Capture Those Perfect Autumn Snaps

  • 23 September 2020
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Capture Those Perfect Autumn Snaps
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Capture the perfect autumn scene with these top phone camera apps and tips

Autumn is upon us, and that means long country walks, hearty meals and colourful scenery all around. It might be getting a little cooler, but there’s nothing like a wander through nature to cure those post-summer blues.

Whether it’s the natural light shining through tree branches, or multicoloured leaves laying on the ground, who could blame you for stopping to capture it all on your phone camera? Don’t just go for the default settings and hope for the best, though. When it comes to shooting nature on your smartphone, the chances are it’s got some neat tricks to nail photos and videos.

Here are a few things you can do to get that instantly Instragamable photo:

 

  1. The Rule of Thirds

If you’re new to photography, there’s a foundational rule that’s helpful for keeping every scenic photo interesting, and that’s the Rule of Thirds. In your phone’s camera app, you should be able to place a grid over your display in the settings. This will help you get the composition of your photo just right. You’ll want to make sure that objects of interest in your photo are either on the lines, or where two lines meet. If it’s a landscape shot, make sure that the horizon is on or near a horizontal line. You’ll be amazed what this simple tweak to the composition will do for your autumn photos.

 

  1. Try HDR mode

If your phone’s camera app has an HDR mode, make the most of it! If you’re not a photography whizz, it can be tricky to get the lighting spot on in your photos. With HDR mode, you don’t have to worry about tweaking the settings. Your camera will shoot three photos with different exposure levels, and combine them to create a single photo that highlights all the colours and detail that make up that striking autumn scene.

Because HDR mode shoots three photos, the shutter speed takes a little longer, so you’ll have to hold the phone steady. Or for seriously pro-looking shots, add a smartphone tripod to your kit bag.

 

  1. Pick a lens

Many smartphones have more than one camera, but how many times have you manually switched between them? Some lenses are better at capturing certain shots than others, but for expansive landscapes, if you’ve got a wide-angle camera on the back of your phone, that’s the one to go for.

Your wide-angle lens lets you capture a wider field of view. That means you can fit more of the scenery around you into the frame, so no need to keep taking steps back. The wide-angle does a good job of showing depth and keeping the distance between objects realistic, like trees, for example. If you’ve got an Ultra-Wide lens as well, try that out too. You’ll be able to get some truly stunning autumn shots, but keep in mind the ultra-wide angle means you’re more likely to lose that perception of distance between objects in the picture.

 

  1. No flash photography

It’s the natural colours that make autumn such a photogenic season. Using the flash causes those colours to look a little washed out, so try it without and see how you get on. If you need more light in your photos, try increasing the exposure in your camera app’s setting. This lets in more natural light and should offer much better results. If you’re feeling confident, switch to Pro mode and take a few photos with different exposure levels and shutter speeds to see what works best for your scene.

 

  1. Check out these apps to get that winning shot

For autumn photography that really stands out, there are a few apps you can try.

A big part of getting great nature shots is being ready at the right moment. With apps like LightTrac (iOS) and Sun Position (Android), you’ll know when’s best to catch that gorgeous autumn scene wherever you are. Not only will they give accurate sunrise and sunset times, but they’ll also show you the solar and lunar paths pretty accurately, too. So, you can find the perfect spot and capture the perfect interplay of natural light and shadows.

Or, if you get more than one outstanding photo on your walk and can’t decide which one to share, add them to a collage and share them all! Collage Maker (iOS, Android) lets you add up to 18 images to a single frame, letting you showcase all your stunning autumn photos in one. There are over 100 layouts to choose from, so you’re able to get really creative with it.

 

Those are just a few of the things your phone can do to take your autumn photography up a notch. What works for you? Let us know below.


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