Thursday 10 November 2011

Autumn Colour - UK Style

After Dave's great post of Autumn Colours, and as mentioned in recent blogs by me, here is my take on Autumn Colours.

Taken nearly a couple of weeks back at Westonbirt Arboretum, which is where the Autumnwatch programme was coming from at the time.

I have been to this place many times in my past as I used to live about three miles away for a few years so it was a local haunt. I have been back about three times before, specifically for photography in recent years, but I cannot remember a year as good as this for colour. Maybe the mixed up weather has played a positive part. The downside being that the duration of the colour has been short.

Anyway, the forecast the night before I went was looking to be what I needed. Foggy/misty and then sunny, and quite cold - perfect.

Some of the pictures that I got this time around I had seen in my mind for a number of years, and it still feels like a great adventure setting out in the car in the dark, and travelling a good distance to get the image you only see in your mind.

I wasn't disappointed - just the sorts of images I was looking for.

Walking the reverse direction around the Autumn colour walk, it meant that I was constantly walking into the sun rather than have it behind me. Perfect for what I was looking for.

Not bothering with a tripod, filters or other paraphernalia, I was able to work in a free form style, quickly and capturing the changing moments fast, and avoiding the traditional photographers setting up wide shots around me with the sun behind them on their tripods. I did respect their work though and ask before I walked across the front of their lenses.

Using the 5Dmk2 and my trusty 24-70 f2.8L lens, I really enjoyed the photography.

Here are a few of the images that I got that morning. I will do another post with a few more next time around.





All of these images were taken in the aptly named Acer Glade, a wonderful collection of Maples from around the world.

Martin

6 comments:

  1. Lovely set of pictures Martin, I've only been there once and that was ffor one of the floodlit evenings. I was beginning to forget what autumnal colours look like.
    Robbie

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  2. Its a place that i always meant to visit when i lived in the UK and never got around to it, Great images, Love that last one, Will look good as a large print

    Dave

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  3. I JUST am seeing your blog here and am amazed. how much processing did you have to do to get your photos so punchy? with the soft glow through the trees .....GREAt Great photography!

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  4. Thanks for the comments. Minimal processing required on these Me. I have been to this place a number of times and never had such fantastic light, and that is the primary reason how these images look. Right place and right time. Next is good gear- the 5Dmk2 + 24-70L is an excellent combo. Shot in RAW, basic processing in Capture One and some minor local tweaks in Photoshop to balance the images. Finally it is worth mentioning the location - this is probably the best UK collection of these colourful Acers, so that helps too
    Martin

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  5. Really good advice,tips and techniques and also some very inspiring Autumn Colour images that will inspire me.
    Another same article i found here . just for share
    http://photograpyreview.blogspot.com/2011/11/how-to-shoot-autumn-colours.html

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  6. so great!!!! I just bought a 2.8 24-50 tamron. I like so far!!

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