Tips for Photographing Fall Foliage with Alyce Bender

Fall provides photographers with the perfect opportunity to capture stunning autumn landscapes and vibrant foliage in rich, bold colors—but only for a short window of time. Whether you’re interested in autumn landscape photography, seeking fall foliage photography tips, or simply want to enhance your seasonal portfolio, these expert insights will help. We’ve asked Tamron Pro Ambassador Alyce Bender to share her top techniques for photographing fall foliage using tools like Tamron’s telephoto zoom and all-in-one lenses.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why a polarizing filter is essential for fall color saturation
• How to use telephoto lenses to create intimate, textured landscapes
• Tips for capturing detailed forest scenes under a colorful canopy
• Creative ways to photograph foliage reflections with long exposures
• How to add seasonal storytelling to wildlife photography

Images and Tips by Alyce Bender

TIP 1: Use a Polarizing Filter for Rich, Saturated Fall Colors

My number one tip when photographing fall foliage is to use a polarizing filter. Not only does it take glare off water and wet objects, but it helps to cut the glare on shiny foliage leaving you with more saturated and defined colors – the reason for the season if you will.

TIP 2: Capture Autumn Details with a Telephoto Lens

Make sure to pack a Tamron telephoto lens when leaf peeping in mountainous regions. The extra reach will allow you to craft intimate landscapes filled with texture, patterns, and/or color.

TIP 3: Explore Forest Details in Bright Midday Light

Slow down and be sure to take in all the details around you this time of year. Use midday, when the light is brightest, to explore under the canopy and capture details of the forest set against a colorful backdrop of leaves.

TIP 4: Create Abstract Reflections of Fall Foliage

Take the opportunity when working around bodies of water to create abstract or impressionistic images by using creative long exposures and a telephoto focal length to capture the fall foliage reflecting on the water. This would be one time when a polarizer would not be used as it would cut the reflections.

TIP 5: Revisit Iconic Landscapes in Vibrant Autumn Color

Revisit those grand and iconic landscapes so frequently captured during spring or summer to see how Nature dresses them in autumn. With sunrise getting later as winter approaches, take advantage of being able to photograph sunrise without losing as much sleep-in order to create images chock full of color from fore to background.

TIP 6: Add Seasonal Context to Wildlife Photography

For those wildlife shooters out there, be sure to use the autumn foliage to add a seasonal element to your image. It will help your viewers cue in on what time of year your subject was photographed or when the behavior captured was observed.

Start Capturing Stunning Autumn Landscapes Today

Photographing fall foliage is one of the most rewarding ways to embrace the beauty of the season. With these expert fall foliage photography tips from Tamron Ambassador Alyce Bender, you’ll be ready to create vibrant, professional-quality images—whether you’re shooting sweeping autumn landscapes, intimate nature details, or wildlife framed by brilliant leaves. Equip yourself with a reliable Tamron telephoto lens or an all-in-one zoom to elevate your results and make the most of the fleeting fall color. Now’s the time to get outside, explore, and bring your autumn vision to life.

To see more of Alyce Bender’s work, see her on Instagram @abenderphoto

Find an authorized Tamron dealer in your area or shop at the Tamron Store and start capturing the beautiful fall foliage today!