Fall is one of the most photographed times of the year and for a very good reason. With brilliant reds, glowing yellows, and golden light pouring through the trees, it’s hard to resist picking up my camera and heading into any forest I can find. Since fall colors are so popular, being creative especially matters. To make my images stand out, I needed to go beyond the normal shots and look for fresh ways to capture both new and familiar scenes.
During a recent trip to Grand Teton National Park during Wyoming’s peak foliage, I challenged myself to think differently about how I approached fall colors. I wanted to shoot beyond the standard mountain-and-leaf combination and also focus on time, color, and depth as much as possible. In this blog, I’m going to share a handful of creative approaches that helped me do just that, and assisted in having some of my favorite images of the year fall (pun intended) right into my lap.
1. Take Note of Specific Colors and Fragile Light
The first key to creating unique fall images is learning to observe light and color in a more intentional way. We tend to think of fall as one big explosion of color, but when you slow down, you’ll start to notice the subtleties of not just the colors, but the light as well. Maybe it’s the faint orange glow hitting the edge of aspens at sunrise or the soft pastel reflections dancing across still water, but these conditions and moments slowly become more apparent and inviting to your shutter.
To kick off my Tetons trip, I journeyed before dawn to Schwabacher Landing and waited for the first light to kiss the peaks. The aspens along the waterline were mostly yellow, but what caught my attention was a specific yellow tree that was aligned perfectly below the Grand Teton. Instead of rushing to frame the entire mountain range, I spent time observing how I could emphasize this single tree that seemed to stand taller than the rest.
Capturing that fragile light took patience and the right setup. My XC-M Professional Carbon Fiber Tripod was the perfect tool for this morning shoot. Its lightweight build, courtesy of the carbon fiber materials, and compact size made walking down to the shoreline easy.
Now given the popularity of Schwabacher Landing, the flexibility I had to move around was quite limited. I had to frame carefully and fine-tune my composition without exiting my own personal bubble. I had no issue finding the perfect composition from the top of my tripod, ensuring I didn’t miss the very limited window of the best light possible.
2. Include Architecture for Added Context and Balance
One of the most surprising, yet effective, ways that refreshed my shooting on this trip was incorporating man-made structures into my scenes. The contrast between the natural world and human elements added a sense of story, place, and time to my images, and I believe it can do the same for yours.
Once I departed Schwabacher Landing, I spent the remainder of my morning photographing the famous barns at Mormon Row. The wood textures of the barn contrasted beautifully against the backdrop of the mountain peaks, and although the fall colors may have been less than vibrant, including the architecture gave the scene some additional lift. It wasn’t just about the color of the leaves (or lack thereof) anymore, but also the human element of the location.
When working with architecture, pay attention to balance and the rule of thirds. Try positioning the structure so that it complements rather than competes with the surrounding elements and colors. Sometimes it’s as simple as letting the warm tones of the structure echo the warmth of the trees, or using its space to balance the viewer’s eye as it wanders deeper into the scene.
3. Flood Your Scene with One Color
When fall colors are at their peak, it can be tempting to capture everything all at once. Sometimes, however, simplicity creates a stronger impact and a more immediate reaction for the viewer. One of my favorite techniques is to intentionally overwhelm the frame with a single color.
On my way back to Colorado after my weekend in Wyoming, I found a grove of aspen trees inviting me to frolic, and when the aspens call, you answer. Instead of standing on the edge of the grove and shooting wide, I dove in and stood beneath the canopy and aimed my camera almost straight up. The result was a photo drenched entirely in yellow, with just the faint outlines of tree trunks leading the eye into the center to the limited blue sky. By filling the frame with one dominant hue, I created an immersive image that (hopefully) invites the viewer to feel as if they, too, are under the canopy of yellow.
When working with bright, saturated tones like this, using a circular polarizer filter will make all the difference. By reducing glare from reflective leaves and enhancing the saturation, it allows the color to feel deeper and more natural without being immediately oversaturated. ProMaster’s HGX CPL Filters have multi-coated glass that maintains sharpness and clarity while balancing the scene’s contrast, which is perfect for shooting under vibrant canopies of colorful foliage. It’s a simple tool that helps your images retain that immersive, true-to-life feel straight out of camera. By far, this filter is the most valuable tool in my entire kit.
You can also experiment with exposure and white balance when shooting single color dominant images like this. I encourage you to try underexposing to maintain texture in the leaves, or warming up the white balance to deepen the overall tone of your shot. You can always change this when post-processing, but these subtle adjustments in the field can help push your creative vision further in the moment.
Summary
Creativity in fall photography comes down to three things: timing, intimacy, and surprise. Instead of chasing the grandest view or brightest tree, look for the details that tell a story. Be open to what nature is offering you rather than forcing the shot. Take advantage of what moments catch you off guard and try capturing the feelings that you immediately react with. The subtle light before sunrise, the aged boards of an old barn, or the single color that takes over your frame are all moments that transform ordinary scenes into something memorable.
Gear can’t create creativity, but it can absolutely elevate it. Tools like the HGX CPL filter and a lightweight tripod like the XC-M Carbon Fiber Tripod, all make the shooting experience easier when it comes time to focus on what matters most: being present and prepared for this short, but powerful fall season. Seek the fragile light, find beauty in what humans have created, and don’t be afraid to go all-in on a single color. This season changes fast, but with a little preparation and a plethora of creativity, your photos will reflect this season in ways you could only dream of.
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