It was a completely unexpected and unplanned photo. I spent two hours in the park hunting for good light. But, the thick clouds were blocking the sunlight making the scene flat and boring. When the sun was below the horizon, I gave up and started walking home. This was when the magic happened.
For 4-5 short minutes, the sun illuminated the entire sky, from the horizon all the way to the top, rendering some unrealistic and saturated colors.
Loc: 45.42919, -73.68833
Shooting
I did not have time any fancy shooting techniques. I just started shooting frantically individual shots until the fire in the sky was gone.
Camera: Sony a6000
Lens: Sony 10-18
Focal Length: 18mm
Shooting Mode: Aperture Priority (A)
ISO: 100
Aperture: F/8
Shutter Speed: 1/4s
Tripod: FEISOL Tournament CT-3442
Ballhead: FEISOL CB-40D
Editing & Processing
It was single RAW processing workflow.
Lightroom (85%)
With the help of the Crop Overlay tool, I cropped the image to improve the composition without changing the aspect ratio. Next, I used Autumn preset from my Fall Colors Collection as the base for Lightroom Rapid Editing. Then I used TOOLKIT to reduce Clarity and boost Contrast.
The Lightroom Preset Editing Formula: Autumn (9, 13, 32, 38)
Photoshop (15%)
First, I used the Stamp Tool to remove the bench and the light post from the scene to make composition cleaner.Next I used the Spot Healing Bush to clean up the image.
Plugins: DeNoise (noise reduction), Topaz Detail (local contrast boost).
Total Time: 20min
The fall season offers a multitude of opportunities for capturing stunning foliage photos. By following these 12 ideas and tips, you can enhance your photography skills and capture the beauty of autumn in all its glory.
Before & After Transformation
