Add in wildlife
You have probably already seen one of the popular sayings, “The background is just as important as the subject,”. A great subject photographed against a busy scene produces a busy picture. A winning image is one with a great subject and a great backdrop.
A beautiful backdrop for a wildlife picture can be a crisp fall landscape. Watch for circumstances where the background can be blurred into a splash of color. Go for the view where warmth is all around the animal.
Aim for an environment where the animal’s color blends with the surrounding elements. Be mindful of the interaction between the animal’s light and the background light. These elements will all either strengthen or weaken the image.
Manage the depth of field
In some circumstances, it’s preferable to have a background that is softly blurred and colored to go together with the subject. However, for the expansive autumnal countryside, foreground-to-background clarity frequently works better.
A long lens, large aperture, and separated subjects are the ingredients for the out-of-focus situation. A wide-angle lens, a small lens opening, and the usage of your lens’ hyperfocal setting to maximize sharpness all around are the ingredients for the everything-in-focus shot.
Separate Details
Most photographers favor taking pictures of the great fall scenery. Fantastic subjects include the expansive red tundra of the high country, the aspen-covered Rockies, the New England highlands covered in maple trees, and the New England mountains covered in massive autumn groves.
But in each of these situations, use your “telephoto eyes” as you move from composition to composition. Instead of focusing solely on the area in front of you, look down at the small features at eye level or on the ground. Look up at the few, magnificently colored branches set against the crisp, blue fall sky.
The perfect shot of fall is frequently above or below your range of vision. Don’t rule out the opportunity to take a snapshot of an early autumn scene. Bring out the macro and start shooting.
