So you had a wonderful fall vacation in New England. The weather was perfect, the color was stunning, you visited some unforgettable destinations, and you took literally hundreds of photos to capture this once in a lifetime event. You rush back home, download photos to your computer, and view the results…

And you’re overcome with major disappointment as you wonder if your camera and you were in the same place when the pictures were taken. The photos you see just haven’t captured the views and colors you saw on your trip.

Now it’s true we still have the memories inside our head but we all love to share our trips and vacations with family and friends, and want them to be impressed by what we did and saw as well. And sharing great pictures of wonderful places is an exciting thing to do after the vacation is over and helps digest those large vacation bills you’ll be paying for awhile.

So today’s post is all about taking great fall foliage pictures without being a professional photographer or having expensive equipment.

I’m always looking to improve my picture-taking skills, and over time have collected these nuggets of wisdom from experts and share them with you to make sure the colorful fall foliage scene you see transfers to pixels or film:

TIPS FOR BETTER FALL FOLIAGE PICTURE TAKING:

• The best time to take pictures to get the vibrant colors is around sunrise or after a rain. At these times the air is cleaner. Also at sunrise there are dramatic light changes happening minute-by-minute and the colors are warmer and softer - this is also true at sunset when the rich golden light transforms the landscape.

• Big rolling hill locations are popular with professionals for New England autumn photo shoots because they let you see for miles. These locations include The Berkshires in Massachusetts, Aroostook County in Maine, and the rural valleys of southern and central Vermont. Pick your own favorite.

• A tripod is a good investment for taking landscapes in low light. Camera shake has ruined many an once-in-a-lifetime fall picture. Look for a table-top size you can put in your pocket.

• Too many large expansive fall views can get “boring” so spice it up a bit and focus on a single blazing maple or golden poplar tree, or a stream with leaves floating in it. Small town churches surrounded by foliage also make great shots.

• In the same vein as the previous tip, don’t be afraid to get up close and personal with your autumn colors. Even digital cameras have a macro setting so you can focus on just one leaf or a clump of leaves at peak.

If you’re using a digital camera then you can practice most of thes tips locally to perfect your technique before going on your leaf peeping trip.

HELPFUL PHOTO RESOURCES:

While I’m not a professional photographer by any stretch of my imagination, like most I still want to take memorable fall foliage photos. So I need a lot of help. I’ve found these books useful to me…

THE ULTIMATE FIELD GUIDE TO LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY:

This is a compact book you can read and absorb in one sitting with really useful information. It’s a quality product and what I’ve come to expect from National Geographic. This book is filled with practical information, a glossary of helpful websites, and plain old-fashioned advice.

Sections include:

Master Your Digital Camera
Using Natural Light to Your Advantage
Creating Digital Panoramas
Manage Color Better
Organize Your Digital Files

THE ULTIMATE FIELD GUIDE TO PHOTOGRAPHY:

This is more of an all-in-one reference work at 400 pages which I use to translate the instructions in my camera’s manual to taking pictures like the pros. The book is a mix of examples and nuts-and-bolts information that helps you master your digital camera.

Sections include:

Master Your Digital Camera
Create a Digital Darkroom
How to Keep Film in Your Photography
Make Better Prints
Innovative Projects and Gifts
Use Your Camera Phone Like a Pro

So all you need to perfect now is planning the places to visit during your New England fall foliage trip, and I’ve just the resource for you here: http://www.squidoo.com/fallfoliage

I’ve got news on more great fall events coming up in the next posts so be sure to come soon or save time and subscribe to my RSS feed here.

Cliff Calderwood
Executive Director
Vacation Guide to New England