10 Tips for autumn photography

As the days shorten and a crispness fills the air, nature prepares for its annual spectacle – autumn.

This season offers a unique opportunity to capture stunning wildlife photographs. With the changing colours of the leaves, the crisp air, and the behaviour of animals preparing for winter, it’s a season full of potential for beginner and intermediate photographers.

Here are some practical tips for autumn wildlife photography to help you make the most of this magical time of year.

1. Understanding Light: The Challenges and Opportunities

The sun on this wren was just beginning to set reflecting warm light onto its breast and the fence

Shooting in low light can be a challenge in autumn, especially in woodlands where the canopy and overcast weather can reduce brightness.

I recommend investing in a tripod or practicing steady hand-holding techniques to avoid blurry shots due to slow shutter speeds.

That said, the golden hour—the period shortly after sunrise and just before sunset—offers some of the best lighting opportunities.

The warm, soft light during this time enhances the autumn colours, making your subjects stand out beautifully against the background. Try to schedule your shoots around these times for the best results.

Golden hour is also perfect for creating stunning rim lighting effects.

Backlighting your subject during this time can produce a beautiful halo of light, especially when photographing animals with fur or feathers.

Hare early in the morning catching the golden hour rim light - Taken at Spurn Point

For example, in my photo of a backlit hare, the soft light created a glowing rim around the hare, emphasising its shape and adding drama to the image.

To achieve this effect, position your subject between you and the light source, adjusting your exposure to highlight the rim lighting while maintaining detail in the shadows (unless you want a pure silhouette).

2. Positioning and Backgrounds: Make the Most of Autumn Colours

Positioning plays an important role when photographing wildlife in autumn.

One trick is to place yourself so that the autumn leaves create a blurred, colourful background for your subject. This technique, known as bokeh, is achieved by using a wide aperture (e.g., f/2.8 or f/4). It helps to isolate the bird or mammal while still incorporating the season's beautiful hues.

For example, in my photo of a robin, I positioned myself so that the warm autumn leaves were out of focus behind the bird, creating a beautiful bokeh effect.

This technique not only makes the subject stand out but also adds a rich sense of the season to the photograph.

Look for opportunities like this, particularly when photographing birds.

Robin with a backdrop of autumn leaves

3. Capture Autumn Wildlife in Action

Autumn is a busy season for many British mammals and birds as they prepare for winter.

Squirrels, for instance, are particularly active, gathering acorns and other food. While photographing them, focus on capturing their dynamic movements.

Though my photo of a squirrel gathering acorns doesn’t have the leafy backdrop mentioned earlier, it’s still a great example of showing wildlife behaviour during this season.

Being patient and watching their habits can lead to compelling action shots that capture the essence of autumn.

Grey squirrel collecting acorns to store for the winter

Birds are equally busy during autumn, feasting on berries and other seasonal food sources.

My photo of a blackcap bird feeding on berries showcases this behaviour beautifully.

To capture moments like this, position yourself near berry bushes or other food sources, and be prepared for quick movements.

Using a fast shutter speed will help you freeze the action as birds flit about, stocking up before winter.

Female blackcap with autumn berries taken at Barnwell Country Park

4. Look for Fungi and Other Autumn Details

Autumn isn't just about the wildlife—there's also an abundance of smaller details that are perfect for macro photography.

Woodlands in autumn are full of fascinating textures and patterns, from the rich colours of fallen leaves to the unique shapes of fungi and moss.

Macro photography allows you to capture these intricate details up close, revealing aspects of nature that often go unnoticed.

For example, fungi can make for stunning macro subjects. Use a dedicated macro lens to get sharp, detailed images of mushroom caps, spores, and even dew drops on fallen leaves. Shooting in the early morning when moisture is present can add a magical element to your photos.

Woodland fungi taken from a low angle in low light

To achieve the best macro shots, use a narrow aperture (e.g., f/8 or above) to ensure the whole subject is in focus. There is less depth of field at such close range.

If you look at the photo above you will see that just one toadstool is sharp. That sliver of focus is sometimes all you have to play with.

Don’t be afraid to get low to the ground or experiment with different angles to highlight the textures and natural elements that define the season.

Incorporating smaller details like mushrooms, acorns, or colourful leaves into your wildlife photos can also add depth and context to your compositions.

These subtle elements not only enrich your images but also evoke the distinct atmosphere of autumn.

5. Gear Tips: What You Need for Autumn Wildlife

Having the right equipment and understanding how to adjust your camera settings are crucial for successful wildlife photography in autumn. We'll cover camera settings in the next section.

But first, here are some gear considerations:

Telephoto Lenses: A telephoto lens in the range of 300mm to 500mm is ideal for wildlife photography, allowing you to maintain a safe distance while capturing sharp, close-up images of birds and mammals. These lenses are especially helpful when your subjects are skittish or hard to approach.
Macro Lenses: For capturing the intricate details of fungi, leaves, or small creatures, a dedicated macro lens is useful, or if you are on a budget, you could screw a close up filter to your lens. This allows you to get extremely close to your subject and still maintain sharpness, perfect for autumn details like dew drops or textured mushroom caps.
Stabilisation: A tripod is essential for reducing camera shake, especially when you’re shooting in low light with slower shutter speeds or using a narrower aperture for close-up photography. It’s also helpful for maintaining stability when using telephoto lenses for wildlife shots. If you’re working handheld, make use of your camera's image stabilisation feature to help minimise blur.
Extra Batteries and Memory Cards: Autumn photography sessions can be longer than anticipated, and cold weather can drain your batteries faster. Always carry extra batteries and memory cards to avoid running out of power or space just as you capture that perfect shot.
Weatherproofing: The autumn season brings unpredictable weather, from damp mornings to sudden rain showers. Keep yourself and your gear protected by wearing waterproof clothing and using rain covers for your camera and lenses. This allows you to stay focused on capturing images without worrying about the elements. More about photography in the rain here.

6. Camera Settings

Understanding how to balance your camera settings will greatly improve your results, whether you're capturing fast-moving wildlife or focusing on the intricate details of autumn's smaller treasures.

Balancing Shutter Speed and ISO: Wildlife photography often requires quick reflexes to capture fast-moving animals.

For birds in flight or animals like squirrels that move rapidly, you’ll need a fast shutter speed (1/1000s or faster) to freeze the action. However, faster shutter speeds reduce the amount of light hitting the sensor, especially in the low-light conditions common in autumn.

To compensate, you’ll often need to increase your ISO. Modern cameras handle higher ISO settings quite well, but be mindful of introducing too much noise, (think grain) which can affect image quality.

Start with an ISO around 400-800 in low light and adjust upwards if necessary, depending on how much light is available and the speed of your subject.
Aperture Settings: For wildlife photography, particularly when you want to isolate your subject, a wider aperture (e.g., f/2.8 or f/4) is ideal. This creates a shallow depth of field, blurring the background and making your subject stand out.

This technique works particularly well when photographing birds or mammals against colourful autumn leaves, as it softens the background and highlights the animal.

However, when shooting macro or close-up photos of smaller details like fungi or leaves, consider using a narrower aperture (e.g., f/8 or f/11) to increase your depth of field. This will ensure that more of your subject is in focus, capturing the fine textures and intricate patterns.

Just remember that a narrower aperture will require more light, so you may need to slow down your shutter speed or increase your ISO to compensate.

7. Best Places for Autumn Wildlife Photography in Cambridgeshire

Cambridgeshire offers a variety of stunning locations that are perfect for capturing autumn wildlife and nature photos.

With a mix of woodlands, wetlands, and expansive parks, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to photograph birds, mammals, fungi, and the beautiful colours of autumn.

Here are some top spots to explore:

Wicken Fen Nature Reserve: One of the oldest nature reserves in the UK, Wicken Fen is a haven for wildlife photographers. Autumn here brings vibrant foliage and an array of bird species, such as kingfishers, marsh harriers, and migratory birds.

You might also spot grazing konik ponies and red deer.

The fenland landscape, with its wetland habitats, reed beds, and woodlands, provides a variety of settings for both wide-angle and close-up shots.
The Great Fen: Located between Peterborough and Huntingdon, The Great Fen is a vast wetland restoration project that spans thousands of acres.

In autumn, the changing colours of the fenland create a magical backdrop for photographing birds like barn owls, and marsh harriers.

The area is also home to small mammals such as voles and hares. The diverse habitats make it an excellent location for capturing a range of wildlife and landscapes.
Grafham Water: A large reservoir and surrounding woodlands, Grafham Water is a great location for photographing waterfowl and autumn scenery.

Birds like grebes, tufted ducks, and even great northern diver can be seen here.

The woodlands around the reservoir provide the perfect setting for capturing autumn colours and fungi, making it an ideal spot for both wildlife and macro photography.
Brampton Wood: As one of the oldest woodlands in Cambridgeshire, Brampton Wood is a beautiful site for capturing autumn wildlife.

The ancient trees here turn shades of red and gold in the autumn, providing a stunning backdrop for photographing birds like nuthatches, woodpeckers, and finches.

The woodland floor is often covered in a variety of fungi, making it a great spot for macro photography. Additionally, you may spot fallow deer and other small mammals within the woods, adding to the variety of wildlife to capture.
Paxton Pits Nature Reserve: Located near St Neots, Paxton Pits is a diverse nature reserve with lakes, meadows, and woodlands.

It’s particularly good for photographing waterfowl, such as swans, ducks, and geese, along with wading birds like herons and egrets.

The reserve is also home to small mammals, including otters, which are often seen in the autumn months.

The variety of habitats here means there’s always something interesting to capture, whether you’re focused on birds, mammals, or autumn landscapes.

These locations in Cambridgeshire are ideal for autumn photography, offering a range of habitats and species to capture.

Whether you’re interested in birds, mammals, or the intricate details of autumn leaves and fungi, you’ll find plenty of inspiration in these beautiful spots.

8. Mastering Composition for Autumn Wildlife Photography

Good composition is essential to creating visually engaging and balanced images that draw the viewer's eye to your subject while highlighting the beauty of the season.

Here are some tips to improve your compositions when photographing wildlife in autumn:

Rule of Thirds: One of the simplest yet most effective composition techniques is the rule of thirds.

Imagine dividing your frame into a grid with two horizontal and two vertical lines, creating nine equal sections. Position your subject along these lines or at their intersections, rather than in the centre of the frame, to create a more dynamic and pleasing composition.
Use of Negative Space: Negative space is the area around your subject that can be used to create a sense of openness and contrast.

In autumn, you can use the surrounding environment—such as blurred foliage, open sky, or water—to give your subject room to breathe in the image. This also helps convey a sense of scale, especially with smaller animals or birds.
Incorporate Foreground and Background Elements: To add a sense of depth to your images, consider including foreground and background elements that frame your subject. Fallen leaves, branches, or even distant trees can help provide context and lead the viewer's eye into the scene.

For example, positioning a bird on a branch with blurred autumn leaves in both the foreground and the background creates a layered, visually interesting composition that highlights both the wildlife and the season.
Balance and Symmetry: While the rule of thirds is a great guide, sometimes breaking the rules with centred symmetry can be effective, especially when the subject calls for a more formal composition.

For instance, symmetrical reflections in wetland environments or a perfectly centred deer standing tall can create a striking image. Balance the elements in your frame to ensure the composition feels harmonious and doesn’t lean too heavily on one side.
Perspective and Angles: Changing your perspective can lead to more compelling shots. Get down low to eye level with animals like squirrels or hares, or try shooting from a higher vantage point to include more of the environment.

Experimenting with angles can help tell a more intimate or expansive story, depending on what you want to convey.
Look for Leading Lines: Natural lines in the environment, such as a winding path, a fallen branch, or a stream, can help lead the viewer’s eye toward your subject.

Position your wildlife subject at the endpoint of these lines to create a sense of direction and focus in the image.

By paying attention to composition, you can transform an ordinary wildlife shot into something engaging and visually striking.

It’s worth taking the time to frame your subject carefully to ensure that your autumn wildlife photos are not only well-executed technically but also aesthetically powerful.

An autumn woodland scene from RSPB Sandy in Bedfordshire

9. Patience and Perseverance: The Key to Great Wildlife Photos

Wildlife photography, especially in autumn, requires a great deal of patience and perseverance.

Animals can be unpredictable, and the right lighting or perfect composition might take time to come together.

But waiting for the right moment can be incredibly rewarding.

When photographing wildlife, it’s important to remain still and quiet, allowing the animals to become comfortable with your presence.

You may need to wait for extended periods to capture that perfect shot of a bird feeding or a squirrel gathering acorns. Don’t be discouraged if the ideal moment doesn’t come right away—wildlife photography is as much about observation as it is about capturing images.

Perseverance is equally important in challenging conditions.

Low light, changing weather, and unpredictable behaviour from your subjects are all part of the experience.

You might have to return to the same location multiple times or adjust your approach to get the shot you want. However, the satisfaction of capturing a beautiful moment in nature makes all the effort worthwhile.

Remember, some of the best wildlife photos come from a combination of careful preparation, a good understanding of your subject, and the willingness to wait patiently for that special moment to unfold.

10. Post-Processing Your Autumn Wildlife Photos

Post-processing can make a significant difference in bringing out the best in your autumn wildlife photos.

While getting it right in-camera is ideal, editing allows you to enhance the colours, adjust exposure, and fine-tune details to create a polished final image.

Enhance Colours: Autumn is known for its rich, warm tones, so don’t be afraid to boost the vibrancy and saturation of your photos, especially the reds, oranges, and yellows. Be mindful not to overdo it—subtle enhancements will maintain a natural look while making the colours pop.
Adjust Exposure and Contrast: Low light in autumn can sometimes lead to underexposed images. In post-processing, adjust the exposure and contrast to bring out the details in the shadows without blowing out the highlights. This is especially important for backlit shots like my photo of the hare with rim lighting, where balancing the exposure helps retain the subtle glow around the subject while keeping shadow details intact.
Sharpening and Noise Reduction: Wildlife photography often involves cropping in post, which can lead to a loss of sharpness. Use sharpening tools to bring back the detail in your subject, particularly around the eyes and fur or feathers. At the same time, apply noise reduction, especially if you shot at higher ISO settings due to low light conditions.
Highlight the Subject: If you find that your subject blends too much into the background, consider using selective editing to enhance it. This could mean brightening the subject slightly or adding a subtle vignette to draw the viewer’s eye toward the focal point. Techniques like dodging and burning can help you emphasise the subject while maintaining the natural feel of the image.
Refine the Composition: Cropping is a powerful tool to improve the composition if needed. Whether you want to centre the subject more effectively or eliminate distractions from the edges of the frame, don’t hesitate to make adjustments that strengthen the overall balance of the image.

Post-processing allows you to bring your vision to life while staying true to the beauty of the scene you captured. A light hand is often best to ensure the final result remains authentic and reflects the natural atmosphere of autumn.

Over to You!

Ready to capture the beauty of autumn wildlife?

Grab your gear and head out to one of Cambridgeshire's top nature spots.

Whether you're photographing majestic birds, foraging mammals, or the intricate details of fungi and leaves, autumn offers endless opportunities for stunning shots.

Don’t forget to share your best photos with me—I’d love to see what you capture!

Use my contact page to drop me a line to share your favourite autumn photography moments. I will reply back and you can then shoot over your photos. I am happy to offer suggestions (a gentle critique) if you ask.