Readers Photo Challenge: Fall colors
This month’s challenge is fit for the season: Fall leaves.
According to Alan Dickman, University of Oregon biology department curriculum director writing for the Scientific American, the shortening of days is the main factor in leaves changing color. The shorter days with their lessened sunlight signals to the trees to shut down their production of chlorophyll. The other colors of the leaves come forth as the green pigment wanes. Weather has a lesser effect, mostly on how long the colors remain or intense they are.
Lighting is the most important element to photographing leaves. Try to avoid front lighting. It will wash out the colors and leave your photos looking bland. Try side or back lighting. They will saturate and intensify the colors to make your photos pop out. Back lighting in particular will make thin leaves glow with color. Time of day is important when talking about lighting. The best light is either early in the morning or late in the afternoon. The sun’s rays come in at a pleasingly low angle at those hours. The quality and color of the light is much warmer than midday, enhancing the already warm colors of the changing leaves.
If you’re lucky enough to take a trip to a heavily forested area such as the Appalachian Mountains, the Rockies or the Sierra then fall foliage should be easy to find. But you can find fall happening everywhere. Trees turning color can be found in a nearby park, down the street or even in your own backyard. We are in the heart of the California Delta and natural beauty can be found along any river, creek, slough or canal. San Joaquin County is part of the agricultural engine of the state. Changing leaves can be found in the myriad of orchards and vineyards just a short drive out into the country.
Simplicity is key. Look for clean, uncluttered backgrounds. A backdrop that has too many, telephone pole, cars, or buildings can distract from the natural beauty of fall trees. Try to get as close as can. That can help to eliminate some of the background distractions. Try focusing on a few branches or leaves. You can even just photograph a single fallen leaf on the ground.
How to enter:
1. Photos have to be taken between Nov. 14 and Nov. 28.
2. Include your name (first and last), hometown, the kind of device you used and where it was taken (eg.: John Doe of Stockton, Canon 5D Mk III. Oak Park, Stockton).
3. If there is a recognizable person or persons in the photo please identify them (name, age, hometown) and describe what is going on in the photo. Please indicate if and how they are related to you (friend, mother, father, daughter, son, etc). For example: “My daughter Janie Doe, 12, plays in a pile of leaves at our Stockton home.”
4. Please feel free to include any interesting anecdotes or stories on how you took the picture.
5. The number of photos is limited to 10.
6. Entries can be emailed to coto@recordnet.com. The preferred format is jpeg. Type in “Fall Color” in the subject line.
7. The deadline for submission is Nov. 28. Top picks will be published in the Dec. 5 Record. An online gallery of all the photos on the same day at recordnet.com.
8. First, second and third top picks will receive 16x20, 11x14 and 8x10 prints, respectively, by UlmerPhoto in Stockton. Additionally, first place will receive a $25 gift card to a local restaurant.
This article originally appeared on The Record: Readers Photo Challenge: leaves of fall
