This time of year I see thousands of fall color images that are usually just record shots of a tree that has changed colors or worse a forrest of colorful trees. I think that the more a photographer shows of a given subject the less he has to say about it. The amateur photographer by taking a picture of a pretty forrest asks nothing of the viewer and often says nothing to the viewer about the scene.
As a professional photographic artist I prefer to narrow my view on most subjects and look for the unique details within a scene. I don’t do forrest and rarely photograph a whole single tree. I find far more interesting compositions when I move into the forrest and then I narrow my view further by using my telephoto lens to zero-in on special details….
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f8.0 @ 1/160sec., ISO 800 Lens @ 150mm
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I like the first two weeks of October, so that I can get more of a range of colors—some leaves are still green while others are yellow to blazing red.
I like this image because the leaves really show well against the tree’s black bark. When walking under a tree’s canopy I like to look up for back lit leaves…
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f6.3 @ 1320 sec., ISO 800 Lens @ 85mm
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Here again, I have a nice color contrast between the orange/yellow leaves and all the green leaves higher up in the canopy. And then sometimes the story can come down to one solitary leaf on the ground…
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f8.0 @ 1/250 sec., ISO 400 Lens @ 200mm
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Taken at sunset towards the end of October, this image is truly symbolic of fall. So, I urge those beginning photographers that want to hone their compositional skills to narrow your view (replace that wide angle with a telephoto zoom lens) and get INTO the forrest; Look for the Details!
I tell my students, “You can often show more by revealing less.” HAVE FUN!
Author: Jerry W. Venz, PPA Master Photographer, Craftsman, Certified
Training site: http://www.LightAtTheEdge.com
Client site: http://www.TheStorytellersUsa.com
