The fall season has arrived and is now in full bloom! As we work our way into the many holidays, with people hustling and bustling about, we begin preparation for the impending winter to come. However, the week before Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to stop, unwind, and take in the world around us. So many activities are to be done and so many memories are meant to be madeduring this wonderful time of year. Why not document it?

Photography is a great way to spend time this season, as the world around us changes gears for the cold winter. For those who are fond of the art scene, fall is the perfect time to take advantage of breathtaking photo elements. With so many vibrant colors, the possibilities are endless behind the camera lens. Nature provides photographers with beautiful props that are easy to access and put to good use.

Leaves are a beautiful element to incorporate into any photo, especially as they change colors.  The red, yellow, and orange hues add a certain flare to even the simplest photos. For portrait photography, dark red or browning leaves best highlight a darker skin tone (such as a caramel brown) and darker eyes (such as tinted green or hazel). Be careful with how diverse the colors are. Too much contrast can make the photo look aggressive; whereas fall photos mimic a gentle feel. Lighter colors, such as orange or yellow, highlight fair skin and light eyes best. The lighter the skin or eye color, the lighter color of leaves a photographer should incorporate into the photograph.

A fall sky has exceptional beauty compared to other seasonal nights. As the sun begins to set, shades of pinks and blues mix together in a perfectly balanced blend. The gentle blue gifts an innocent essence to the photograph when accompanied by the vibrant pink. A brilliant time to shoot that perfect fall photo is in the first and last hours or so of daylight. As the sun sets, rays become less aggressive and the dying light gives a beautiful sky for a background. At these times, the natural light is not harsh or overbearing, which gives great exposure and contrast to photographs. One simple way to know when the time is right is when a shadow becomes taller than its object.

Burned out on new photo compositions? A fall exclusive photo is the tree time-lapse. As the leaves make their transition, the color change is a worthy documentation. Simply take a photo of the same tree every day from the same spot for the next two or three weeks. Upload the photos into a photo story software, such as Microsoft Movie Maker, and watch the change unfold on screen.

For more fall photo ideas, visit this Pinterest board. The board contains many brilliant ideas of photo composition, exposure and contrast tips, and much more!