Ideas and Tips for Fall Macro Photography

Text and photos by Heather Cline 

Leaf on pine cones

Every season comes with a new flavor of macro opportunities. In Winter, we have ice patterns. In spring, we have wildflowers. In summer, butterflies. Fall is arguably one of the best seasons for macro photography because we get the benefits of fall color and interesting weather that create a wider variety of opportunities. 

In this article, I cover 5 ideas for fall macro photography as well as tips to create your best images. 

Leaves and Foliage 

Depending on where you live, leaves may start changing color as early as September and progress all the way through November. The beauty of this subject is that they are almost everywhere. Whether you live in the mountains or the desert - in the country or city - there are typically trees around that are changing color. 

Even if most of the leaves have fallen, you can still take advantage. I often like to collect fallen leaves and photograph them at home. I can compose the image, adjust the lighting, and do so in a comfortable environment, which allows me to move a bit more deliberately without the pressures of cold temperatures or approaching rain. 

Tip: You can use a lot of different tools to light your subject, from macro ring lights, flashes, reflectors, and even flashlights. I have used all of these with lighting tools with the same level of success - even the flashlight. Fancy tools are so awesome but they aren't necessary to create good images. 

Aspen leaves photographed in studio

Mushrooms

Mushrooms are most abundant with cool and wet conditions. After a rain is a good time to got mushroom hunting, but we also see these pop up in the fall when we have consistently misty or foggy mornings. Temperatures between 55 and 60 degrees are ideal as well. They grow best in a shady environment with good humidity and air flow. Looking towards the base of trees among rotting stumps and branches is generally pretty reliable.

Mushrooms typically grow on or near the ground and are best photographed at their level so you should plan to spend some time on the ground when photographing them. Because mushrooms grow best in shady locations, the light may be limited so a tripod is your best friend to allow for longer shutter speeds. The nice thing about mushrooms is they tend to sit still and don’t sway with a breeze so you can get away with longer shutter speeds. Sometimes they grow in trees, fallen logs, or other locations that can be awkward to position your camera. This is another reason a tripod is beneficial. Having one where the legs can flatten to allow for creative placement can help you get an otherwise impossible shot.

Tip: Take a moment to examine and groom the scene before taking any shots. This means removing leaves, twigs, blades of grass – really anything that clutters the composition. I often groom the scene, take a photo then check the LCD to see if anything pops out as a distraction and every single time, I end up doing another round of grooming to remove distractions.

Mushroom with fall fruit, Denali National Park

Morning Dew Drops

Dew is water in the form of droplets that appears on thin, exposed objects in the morning or evening due to condensation. As the exposed surface cools by radiating its heat, atmospheric moisture condenses at a rate greater than that at which it can evaporate, resulting in the formation of water droplets.

Incorporating dew drops into your fall macro images can make a difference as they shimmer, sparkle, and reflect, making your image come to life. 

Capturing morning dew requires getting close to your subject. Typically this means shooting right after sunrise before it disappears for the day, but with the cooler temperatures of fall, these can linger a little longer. 

Tip: you can make your own dew with a spray bottle. You can create larger dew drops by adding a little glycerin to the water as well. 

Pine cone and morning dew, Sequoia National Park

Abstracts

The beauty of abstracts is that they can be created from anywhere and any subject you enjoy photographing. They are great subjects when it's the middle of the day and the light is not ideal for shooting landscapes or wildlife. 

Abstracts can be created by cropping out certain areas of the subject or overall image or even just using a longer shutter speed to create motion. The viewer can still make sense of the subject without it being straight forward. Abstracts are lot of fun when you have the time to start playing with them. 

Tip: Using a tripod will allow you to create blurred abstracts more easily because you can set up your composition then experiment with different shutter speeds. 

Aspen leaves in water, June Lake

Frost and Ice

As temperatures drop, frost can transform the landscape, producing new and different photographic opportunities. If conditions will be clear and cold overnight, you can count on frost in the morning. Early morning is the best time to capture frost while the sun is low and the surroundings have not had a chance to thaw out. 

Open spaces that are exposed to frost are a better choice than an area with coverage, such as a forest. Areas along creeks or rivers can provide some unique opportunities as shallow areas may freeze over, creating interesting patterns. Frost will linger in shaded areas and you can use this to expand your shooting time. Just remember to compensate for the reduced light with a longer shutter speed, reflector, or flash. 

Tip: If you want to convey the feeling of cold, adjust your white balance in camera or in post process to create a cooler color temperature. 

Frosted aspen leaf, June Lake

There is an abundance of macro opportunities available this season, but with all seasons, these are temporary. I hope this article has inspired you to get out there and captured them before they are gone. I'll see you out there!