On the other hand, it is also one of my favourite times of year, particularly in Canada.
So, what’s the attraction?
I have been spoiled with beautifully colourful autumns while growing up in Canada. Autumn is nature’s delightful extravagance before winter’s slumber. It is an orgasmic array of colour.
Autumn in the UK, or at least in London, is much more muted and rustic. There is colour, but it’s much more understated than the full blown display in Canada.
How does this impact my photography?
My black and white photography tends to be much more tactile in portraying my subject matter where textures, lighting and shadows play a key role.
However, I often shoot autumn scenes in colour Autumn as lends itself to colour photography. In Canada, the photography can get punch drunk on the rich reds, yellows and oranges that are all vying for attention.
In London, though, it is more about the browns, yellow and hints of reds and oranges teasing your interest.
In both settings, I like to slightly saturate my colours. Mostly I am using film, and often use Velvia 50, which saturates the colours. Also a polarising filter helps. In digital, you can edit the photos afterwards to draw out the colours.
Even in colour, texture and lighting play a role in a photograph. However, the colours tend to take centre stage.
Although I shoot more in colour in Autumn, I also like shooting in black and white. However, it’s a much different photo.
It’s often late in the season when much of the colour has dissipated and the leaves have created a blanket on the ground, however briefly. It’s capturing the textures and the fading light before the winter season takes hold.
Autumn really represents nature’s maturity before the winter months. The colours are its last great spectacular show before heading off to a slumber.