Ask A Denver Expert: How To Take Good Fall Colors Photos

The Daily Meal Staff|Sept. 12, 2014 7:00 am EST

Photography Courtesy of Carrie Swails

Colorado's mountains are a popular destination for tree watching in the fall, and the Denver metro area has its fair share of gorgeous trees as well. Fall is one of the most photogenic times of the year, and many people make a day out of photographing leaves. If your photos don't live up to the beauty in person, or if you simply want to take them up a notch, there are tricks that can be employed. Denver-based photographer Carrie Swails shares some tips for how you can make those photos frame-worthy.

Carrie Swails
Carrie Swails Photography
7595 W. 66th Ave., Suite 203b
Arvada, CO 80003
(303) 717-8397
www.carrieswailsphotography.com

Specializing in outdoor weddings, Carrie Swails knows how to incorporate the beautiful Colorado scenery into any photo. Many of her clients choose to have their wedding/engagement photos taken in some of Colorado's most picturesque locations, like Estes Park and Red Rocks. She established her business in 2009 and enjoys the creativity that comes with photo shoots. While Carrie's specialty is weddings, engagements and other portrait shoots, she knows how to take any location and capture its beauty, often incorporating environmental shots into a wedding album. She can also photograph the Colorado landscape in a way that enhances the subject while showcasing the great outdoors.

Find Your Camera's Manual Settings

While not everyone owns a $5,000 professional camera, there are settings on most models that allow users to control the basics. Swails suggests getting acquainted with your owner's manual before heading to your destination. "To take the best photos in any scenario, you'd want to learn how your camera works and truly understand the controls. Learning to shoot in manual mode can really help you, as the photographer, control every aspect of the image....Manual mode is composed of a few different controls like aperture, shutter speed, and ISO that when combined and controlled individually, can create amazing images." Spend some time messing with different modes before you plan your sightseeing trip.

Plan Ahead

While many Coloradans understand that the leaves change earlier in the mountains than they do in the city, it can be easy to forget about them until it's too late. Swails gives tips on the best times to hunt for foliage. "Fall hits Colorado earlier when you're higher up in the mountains so the aspen trees tend to change much earlier than the I-25 corridor and further east. Depending on our weather, the leaves of the trees can change anywhere from September to November. It's best to just keep an eye out where you live and gauge from there." She also points out that it's best to get to the hills before it snows, so you're more likely to get great pictures in late September to early October.

Watch Your Timing

When it comes to photography, light can make or break a photo. While it's always easier to work with natural light, not all natural light is the same. Swails explains, "The best time for any natural light photography is what we call 'golden hour.' It's usually the hour right after sunrise and right before sunset. At that time of the day, the light is soft and flattering and comes in at a side angle that can create some great contrast, definition and color in your images." She also mentions that direct sunlight can wash out color, so avoid snapping photos in the mid-day sun.

Know the Basics

In addition to knowing about your camera's manual function, it helps to know the basic principles of photography. If you question what aperture, shutter speed and ISO are referring to, you won't understand how to use them to manipulate your photos. Swails offers a summary of what you need to know. "Aperture is the control that allows you to decide how much light your lens is going to allow into the camera's sensor. Shutter speed will control how fast the shutter inside the camera opens and closes. The longer it's open the more motion blur you get. With fall photos and wind, I'd recommend keeping shutter speeds at least at 1/250th of a second. ISO is basically how sensitive to light your camera's sensor is. The higher the ISO number, the more grainy your photos get, so I recommend keeping that ISO down low for fall photos."

Take Your Pick of Location

There are plenty of places in Colorado where you can find great fall colors. Having shot all over the state, Swails has some favorite locations for nature shots. "Maroon Bells, Rocky Mountain National Park and other mountain locations can be great places to snap some colorful fall photos." If you waited too long to go to the mountains, or want some pics with more of an urban touch, you can also find some vibrant pops of color in Wash Park, City Park and the University of Denver neighborhood.

Alaina Brandenburger is a freelance writer living in Denver. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.