what everyone is used to seeing, so it’s easy to get bored. Get down on the ground and shoot straight up, or find tiny things that people might miss if they weren’t paying attention. If you have a tripod and there is a breeze, play with the motion of the leaves. If you set your shutter speed to 1/25th of a second or slower, the leaves will blur in the direction of their motion, creating a beautiful, painterly effect.


4:23 by stop.down on Flickr

Most importantly, however, have fun and enjoy the short-lived photographic opportunity!