Autumn is a great time to get outside with your Pentax camera.
Posted: 18/10/2013 - 13:02
Autumn is a really colourful time of year, and with the leaves falling from the trees and the first frosts starting to appear, now is a great time to head out with your Pentax camera and take some shots. This article will help you with settings and subject matter that will make your photos stand out from the bunch.
Adjust Your White Balance
Pentax compacts, DSLRs and mirrorless models all feature various white balance settings that can be set or some have a manual option that give you more control over this particular control. Auto works well in most situations but if you want to give the autumn shades slightly more warmth, try switching to Cloudy.
Exposure Compensation
To further enhance the colours in your shot and to add more depth to tones, try underexposing your image slightly. The easiest way to do this is with exposure compensation as this feature allows you to override the camera's automatic exposure control. Most cameras let you adjust the exposure by + or - two stops so to underexpose the image, select a - stop but keep the adjustment small otherwise your shot will look far too dark.
Metering
A great way to enhance the autumn shades is by adding backlight to your shots of leaves. For this, it's important that you know how to change your metering options as switching to spot metering when taking a meter reading from the leaves will help ensure your shot is correctly exposed.
Prevent Flare
When shooting backlit subjects, flare can sometimes be a problem. However, by stopping light from hitting the lens directly, this can be prevented. A lens hood is a great tool for shielding the lens but if you're a compact user you can just cup your hand around the lens to create a shield.
Digital Filters
Pentax cameras feature a wide variety of digital / art filters that allow the user to add a range of visual effects to their shots. Have a look at what filters your camera features to see if there are any that'll boost the saturation of your shot as this will really make the autumn colours 'pop'.
Here are some autumn subjects to give you inspiration
The Wider View
The UK is full of impressive national parks that really shine during the autumn. The Brecon Beacons and Lake District are just two of the giants but you can shoot closer to home, you just need somewhere with a bit of height that overlooks areas that give breath-taking views.
Focus On Leaves
It would be wrong to talk about autumn photography without mentioning leaves but they don't always have to be still on a tree. Try capturing piles that have gathered on the floor or capture some candids of children playing and throwing leaves up in the air. Take them in doors to create still-life shots or get close to the veins and other details so you can use them as textures in other shots.
Frosty Mornings
As the nights get cooler frost begins to appear first thing and the white patterns it creates are worth capturing. Close-ups of frost-covered autumn leaves always work well, particularly if there's enough light to add a touch of sparkle to the frost. Shoot in the shade if you can as the frost won't vanish as quickly but you will need a reflector to bounce much-needed light into your shot. Webs are another subject that look great when dusted with frost.
Autumn Macro Shots
For macro work, a dedicated macro lens is a good choice for DSLR users but this subject is something compact owners can have a go at too as most modern compact cameras can focus incredibly close. You'll need a tripod that gets you low to the ground and something to protect your knees from a damp floor's also recommended.
Reflections During Autumn
This isn't a subject that's just for the autumn season, however the bold colours do make reflections more interesting. Your first thought will probably be to head for a lake, but you can use puddles if you want to stay closer to home. Ponds in gardens are another reflective surface you can use if they have trees near by.
Members photos with related tags: Autumn
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