Have you ever stumbled upon a beautiful autumn panorama and whipped out your phone to snap some pics – only to find that the finished product looked a little meh? Samuel Li’s images of Wisconsin autumn are eye-catching and enviable – we asked the professional photographer for his best tips to capture the season.
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Know Where to Go
Consult Travel Wisconsin’s fall color map to see which regions are looking their best when you’re ready to shoot. Some of Li’s favorite spots are the Driftless Area, Door County, Bayfield and along the Mississippi River.
Head Out at High Noon
When it comes to fall colors, sunsets or sunrises are overrated; Li favors midday sun. “The colors are more vibrant,” he says. “If you’re shooting from overhead, like on a bluff, it’s really beautiful.”
Use Water
Li notes that one of the best ways to make the fall foliage stand out is to have water, with its deep blue contrast, in the frame.
Wander
“I think with social media, people get obsessed with finding these singular views or angles that they’ve seen online, but whenever I go somewhere, I just walk,” Li says. Straying from the beaten path has yielded his best shots.
