Nature Photography How To

French philosopher Albert Camus one said, “Autumn is a second spring, when every leaf is a flower.” For photographers, this sentiment means a season full of beautiful colors and moods to capture.

Nigel Danson is a British landscape photographer whose adventures in the UK and U.S. are all about making beautiful images in the great outdoors. He says he’s particularly passionate about photography during autumn, and in this tutorial he shares five great tips for amazing fall images.

Like most serious landscape photographers, Danson stresses the importance of planning and location scouting. He says that before leaving on an excursion, he gathers as much information as possible about the destination. That includes weather patterns, composition opportunities, and the local flora and fauna. Then, he uses Google Maps to plot out specific spots where he intends to shoot.

Danson is also a strong proponent of practice and experimentation, and he urges all landscape photographers to photograph nearby local scenes that are similar to those they expect to encounter where they will ultimately do their shooting. Important areas for practice include woodland scenes, expansive vistas, and water scenes.

To learn the rest of Danson’s tips and get his take on preparing camera gear and accessories, take a look at the video and watch him do his thing. You can find more shooting tips on Danson's YouTube channel, and be sure to look at the recent Lightroom tutorial we posted with editing tips for making autumn images look their best.