Digital Camera World - UK (2019-10)

50 DIGITAL CAMERA^ OCTOBER 2019 http://www.digitalcameraworld.com

50 TIPS FOR AUTUMN

PARK LIFE

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Leaf portraits

are great fun,

and an active way to

get friends and family

involved. Throwing up

leaves also helps to

avoid awkward poses.

Use Aperture Priority

and set it to around f/4,

so that details in the

background get thrown

attractively out of focus.

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When the weather turns nasty or you just fancy

getting creative at home, gather up, arrange and

shoot an array of props and items on a tabletop. Create

a harvest feel with bright squashes and a backdrop of

scene-setting textured boards (www.photoboards.org).

5 QUICK TIPS FOR SEASONAL STILL LIFE SHOTS

SETTING UP YOUR CAMERA INSIDE IS THE PERFECT WAY TO FLEX YOUR CREATIVITY

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SETTING UP

Yo u’ll h ave a n

easier job of

arranging still-life

setups if you use a

tabletop. Cover it

with cards, fabrics,

a tablecloth or

warm wooden

photo boards

to set a mood.

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PROPS

There’s such an

abundance of

colourful produce

to feature in

autumn – think

berries and

squashes. If

food isn’t for you,

gather plants,

leaves or thistles.

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LIGHTING

Positioning your

set near a window

will give you an

even spread of

illumination and

negate the need

for flash. Angle a

reflector and use it

to fill in the shadow

areas of scenes.

(^46)
SETTINGS
Switch to manual
exposure mode for
more control over
how your images
look. Set a wider
aperture than
you might expect
(f/5.6 or less) to
create a shallower
depth of field.
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ANGLES
If the light levels
allow, shoot
without a tripod
and move around
your setup. Some
objects look best
from above, but
others will have
more impact when
taken side-on.
Ge
tty
Sh
utt
ers
toc
k
CREATIVE
CAPTURES
From bonfire night to halloween, seasonal
events provide plenty of photo opportunities
eautiful landscapes aside, there’s also plenty of fun
to be had on autumn shoots. Try capturing the human
elements of the season and involve the whole family
at the same time. If you head to firework displays, find
a clear view or high vantage point before they start.
On the other hand, if staying cosy indoors sounds more appealing,
check out our tips for setting up an easy studio at home (below).
B