Ideas for autumn photography

Why Autumn is Ideal for Photography

"Come on, Sam," I called, adjusting my walking stick, "the woods are absolutely magical right now." My teenage grandson trudged behind me, hands stuffed in his pockets, looking less than enthusiastic.

The path beneath our feet was carpeted with fallen leaves - russet, gold, and burnt orange creating a natural mosaic. I pointed them out, hoping to spark some interest.

Sam mumbled something that sounded like "Whatever," but I was undeterred.

"Look there," I pointed to a nearby oak, "see how the squirrels are frantically gathering acorns? They're preparing their winter stores." A squirrel darted across our path, its bushy tail flicking with purpose.

Grey squirrel collecting acorns

"Gran," Sam said, rolling his eyes, "do we have to talk about squirrels?"

I chuckled. "When I was your age, my grandad - your great-great-grandfather - would make every walk an adventure. He could identify birds by their calls, knew which mushrooms were safe, could tell which animals had passed by just by looking at their tracks."

Sam's stance shifted slightly. I could see a glimmer of curiosity breaking through his teenage indifference. I’d been waiting for this moment.

First Attempt at Nature Photography?

“I brought my spare camera with me. Would you like to borrow it?”

Sam's eyebrows raised slightly. "Really? Your camera?"

"Of course," I replied, pulling it from my camera bag. "The best way to learn about nature is to look closely - and sometimes that means photographing what you see. And what better time than Autumn."

I handed him the camera, watching as he turned it over in his hands, suddenly more engaged. A small robin hopped along the fence beside us.

"See that robin? Did you know they're incredibly territorial? Take a photo," I encouraged.

Sam lifted the camera, framing the robin tentatively. "Like this?"

"Perfect," I had picked a wide aperture, to grab as much light as possible, before passing over the camera. All he had to do was gently press the shutter.

Robin with bokeh background of autumnal leaves

The Most of Soft Autumnal Light

The path wound through a small clearing, bare trees creating intricate silhouettes against the faintly apricot sky. Sam was no longer dragging his feet, but moving with a newfound spirit, the camera hanging loosely from his hand.

"Want to know a secret?" I said with a conspiratorial wink. "There is so much potential for great pictures at this time of year."

“Even though its so dim in here?”

I smiled, watching Sam's growing excitement. "You know, this time of day is what photographers call the golden hour - it's magical for capturing wildlife. The soft light can create the most stunning effects, especially with autumn's rich colours."

A femail stonechat in golden hour

Being Observant

Sam adjusted the camera, looking more purposeful now. "How do you know where to point the camera?"

"Patience," I chuckled. "Look for movement. See how that bramble bush is slightly rustling? There might be something interesting there." I pointed to a cluster of branches where a hint of movement suggested hidden life.

Sam shifted his weight, carefully moving closer to the bramble bush. The camera ready in his hands, a newfound respect for the potential moment replacing his earlier teenage boredom.

"If you're shooting in low light like this," I explained softly, "you'll want to keep the camera very still. See how I'm holding my stick? It can double as a makeshift tripod if I need extra support. Try leaning on that tree beside you to steady yourself."

A rustle. A flash of movement. Sam's finger hovered near the shutter, suddenly alert. The magic of nature was working its spell, transforming a reluctant teenager into an engaged observer.

"Remember," I whispered, "sometimes the best photograph is the one you're patient enough to wait for."

Autumnal woodland

Creating Soft Focus for Stunning Wildlife Shots

“Why does the background look blurry in your photos?”

I smiled, delighted with Sam's growing curiosity. "That effect is called bokeh. Photographers use it to emphasize the subject by creating a soft, dreamy background.

It’s all about using a wide aperture—like f/2.8 or f/4—which lets in more light and naturally blurs the backdrop. Autumn is perfect for this because the colorful leaves create such stunning contrasts."

Sam leaned in, more interested now. "Can you show me how to do that?"

I gently guided his hand on the camera, showing him how to adjust the settings.

“We'll keep the camera on Program mode. See this P marked here? It’s a semi-automatic setting on most cameras that lets you control certain settings, like aperture, while the camera adjusts the rest.”

Sam grinned. “That suits me!”

"The trick is to get close to your subject, but not too close. You want some distance between the bird - or whatever you're photographing - and the background. That also helps create that lovely soft focus."

A blue tit flitted between the branches nearby, and I pointed it out. "There's a perfect subject. Be quick, but keep the camera steady."

Sam raised the camera, his earlier teenage reluctance completely forgotten, replaced by a look of concentration that reminded me so much of my grandfather.

Blue tit with soft focus background

Photographing Birds in Their Natural Habitat

“Its not only the squirrels making the most of the autumn, Sam. Look over at that tree.”

“That little brown bird?” he asked.

“Yes, that’s a blackcap.” I whispered. "They love feasting on berries, stocking up energy before their winter journey."

Sam adjusted the camera, his previous disinterest completely transformed. "How come you knew where to look?"

I pointed to a nearby Elder tree heavy with dark berries. "See how the branches are moving? There could be a bird hiding behind that bunch.”

Sam carefully positioned himself, camera ready. "It’s like a wildlife stakeout!"

"Exactly!" I winked.

A rustle. A flash of brown. Sam's finger hovered over the shutter, as still as the woodland around us. Click!

“I got it!” he shrieked, glancing at the back of the camera. Then his face fell as the bird disappeared, frightened by the sudden sound. “Oops! Gran, why’s it called a blackcap if it’s brown?”

“The females don't have the black cap on their head - only the males do.” I explained.

Female blackcap eating berries

Exploring Macro Photography in Autumn

As we wandered further along the path, something small but fascinating caught my eye—a perfect opportunity for macro photography.

“Hold up, lad!” I pointed and at first he didn’t see it, eyes on the bushes. “Look beside the path,”

“Oh wow! Toadstools!”

Sam crouched down, the camera suddenly held with a newfound reverence. "They look like tiny umbrellas," he observed, trying to nail the focus.

"Exactly!" I chuckled. "In autumn, fungi are everywhere, but most people just walk right past them, just like you did. Each mushroom tells a story - some are edible, some are poisonous, and some are just beautifully mysterious."

"Gran, the picture’s all blurry. Did I do something wrong?"

"Not at all, Sam! You’ve only got a few millimeters to play with. Look for the most interesting part—maybe that little ridge on the mushroom cap. In macro photography, it's all about capturing a sliver of detail that tells a bigger story.”

Macro photography of fungi

A moment later, another question. “Should I flip the flash up? It’s getting quite dark now.”

“Natural light works best for macro photography, so let’s avoid using the flash—it can create harsh shadows. Instead, we can use this white bag to reflect and soften the remaining light onto the fungus.”

Sam’s eyes lit up as he looked at the fungi again, repositioning himself for the perfect shot. "It’s like a whole world I never noticed before," he murmured, carefully framing the scene.

Building Skills and Patience in Nature Photography

Taking a glance at my grandson, I realised Sam was no longer a reluctant teenager but a budding photographer, seeing the autumn woodland through entirely new eyes.

I chuckled softly. "That's the beauty of macro photography in autumn. The world is full of these tiny miracles - you just need to slow down and look closely."

A gentle breeze sent a cascade of amber and golden leaves dancing around us. Sam's camera clicked, capturing not just an image, but a moment of pure, delicate wonder.

"Gran," he said, a note of excitement in his voice, "I think I'm starting to understand what you mean about photography being more than just taking pictures."

Now it's your turn! Autumn is fleeting, but it offers a treasure trove of colours, textures, and wildlife activity that makes every walk an adventure. Don’t miss the chance to capture its magic before winter sets in!

Grab your camera, head outdoors, and capture the magic of autumn.

What’s your favorite autumn subject to photograph? Share your story with the hashtags #AutumnAdventures or #NatureWalksCarol