With beautiful fall foliage just around the corner, we’re coming up on one of the best times of the year for portraits, landscapes, and more! Are you ready?
Whether you’re shooting family portraits in your local park or traveling to photograph fall landscapes, capturing brilliant fall colors calls for high-quality, versatile gear. Luckily, Tamron has all the lenses and techniques you need to get started!
Why Tamron Lenses?
There are a few great reasons you might want to choose a Tamron lens for your fall photography needs! Tamron is known for offering a wide range of versatile lenses that are perfect for more than just fall photography. Plus, not only are Tamron lenses versatile, they are super high quality. Tamron lenses are designed to deliver sharp, vibrant images, with excellent color reproduction. Color reproduction is especially important when capturing fall foliage and investing in a lens that offers this is a great step towards stunning fall landscapes. In addition to versatility and excellent image quality, Tamron lenses are a great option for photographers looking for a lightweight and portable lens. These lenses are built for hiking and exploring outdoor locations without weighing you down.
Choose the best Tamron Lens
Wide-Angle Lenses: Choose a wide-angle lens such as the Tamron 17-28mm F/2.8 Di III RXD for capturing expansive landscapes.
Standard Zoom Lenses: If you’re looking for a more versatile option, standard zoom lenses like the Tamron 28-75mm F/2.8 Di III VXD G2 are a great choice. This type of lens offers more flexibility and is great to bring with you if you are planning on capturing landscapes and closer details like leaves or tree bark.
Telephoto Lenses: Telephoto lenses, such as the Tamron 70-180mm F/2.8 Di III VXD G2, are another great option for capturing fall’s brilliant colors, especially if you are looking to isolate specific elements in your scene. These lenses are great for close-ups of distant wildlife, plants, or other focal points within a landscape.
Macro Lenses: For an even more isolated view of your image, pick up a macro lens such as the Tamron 90mm F/2.8 Di III VXD. Macro lenses allow you to capture intricate details up close, like dew drops or the texture of tree bark.
Tips for Stunning Fall Photography
Get the Timing Right: First you’ll want to find out when fall colors will be best near you. Peak time for fall foliage depends heavily on where you are located and what type of foliage you’re looking to capture. Do some research first on when peak colors can be expected in your area! Generally you can expect peak fall colors from late September to early November. When heading out, try to aim for golden hour which occurs right after sunrise and right before sunset. Golden hour light is soft and warm which will enhance the natural colors of fall foliage and help create a soft, magical feel in your images.
Scout Your Location: Fall colors don’t stick around long so you’ll want to plan your shoots to get the most out of your excursions! Research and visit potential photography locations in advance. This will allow you to identify the best spots before the leaves change, making sure you don’t miss the perfect shot.
Use a Polarizing Filter: Besides high quality lenses, there are accessories that can help you take your fall photography to the next level, like polarizing filters! Polarizing filters can be a game-changer for fall photography. These filters help make the colors in your images more vibrant and dramatic by reducing glare. You can pick polarizing filters up today at Pixel Connection in Cleveland, OH or Nashville, TN!
Try New Perspectives: Get creative with your compositions. Try shooting from a low angle and including the forest floor, or shooting from a higher angle to highlight the tree canopy.
Leverage Reflection: Bodies of water like lakes, rivers, and ponds can add a lot of dimension and artistic flare to your images. Water offers a reflective element that creates visually interesting mirror-like images, further emphasizing the impressive colors of fall foliage. Plus, bodies of water offer a great opportunity to experiment with long exposures.
Pay Attention to Weather Conditions: Weather conditions can impact your fall images heavily. If possible, aim for shooting on overcast days. This will provide you with even lighting and make it easier to capture rich saturated colors. Even bad weather can be perfect depending on the types of images you're interested in capturing. Rainy or foggy days, for example, are great for creating mystical or moody fall images.
Use a Tripod: Keeping your images sharp and well-composed is easy when you use a tripod and they’re essential for low-light conditions on stormy days, early in the morning, or late at night. Tripods are also necessary for any type of long exposure photography, especially when capturing flowing water.
Fall is a magical time for photography, and Tamron lenses are a great too for bringing out the best in your autumn images. With great lenses, these tips and tricks, and your camera you'll be well on your way to capturing breathtaking fall images you’ll love all year round!