1-34000319 Spectacular colour with atmospheric conditions as in this photo of Crystal Lake in New Hampshire's White Mountains is the exception, not the norm.

A case in point was last Sunday morning. I arose early hoping to capture a nice autumn sunrise. But I struck out. Those are the vagaries of nature photography. More often than not, nature does not cooperate.

Here in Sudbury, fall colours are only now arriving. After striking out on a sunrise, I drove into a large fog bank to the west, where I spotted this small maple which had lost many of its leaves.

2_D7A0542 This was about the best colour I'd seen that morning, so I pulled over to check out the scene.

3_D7A0548 I worked this setting, taking a variety of images. Here are a few of them.

4_D7A0557 5_D7A0560 6_D7A0568 The lesson here: when you find a good subject, spend time with it. Work the scene.

Here are some examples of autumn photographs.

7-S_20_0280 Look for reflections when the morning is quiet and calm.

8-S_17_0298Fishermen on foggy autumn morning, Vermilion River, Whitefish, City of Greater, Sudbury, Ontario On autumn mornings you will often find foggy conditions. Here on the Vermilion River the foggy atmosphere also shows reflections on the water.

9-C_16_0772 Here the rising sun sidelights the frosty foggy morning on Oxtongue Lake.

10-S_14_0304Red maple (Acer rubrum), St. Poithier Lake, City of Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada Front light does not often produce quality images, but the light fog on St. Pothier Lake introduces some atmosphere.

The red maple and its reflection as foreground elements add layering and depth to this photo.

11-S_15_0363 This is a different composition at the same location, a wider view on a clear morning at sunrise.

12-S_18_0395 Overcast conditions diffuse the light, often good conditions for saturating colours, as in this birch grove in Kivi Park.

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Similar overcast light saturates the colours of the leaves along this small laneway.

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In similar conditions, look for higher points of view for larger landscape images, as in this country road on Manitoulin Island, or in the following photo of the forest in Killarney Provincial Park.

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A bright sunny day is not a favourite time of mine for fall landscape photography.

15b_D7A0682 This photo illustrates my disdain for these kinds of days. This front-lit scene might look good to one's naked eye, but if you make your photos under these conditions, you will be disappointed. The colours are dull and drab, and the harsh shadows provide too much contrast. I'm often derided when I disagree with those who claim what a beautiful day it is. It may be so, but not for photography.

16-14000070 But that is not always true. Dramatic side light here creates an epic photo on Algoma's Little White River north of Iron Bridge.

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Great early morning side light, combined with a polarizing filter, can combat the effects of a bright sunny day, as in this photo of Pequawket Pond in Conway, New Hampshire.

Another technique is to look up and contrast the colours of the leaves against a blue sky. That's what I did to make this image near Coldwater, Ontario. Using a polarizer accentuates these contrasting colours.

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All these techniques come together in this photo of a maple tree on the Vermilion River; side light, contrasting colours (blue and yellow), a calm morning with great reflections, and the judicious use of a polarizing filter.

So get your camera, get out and enjoy the beauty of this short-lived season, and bring home some great memories.