Autumn

This autumnal Appenzellerland scene’s layers add depth, drawing the viewer into the image and towards the mountains in the background. The tree’s russet hues are bathed in patches of golden light that’s also reflected off the dramatic clouds in the sky. The dash of blue contrasts against the warm hues and the tiny hut emphasizes the scene’s immense scale. A stunning scene indeed!

Capturing a mirror-like reflection as good as this is no mean feat. The water had to be near still, although it’s possible the slow shutter speed was cleverly used to blur out a few small ripples. The immense quality of this image was achieved by stitching together six portrait-orientation panoramas. All of this is enhanced by the gorgeous tones and the caps of golden light atop the mountains that match the turning trees.

A figure in a landscape is a great way to add a clearly defined subject to a scene that has no obvious focal point. This image goes one step further by carefully considering the figure and its positioning. The red umbrella complements the autumnal hues and the road acts as a leading line to draw the viewer’s gaze. While the image would work without them, the falling leaves are an attractive touch, adding interest across the frame.

This image appears to be a clever double exposure, blending a conventional image with intentional camera movement (ICM). We like how the bottom third of the image is tack sharp, while slowly transitioning into the ICM layer thereafter. Golden light breaking through the canopy above, prevents the image from appearing flat and the carpet of fallen leaves adds a welcome dash of colour.

You’d be hard pressed to find a more vivid example of golden light. Backlighting has surrounded the arctic fox in a liquid-gold frame and the long focal length – paired with a relatively wide aperture – has blurred out any distractions by creating a super-shallow depth of field.

There’s a lot going on in this image. Fallen leaves were arranged to create a frame within a frame, which draws the viewer’s attention towards both the toadstool and the starburst. A fisheye lens was used to create a large depth of field, from foreground to background. And an aperture of f/22 was narrow enough to create the stunning starburst. The sun was in exactly the right position to sit alongside the mushroom and remain within the frame.

The execution of this stunning portrait is flawless, but it’s the disconcerting concept that really makes it stand out. Viewers are encouraged to ponder the meaning of the surreal image: the crown of fallen leaves, the line of ants crawling up the subject, the sand-covered body and the vacant expression.

This amethyst deceiver mushroom is instantly recognizable thanks to its jewel-like purple hue. We love how this particular specimen pops against the blurred, ethereal background and the way the purple subject complements the green hues. The lashings of falling rain only add to the magical atmosphere.

We like how the leaf has been used as both foreground interest and a leading line towards the church and subject. The overcast lighting and urban setting has created a muted colour palette that almost appears monochrome, save for the russet-coloured leaf.

This image is all about the beautiful shadows cast across the undulating hills. The lone tree acts as a strong focal point, before the viewer’s gaze wanders across the frame. The golden light and russet colour grading has also amplified the autumnal setting.

This incredible wildlife photo was taken during the autumn rut and depicts a pair of clashing Svalbard reindeer. The viewer is immediately drawn to the animals’ eyes and the tight composition fills the frame, placing the viewer right amongst the action. A fantastic image!

You could imagine seeing this attractive pattern on a bedspread or wrapping paper. The charming composite was created in Adobe Photoshop CC and combines photographs of yarrow and cherry tree leaves. The former were used to create the textured background, while the latter was overlaid with a degree of transparency to allow the background texture to show through.

Most fungi images take the form of a frame-filling close-up, but this image is slightly different in that it captures the fungi in the foreground and the attractive, mist-covered environment beyond. The f/14 aperture has created a large enough depth of field to render both foreground and background in focus. A great image!

The background’s autumnal hues are melded together via the shallow depth of field, providing this pet portrait with a dream-like quality. This adds to the almost surreal nature of the single falling leaf, eyed by the dog. Crucially, the canine’s eye is tack sharp and we love how the blue merle’s coat, complements the image’s russet tones.

We like how there are few distractions surrounding the subject, emphasising the isolation of this lone mushroom. Angling the frame so the blurred disc of bokeh lined up right behind the subject was a clever idea and really makes this image stand out.