Autumn preparation - some simple tips

Autumn is just around the corner, and with this in mind it’s a good idea to start planning for the types of subjects you’d like to shoot. In my experience planning especially at this time of year is crucial given the relatively small window of time you have to make images. It’s really key to work smartly and efficiently and being prepared to pivot your plans if needed.

Autumn conditions in the UK are highly variable and fragile due to our extremely changeable climate. Frustratingly, the position of the UK in relation to the Jetstream means our autumns can be both spectacular and anti-climatic in equal measure, no two are the same. But there are things you can do to increase your chances of success even if the weather isn’t ideal….

Know your trees

Sounds simple, but knowing how the transition of autumn affects the differing types of trees is important. Generally silver birch, the most delicate type, turn in colour quite early. As a guide I’d say mid-October is a great time to shoot scenes involving silver birch. Leave it too long though and these trees are often bare from leaf drop before the season has got into full swing. Following on from this trees like Beech and Oak turn colour last, so it’s important to factor this in to any shoots you plan. It’s easy to get caught out by thinking autumn colour transition occurs in a linear fashion, it doesn’t.

Polarisers – a key tool but don’t overuse them!

It’s often repeated that you should always use a polariser in Autumn, as they cut down reflected light on things like wet foliage or rocks, thus increasing contrast and colour saturation at a time when vibrant colour is abundant. While this is reasonable advice, knowing when to use the polariser on autumn colour is crucial. In my experience overuse of the polariser on woodland scenes in particular can lead to reduced depth in the picture, with the light play between highlights and shadows somewhat lessened when the polariser is set too strong, rendering the scene quite flat and lacking three-dimensionality, despite having lots of vibrant colours. Mark Littlejohn, probably the best exponent of woodland photography in the UK, almost never uses one. So, my advice here is experiment with this – use it half strength occasionally, see what the effect is. There are certainly times when seeing all that colour in full effect is nice, but also it can become overpowering on occasion so just keep an open mind.

Don’t build autumn up in your head

As photographers we understandably build up in our head the autumn period, daydreaming about crisp misty mornings and soft pastel sunrises. The reality is somewhat different as I alluded to earlier, so it’s important to firstly temper expectations but secondly, have a clear plan of perhaps two or three types of images you’d like to focus on capturing during autumn. Don’t spread yourself too thin chasing too many shots. It’s important to keep in mind that for those perfect autumnal conditions to come together, a lot of things have to line up weather-wise, as well of course your own time and availability as you’ll likely be fitting photography around your day job. The window of ‘peak’ autumn colour is really quite small, so don’t be too hard on yourself if you don’t come away from this period with lots of images. In my experience autumn is a wonderful but fleeting period where I don’t put too much pressure on myself. If I get some great images, lovely, but if not, the winter period that follows gives me a much greater time period to focus on.

Subjects which suit the light you have

Much like any other time of year, but perhaps even more relevent during autumn, choosing the right subjects for the prevailing conditions is always vital.

During harsh light days where there’s less relief from clouds, look for subjects which suit silhouettes - think a nice lone tree set against a dark hillside for example. Look to exclude the sky where possible and focus more on shapes and patterns. The example middle right is one such occasion where having scouted the location extensively it became an ideal location on harsh light days where the afternoon sun spotlights these lovely lone silver birch against a dark craggy hillside.

Lakes, woods, rivers and streams are good subjects for photography during overcast or foggy days, the absence of harsh light makes those autumnal colours pop even more. If you’re prepared properly with the correct clothing and can accept getting wet, there’s few things better than shooting a damp autumn woodland in the rain. The example right is one such occasion, where I stood under a brolly for 2 hours making images in ideal woodland conditions. The rain provides the required softening to the background which is a great alternative to shooting in mist and in all likelihood the type of conditions you’re more likely to encounter.