{"id":1127,"date":"2015-10-21T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2015-10-20T23:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lakelovers.cottage-search.com\/blog\/five-steps-to-great-lake-district-photographs-in-autumn\/"},"modified":"2025-12-18T14:47:19","modified_gmt":"2025-12-18T14:47:19","slug":"five-steps-to-great-lake-district-photographs-in-autumn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lakelovers.co.uk\/blog\/five-steps-to-great-lake-district-photographs-in-autumn\/","title":{"rendered":"Five steps to great Lake District photographs in Autumn!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summer is starting to fade and the onset of Autumn reminds us that in many respects, here in the UK we are lucky \u2013 we have four very distinct seasons. Autumn comes with vibrant, earthy colours and dramatic skies. When better to sharpen your photography skills? We\u2019ve put together a list of considerations and asked some of the experts too, for advice on photographing the stunning backdrop that is the Lake District, without the need for fancy and expensive equipment.<\/p>\n

1) Location, location, location<\/h2>\n

It sounds obvious, but if you want to take some great shots of Autumnal landscapes, then a little forward thinking is the place to start. Choose your location wisely, taking into account things like the weather, how easy the location is to get to and the things you will need along the way. What is vital with a location is that it gives you a pivotal subject for your pictures \u2013 a view of a particular fell or lake for example or a memory you\u2019re keen to capture. \u00a0It\u2019s also a good idea to consider elevation. Often a great landscape photo will be taken from an elevated position, giving a better vantage point for composition.<\/p>\n

2) The golden hour<\/h2>\n

The golden hour occurs twice daily and is the time just after sunrise and the time just before sunset \u2013 the sun is low in the sky and the light is diffused and can make for excellent photos. No matter what time of day you are taking photographs, try to be aware of the light. Where is it coming from and how it may affect your photo. Remember, in photography it is light that you are actually capturing. Try to remember that, generally speaking, if the sun is on your back you will get well lit shots, whereas if it\u2019s shining in your eyes, you\u2019re more likely to get silhouettes in your photo\u2019s.<\/p>\n

Read to the bottom for great tips from experts<\/h4>\n

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3) The technical stuff<\/h2>\n

Lots of people are put off by the technical aspects of taking photo\u2019s, but here are two aspects that are easy to understand and to utilise. Most people are able to change some of their camera settings, even if you\u2019re just using the camera on you\u2019re smartphone. If you have a White Balance <\/a>setting, switch it to Auto <\/em>or Auto Warm<\/em>, this ensures your camera captures the Autumn colours faithfully.<\/p>\n

Finally, Helvellyn and its lunaesque features make for an excellent photo opportunity, whether you shoot from low or elevated position, you\u2019ll find that you can achieve some excellent results. Try taking pictures with Red Tarn acting as a central feature \u2013 this dark and imposing water is a great contrast to the land surrounding it.<\/p>\n

4) Be prepared<\/h2>\n

The Lake District is a wild and rugged place and so make sure you are prepared. Good walking shoes or boots are an essential, as are waterproofs and don\u2019t forget your camera \u2013 make sure you have a waterproof bag that you can use to protect your camera should the weather get too bad. Some sort of umbrella may also be a wise move as will enable you to continue taking photographs during downpours of rain.<\/p>\n

5)\u00a0Filters are a must!<\/h2>\n

Whilst you may think it is the weather, wind and rain, \u00a0you\u2019re up against when photographing the Lake District, when in fact it is light, too much or too little, that is your biggest challenge!<\/p>\n

And this is where filters will really make a difference to your landscape photography, especially when up against \u2018challenging\u2019 light conditions! \u00a0Here are the\u00a0two\u00a0important ones and what they actually do.<\/p>\n

Polarizing Filter \u2013 Perfect for\u00a0darkening skies,\u00a0used generally when the sky is too blue! \u00a0This can enhance contrast with clouds\u00a0for example. \u00a0A polarizing filter is also used to manage\u00a0glare\u00a0from reflections from surfaces such as water, the sea or lakes, so a well-used filter in our beautiful Lake District!<\/p>\n

Graduation Filter \u2013 These are often used by landscape photographers when shooting the \u2018Golden Hour\u2019, during sunset or rise, where there is often a big difference between the light in the foreground and the orangey sky. \u00a0The graduated filter allows\u00a0the\u00a0struggling camera\u00a0to capture the light intensity of the setting sun by \u2018gradually\u2019 darkening the image. \u00a0They also work well when capturing running water, such as waterfalls and rivers, as they slow it down giving a smooth, blurred effect creating \u2018movement\u2019 in your image!<\/div>\n

As you go out and test these tips, we\u2019d love to hear your experiences and see your photographs.<\/p>\n

Before you head out, more super advice\u2026.read on!<\/p>\n

Tips from the experts<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Terry Abraham<\/strong>,<\/a> videographer and filmmaker, currently working on \u2018Life of a Mountain: Blencathra\u2019, premieres May 2016 and forms part of a planned trilogy following on from the critically acclaimed \u2018Life of a Mountain: Scafell Pike\u2019.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cIt would be \u2018patience is a virtue\u2019. The best times of day for photography are the hour before\/after sunrise and sunset. The low angle of the sun enhances the details and contrast of the fells. Also that golden glow of light further adds to any scenes. It\u2019s different in winter though. Not only does the snows transform the fells but the sun is always low in the sky.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Terry, who prides himself on not using any \u2018digital trickery\u2019 in his work, \u00a0has been known to wait six hours to get a perfect shot, and often sets off at 3am to beat the light! \u00a0He chooses his location, and like a Herdwick sheep, keeps to his heaf, watching as the landscape changes and waits ready to \u2018snap\u2019, \u2018click\u2019 or \u2018capture\u2019 that amazing moment when the sun breaks through some low hanging clouds or a perfect sunset stretches out.<\/p>\n

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Robert Birkby<\/strong>\u00a0is a landscape photographer interested in a range of styles and heads out no matter what the weather;<\/p>\n

Keep an eye on the weather forecast as it\u2019s pretty accurate these days and you can suit your style of photography to the conditions.<\/em><\/p>\n

If blessed with high pressure, get out of bed early as those cool, still nights of autumn tend to form mist and fog in the valleys which can make for wonderful images. Either head into the woodland where you can use the mist to add another dimension to your photographs, perhaps with shafts of sunlight bursting through the trees, or if you\u2019re feeling fit climb onto one of the fells and look down on the blanket of mist.<\/em><\/p>\n

If the sun is shining, try shooting into the sun, preferably early or late in the day when the light is weaker. The autumnal leaves can look spectacular when backlit.<\/em><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t despair if it\u2019s dull or raining. Damp weather only helps bring out those autumn hues, which can really glow against grey skies. If possible invest in a circular polarising filter, which simply screws onto the lens to cut out glare from the shiny wet leaves. This really makes those colours ping!<\/em><\/p>\n

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Lakelovers\u2019 very own photographer Philip Green\u00a0is a fan of film over digital capturing, especially for high resolution imagery. Here\u2019s what he told us;<\/p>\n

Although it is fairly important to try and factor in perfect weather conditions to your photography I have found on many occasions that the weathers unpredictability (especially in the Lake District) can make this a \u2018chasing your tail\u2019 kind of exercise.<\/em><\/p>\n

But with unpredictability can come the unexpected, allowing for the capture of images that record the varying moods of the area that perhaps wouldn\u2019t have been attained if you had held off for the perfect conditions!<\/em><\/p>\n

I find this especially true for Black and white images.<\/em><\/p>\n

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James Bell<\/a><\/strong> is a well known Lake District Landscape Photographer<\/a>. He\u00a0sells prints of his Lake District Landscapes worldwide and you may have seen\u00a0some of his landscapes in\u00a0John Lewis department stores across the UK! \u00a0James\u2019 key advice on taking successful landscape photographs in the Lakes\u00a0is to take on the challenge of bad weather;<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no such thing as perfect weather for the landscape photographer, here in the Lake District. Don\u2019t be afraid to head out with you camera on a cloudy or wet day as quite often the weather can change quickly. The best advice I can offer is to always have your camera with you. Even on a dull looking day the beauty of the Lake District can still be seen, even if it\u2019s for a brief moment, it\u2019s there, everyday, you just have to change your perspective and look for details within the wider scene. A good photographer can make an interesting image in any situation, that\u2019s why I love the Lake District, as quite often the challenge of the conditions makes for more rewarding images!<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

UK based photographer, Roger Green<\/strong> creates images that bring back \u201chappy memories\u201d and his landscape work can be seen on the cover of glossy magazine titles such as Lancashire Life, as well as picking up awards. \u00a0Here\u2019s his super-useful tips:<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re new to photography and have just bought yourself a DSLR, firstly, learn about the camera and its setting. Using it on full auto is great to build your confidence, but to get the best out of your new purchase, try and move to one of the manual modes.\u00a0Landscape\u00a0photographers tend to use Aperture Priority Mode (A or AV on the dial) and usually set it to between F11 and F16, as this gives the best depth of field\u00a0for landscapes. \u00a0<\/em>Depending on\u00a0weather conditions set ISO (Film Speed) to 200 if using hand held, as this\u00a0should give a\u00a0decent\u00a0shutter speed\u00a0(1\/60 or above) or preferable, use a\u00a0tripod (always recommended for\u00a0Landscapes) and set ISO to 100.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n