Avoiding Muddy Fall Colors: I would love to have everyone's input on avoiding muddy fall colors, especially reds. It seems I had trouble in the past although I was not shooting RAW at...

texaseve Loc: TX, NC and NH

I would love to have everyone's input on avoiding muddy fall colors, especially reds. It seems I had trouble in the past although I was not shooting RAW at the time and have started doing so recently. I am a better shooter since I was was last on the Blue Ridge Parkway, however, do not want to mess up this opportunity. What are your best suggestions to keep colors separate, crisp and not over-saturated? thanks.

PrairieSeasons Loc: Red River of the North

Some times it's more a matter of timing than anything else - having the sun always helps and waiting too late into the season always hurts.

In my experience, having a lens hood in place is more critical with fall colors than anything else you can do with exposure control, filters or depth of field. If you're shooting at mid-day in the sun, I'd add a circular polarizing filter. If it's closer to the golden hours, just the lens hood.

seeSAW Loc: Western Mass

I suggest going with the lowest f stop the light and DOF can handle (5.6?). The wider the opening the better the color saturation. Then when you get to your post capture increase the black. That helps the color to pop.

texaseve Loc: TX, NC and NH

Thanks, I had not thought about a lens hood, although I know better....if I could just remember all the rules when I'm out there trying to hurry. I know I shouldn't hurry, however, that's easier said then done when you are pulled over and someone is waiting on you.

tk Loc: Iowa

Take a practice shot then look at the back of the camera and adjust F stop or ISO till you get what you want. That is usually what I have to do because that dang light keeps changing.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

texaseve wrote:

Thanks, I had not thought about a lens hood, although I know better....if I could just remember all the rules when I'm out there trying to hurry. I know I shouldn't hurry, however, that's easier said then done when you are pulled over and someone is waiting on you.

Jot some notes down on a card and take it with you. That's what I do for night shooting, etc.

blacks2 Loc: SF. Bay area

In the old film days, to enhance the fall colors I used a warming filter with great success, there was a "Moose" combination polarizer-warming filter, I am not sure if it is still available, I use one on my digital cameras.

texaseve Loc: TX, NC and NH

I actually have that filter and bought a new polarizer...and I printed out some notes to take. thanks

Harvey Loc: Pioneer, CA

Why not make yourself a"check off list" to take on your fall color trips - you could break it down in times of the day and lighting conditions. a simple 4 X 5 card?

texaseve wrote:

Thanks, I had not thought about a lens hood, although I know better....if I could just remember all the rules when I'm out there trying to hurry. I know I shouldn't hurry, however, that's easier said then done when you are pulled over and someone is waiting on you.

marcomarks Loc: Ft. Myers, FL

texaseve wrote:

I would love to have everyone's input on avoiding muddy fall colors, especially reds. It seems I had trouble in the past although I was not shooting RAW at the time and have started doing so recently. I am a better shooter since I was was last on the Blue Ridge Parkway, however, do not want to mess up this opportunity. What are your best suggestions to keep colors separate, crisp and not over-saturated? thanks.

From my experience, when shooting the side of a mountain that is colorful, keep the sky out of the shot as much as possible because it fools your exposure meter, ruins the color saturation, and darkens the mountain side as it tries to properly auto expose the sky/horizon combination. At the very least, drop your camera down to having almost no sky in the viewfinder, press your button down halfway to set auto exposure and hold the button as you raise the camera and then shoot. If you shoot manual, forget that recommendation.

For fall colors I also like to use a circular polarizing filter so the skies can be deep rich blue and the leaves on trees are vibrant.

mcveed Loc: Kelowna, British Columbia (between trips)

Shoot in RAW so you can adjust the colour in post. Check the histogram and make sure you are not blowing out the red channel. Use a polarizer - a warming polarizer of good quality (Sing Ray i.e.). Seek backlit situations with the light coming through the foliage. In side-lit situations make sure the sun is not shining on your lens/filter. Do whatever you need to do to make sure the image is sharp (high shutter speed, tripod when calm). Don't be afraid to shoot in subdued light (indirect sunlight or cloud cover). Have fun and take your time.

kbarnes42 Loc: North Carolina

If shooting digital, you could also adjust your white balance for shooting on cloudy days. This should provide a little warmth.

texaseve Loc: TX, NC and NH

Thanks for advice! I'll be making notes. Sometimes I have done real well, however, I have been fooled by what looked good in the viewfinder without studying the histogram. I am slowly getting it.... and I ordered NEW glasses (for my face) which I think will help lots!

ephraim Imperio

texaseve wrote:

I would love to have everyone's input on avoiding muddy fall colors, especially reds. It seems I had trouble in the past although I was not shooting RAW at the time and have started doing so recently. I am a better shooter since I was was last on the Blue Ridge Parkway, however, do not want to mess up this opportunity. What are your best suggestions to keep colors separate, crisp and not over-saturated? thanks.

Tips on how to take vibrant fall colors:

http://digital-photography-school.com/autumn-fall-photography-capturing-colours

twowindsbear

seeSAW wrote:

I suggest going with the lowest f stop the light and DOF can handle (5.6?). The wider the opening the better the color saturation. Then when you get to your post capture increase the black. That helps the color to pop.

REALLLY???? 1/1000 @ f5.6 gives better color saturation than the same exposure value of 1/125 @ f16??