Autumn travel is officially here and it’s time for a getaway with your favorite camera in tow. Fall brings unique photo opportunities in places where leaves turn colors, like New England or the Rockies. To help with your Fall travel fever, we’ve created a short guide to getting the most out of your photo trip, including top gear recommendations, composition tips, and photo resources to take with you on the road.
STAND-OUT GEAR FOR THE ROAD
You’re the creative visionary behind the shot and you need the best gear to keep up with your vision. We’ve got you covered. To ensure you get the highest quality photos, we’ve selected some of our favorite cameras, lenses, and accessories that are perfect for fall colors photography. If you haven’t seen them before, it will be love at first sight.
The Seasoned Road Warriors:
WHY: It allows you to capture crystal-clear fall foliage with higher resolution sensitivity, and greater readout speed.
WHY: You’ll be able to make the most of every seasonal moment with sharper details and blazing-fast autofocus in a compact body.
Expand your vision
Vario-Tessar T* FE 16–35 mm F4 ZA OSS
WHY: It has built-in image stabilization and an ultra-wide focal range to capture sweeping landscapes
WHY: It offers an ideal zoom range for nature and wildlife, and outstanding corner-to-corner sharpness
WHY: It lets you get closer to your subject and create gorgeous background bokeh, even when shooting handheld.
Accessorize for maximum quality
WHY: It makes it easier to cut our surface reflections and add contrast. In the mood for some DIY? Watch this video on DIY photo filters.
WHY: Those perfect long-exposure shots? They’re always done on a tripod. Want to understand the use of tripods better? Read Spencer Pablo’s article on night sky photography.
WHY: Much easier to eliminate camera shake and capture reality flawlessly.
VEMÖDALEN. HUH?
Banner photo by Sony
Someone invented a word—vemÖdalen—to express the frustration of photographing something amazing when thousands of identical photos already exist. Here are some tips for taking fresh photos that will keep vemÖdalen at bay.
Arrive early. Or arrive late.
Photo by Sony
The quality of light changes by the minute. If sunrise is too early for you, arrive an hour before sunset for the best shooting light.
Change your perspective.
Photo by Brian Matiash
Bring your camera closer to the ground or at an angle to convey a sense of dynamic motion.
Channel your inner minimalist…
Photo by Brian Matiash
Sometimes focusing on a small detail is all it takes for a photo to go from blah to wow.
…or your inner Picasso.
Photo by Brian Matiash
Try one of the camera’s color isolation features or filters for an interesting, personal look.
Get cozy with your subject.
Photo by Brian Matiash
Let your subject, human or not, fill the frame completely—it will draw the viewers into the picture.
PHOTOGRAPHY TOOLS WE LOVE
Fall Foliage Prediction Map
Take the guesswork out of timing your trip. The folks at smokymountains.com have created this fun interactive map that will show you peak fall foliage times, so you don’t get there too early or too late. We just can’t stop playing with it. Check it out!
The Photographer's Ephemeris
The Photographer’s Ephemeris app (available for Android and iOS) helps photographers plan outdoor shoots and will show you how the light will fall on the land, day or night, for almost anywhere on earth. How cool is that?!
PlayMemories Smart Remote Control Camera App
No shutter release cable? No problem. Just download the PlayMemories Smart Remote Control Camera App to your compatible camera, and use your compatible smartphone to take a shake-free shot. Bonus: take a ravishing selfie among the leaves, sans the “selfie arm.”
LOVE THE MOMENT. SHARE THE LOVE.
If you’re like us, your phone might as well be glued to your hand. Our cameras know that, so instead of being jealous of that other gadget, they just work together. Use the NFC and WiFi features on your Alpha camera to transfer photos to your phone for viewing, editing, and sharing. Because who doesn’t like a little insta-love?
