Fall Photography Quiz – Test Your Photography Knowledge

In autumn the sun sits lower in the sky than in summer, even at midday. Light from a low sun casts longer shadows, comes in at a more directional angle, and passes through more atmosphere, which makes it warmer. Summer light is higher and harsher for more of the day.

Leaves are thin and translucent, so when the sun is behind them the light passes through and makes their color glow, much like stained glass. Front light only reflects off the surface and looks flatter. Backlighting does not always make silhouettes; with leaves it makes them luminous.

At mid and high latitudes the sun sets at its shallowest angle around the summer solstice, so golden hour lasts longest in summer. Near the autumn equinox the sun sets more steeply, and golden hour is shorter.

Cloud cover spreads the light evenly, so there are no harsh highlights or deep shadows across the foliage. Without glare on the leaves, their reds, oranges, and yellows record as richer, more saturated colors. Bright sun often washes out leaf color with reflections and contrast.

A circular polarizer cuts reflected glare from wet and shiny surfaces such as leaves. Removing that glare reveals the true color underneath, so the foliage looks more saturated. A UV filter does nothing visible to color, and a graduated ND only darkens part of the frame.

Cool overnight temperatures cause water vapor in warm air near the ground to condense into visible droplets. As the morning warms, rising air temperatures cause the droplets to evaporate. The window between early cold and warming is when morning mist is thickest.

Front light reflects off leaf surfaces, which shows color but lacks the luminosity of transmission. Backlight passes through the translucent leaf tissue, and the cellular structure scatters it in a way that makes the color appear to emanate from within rather than reflect from the surface.

Morning mist forms overnight and thickens in the coldest pre-dawn period when temperatures are at their lowest. Once the sun rises and begins heating the air and surfaces, evaporation accelerates rapidly. Arriving before sunrise ensures access to the mist at its maximum density.