Field of Gold – Flagstaff, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Kodak Gold 200
It’s officially fall! The leaves on the trees will soon change colors, putting on a vibrant show before they drop off completely in time for winter. Autumn is such a great time for landscape photography. The season goes by quickly, and it’s easy to miss out if you procrastinate. That means the time is now to prepare your gear.
One aspect of getting your cameras ready is choosing the Film Simulation Recipes that you may want to use. A common question that I get at this time of the year is: Which Recipes are good for fall foliage photography? There are over 400 to choose from, and they all might be at least ok for this purpose situationally speaking, but there are some that are certainly better than others.
The fifteen Recipes below are all good for autumn pictures. I have used each of them, and can attest that these are excellent options. This is not intended to be a comprehensive list by any means, and some that might be quite good for fall photos aren’t included—if one of your favorites isn’t found below, feel free to mention it in the comments. Also, what one might like another might not; everyone has their own tastes and styles. Perhaps only a few of these 15 are a good match for your personal taste, style, and situation—there’s bound to be at least one that you’ll appreciate.
Without any further delay, here are 15 Film Simulation Recipes for Fall Foliage Photography!
Autumn on Kodachrome – Layton, UT – Fujifilm X-E4 – Kodachrome 25
Sharp, clean, and classic. This version of the Recipe is for the Fujifilm X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, X-T30 II, and GFX100S, and there’s another version for the X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50, X-M5, X-E5, GFX100 II, GFX100S II, and GFX100RF.
Friendly Pumpkin – Fruit Heights, UT – Fujifilm X-E4 – Elite Chrome 200
Consumer-grade Kodak slide film aesthetic. Compatible with all X-Trans IV cameras except the X-T3 and X-T30, as well as the GFX100S; for fifth-generation X-Trans and newer GFX, set Color Chrome FX Blue to Off instead of Weak.
Golden Aspen – Flagstaff, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Kodak Gold 200
Warm negative film look. This version is for the Fujifilm X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50, X-M5, X-E5, GFX100 II, GFX100S II, and GFX100RF, and there is another version that is compatible with the X-Pro2, X100F, X-E3, X-T2, X-T20, X-H1, X-T3, X-T30, and GFX100.
Golden Autumn Trees – Flagstaff, AZ – Fujifilm X100V – Kodak Ektar 100
Warm, colorful, and clean. Compatible with all X-Trans IV cameras except the X-T3 and X-T30, as well as the GFX100S; for fifth-generation X-Trans and newer GFX, set Color Chrome FX Blue to Off instead of Weak.
Soft and warm negative film aesthetic. Compatible with the Fujifilm X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50, X-M5, X-E5, GFX100 II, GFX100S II, and GFX100RF; for the X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, X-T30 II, and GFX100S, set Color Chrome FX Blue to Strong instead of Weak.
Warm negative film look. This version is for the Fujifilm X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50, X-M5, X-E5, GFX100 II, GFX100S II, and GFX100RF, there’s another version for the X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, X-T30 II, and GFX100S, and another version for the X-T3 and X-T30.
Bow Bridge – New York City, NY – Fujifilm X100VI – PRO Negative 160C
Fujicolor negative film look. This Recipe is compatible with the Fujifilm X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50, X-M5, X-E5, GFX100 II, GFX100S II, and GFX100RF.
Warm and cinematic. Compatible with all X-Trans IV cameras except the X-T3 and X-T30, all fifth-generation X-Trans models, as well as the GFX100S, GFX100 II, GFX100S II, and GFX100RF.
Autumn in a Mountain Meadow – Flagstaff, AZ – Fujifilm X100V – Fujicolor Superia 100
Soft Fujicolor Superia aesthetic. This version of the Recipe is for the Fujifilm X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, X-T30 II, and GFX100S, and there’s another version for the X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50, X-M5, X-E5, GFX100 II, GFX100S II, and GFX100RF.
Red Leaf – Fruit Heights, UT – Fujifilm X100V – Superia Xtra 400
Warmer and more colorful—yet more versatile—Superia aesthetic. This version of the Recipe is for the Fujifilm X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, X-T30 II, and GFX100S, and there’s another version for the X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50, X-M5, X-E5, GFX100 II, GFX100S II, and GFX100RF.
Autumn Walkway – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Pacific Blues
Moody and bold. This version of the Recipe is for the Fujifilm X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50, X-M5, X-E5, GFX100 II, GFX100S II, and GFX100RF, and there’s another version for the X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, X-T30 II, and GFX100S.
Retro aesthetic. Compatible with all X-Trans IV cameras except the X-T3 and X-T30, as well as the GFX100S; for fifth-generation X-Trans and newer GFX, set Color Chrome FX Blue to Off instead of Weak.
Boulder Lake in Autumn – Clinton, CT – Fujifilm X-T5 – Velvia Film
Colorful, warm, and versatile. This Recipe is compatible with the Fujifilm X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, X-T30 II, X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50, X-M5, X-E5, GFX100S, GFX100 II, GFX100S II, and GFX100RF.
Arizona Aspens – Flagstaff, AZ – Fujifilm X100V – The Rockwell
Vibrant, sharp, and bold. Compatible with the Fujifilm X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, X-T30 II, X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50, X-M5, X-E5, GFX100S, GFX100 II, GFX100S II, and GFX100RF.
I’ve been asked many times over the last couple of weeks which Film Simulation Recipes are the best for autumn photography. Sometimes the Recipes that work really well for the endless sunshine of summer aren’t quite as good for photographing fall foliage. I live in the desert; for the most part, the leaves here don’t change colors until November and December, and the show is rather mundane compared to most other places. Because of that, whenever I do get to experience the brilliant colors of the changing season, I’m learning as I go which Recipes work well and which ones don’t.
Last year I traveled a few hours up the road to the mountains near Flagstaff, Arizona, where there is an impressive autumn display. I tried seven different Recipes that I thought might do well, and it was interesting to compare the results. As you’d probably expect, some did better than others. If you are trying to figure out which Recipes to try this fall, I definitely recommend taking a look at that article (click here). I also published an article two years ago with some fall Recipe suggestions (click here), which is also worthwhile. Between those two posts, there are 17 potential options for your autumn photography.
Fujifilm X-T5 – Velvia Film Recipe
Last week I was up in New York and Connecticut. It might be “peak fall” right now—or maybe next week—for those up that direction. It was absolutely gorgeous when I was there, despite not being quite peak colors. I was thrilled not only for the opportunity to photograph the incredible scenery, but to also try out different Film Simulation Recipes for autumn photography. Specifically, I wanted to use ones that were not included in those two articles I mentioned in the last paragraph—between all three posts, you should now have a pretty good selection of potential options.
Everyone has different tastes, and the light and subject will be different wherever you go. That’s why it’s good to have options. My hope is that a few of these Recipes—or maybe some from those other two articles—will stand out to you to try for yourself. The idea here is not that you’ll use all 11 of these on your next fall foliage outing, but that you might try some. You might even decide that some of these are definitely not for you—knowing which ones to avoid can also be valuable.
Fujifilm X100VI – PRO Negative 160C Recipe
For myself, I did find a few that I will certainly use again whenever I have the opportunity to photograph fall foliage in the future. And I also found a few Recipes that I probably won’t. Just because I like (or don’t like) something doesn’t mean that you’ll agree with that assessment. Hopefully, though, if you are unsure which ones to program into your Fujifilm camera, this will give you some direction.
Without any further delay, below are 11 Film Simulation Recipes that I tried for fall photography in New York and Connecticut last week.
Velvia Film was one of the Recipes that I was most excited to try out for fall photography. I had high hopes for it, and it didn’t disappoint. In retrospect, I only wish that I had used it more—a lot more, actually. I will definitely utilize this one on my next autumn adventure!
This Recipe is quite vibrant, slightly warm, and fairly low contrast. If you want to emphasize the vivid colors of the changing leaves, this one will do it. Velvia Film is one of the Film Dial Recipes, and you are likely to get good results with Provia, Astia, PRO Neg. Hi, Reala Ace, Classic Chrome, Classic Negative, and Nostalgic Negative (and maybe others); however, Velvia is top-notch for this type of photography, and what I most recommend. It is compatible (as of this writing) with the Fujifilm X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, X-T30 II, X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50 and X-M5 cameras.
I thought that I was going to love Vibrant Velvia for autumn, but I didn’t. Not that it was bad (because it wasn’t), but it didn’t quite emphasize the colors like I hoped it would. Green and blue stand out, but the warm colors of the changing leaves surprisingly get a little deemphasized. Situationally specific, it could still be a good choice for fall photography; however, I think there are several better options.
Where I think this Recipe works best is in a situation like the photo directly below this paragraph. The fall foliage add pops of warmth to the green and blue, which are the two most prominent colors in the scene. As of this writing, this Recipe is compatible with the Fujifilm X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, X-T30 II, X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50 and X-M5 cameras.
I like Appalachian Negative in general, so I thought I might also appreciate it for fall. Sure enough, I do! It has the right retro Kodak-like vibes to trigger nostalgia. This is another Recipe that I wish I had used more, because I like the results. I can imagine it being especially appropriate for photographing a pumpkin patch or fall decor or things like that.
Because this Recipe uses the Nostalgic Neg. film simulation, it is only compatible with the latest cameras, which (as of this writing) are the Fujifilm X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50 and X-M5. Of the three Recipes in this article that use the Nostalgic Neg. film simulation, Appalachian Negative is my favorite for autumn pictures.
I had pretty high hopes for 1976 Kodak when I programmed it into my X-T5, but ultimately I decided that it is just a bit too warm and contrasty for my tastes. It definitely does make the pictures look like they were captured in another era, but it just feels like too much warmth, particularly whenever the scenes are already especially warm. Situationally specific it might be a good choice—such as low-contrast cool light scenes—but overall it was not my favorite for fall photos.
If you are going for a 1970’s magazine vibe, you might consider this Recipe; otherwise, I would instead recommend the one directly below this or especially the one directly above. As of this writing, 1976 Kodak is compatible with the Fujifilm X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50 and X-M5 cameras.
As far as the Nostalgic Neg. Recipes that I tried, I feel that Kodak Negative sits in-between Appalachian Negative and 1976 Kodak; however, it is divergent enough that I could see having it programmed as a companion to one of those Recipes. For fall photos, I like this one much more than 1976 Kodak, but not quite as much as Appalachian Negative.
In the right light, this Recipe is phenomenal for capturing autumn colors. Next opportunity, I will definitely have this one programmed into my camera. Kodak Negative is compatible (as of this writing) with the Fujifilm X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50 and X-M5 cameras.
I didn’t expect to like this Recipe for fall foliage because it is soft with muted colors; however, I ended up liking it for that very reason. The Kodak Portra 160 Recipe produces results that are somewhat the antithesis of what one expects from fall photos, which is what makes it work.
This isn’t a Recipe that I would use for all of my autumn images, but, as occasional relief to the vivid pictures that dominate this season, it is quite excellent. This Recipe is compatible with the Fujifilm X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II cameras; for fifth-generation models, simply set Color Chrome FX Blue to Weak instead of Strong.
Kodak Portra 400 v2 is one of my absolute favorite Recipes, so it should be unsurprising that I appreciate the results for fall photographs. Interestingly, there are some similarities between this and Appalachian Negative, so perhaps having both Recipes programmed into the camera is a bit redundant; however, they are definitely divergent enough to justify both.
This particular Recipe is the version for the fifth-generation models, which (as of this writing) are the Fujifilm X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50 and X-M5. There is also a version for X-Trans IV cameras, and one for the X-T3 and X-T30.
Astia Azure is a Fuji X Weekly App Patron-only Early Access Recipe, which means that only App subscribers have access to it at this time. Eventually it will be made available to everyone once a different Early Access Recipe replaces it. I found it did alright in certain light situations (such as the above photo), but was mediocre in others.
While I didn’t necessarily dislike it, Astia Azure wouldn’t be my top choice for autumn photography—I think it’s more of a summertime Recipe, especially if there’s a lot of blue sky… it’s pretty good for nighttime, too. As of this writing, the Astia Azure Recipe is compatible with the Fujifilm X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, X-T30 II, X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50 and X-M5 cameras.
I liked the PRO Negative 160C Recipe a lot for fall photographs. It combines a somewhat soft tonality with vibrant and slightly warm colors, producing anologue-like results. This is another one that I wish I had utilized more, and will use again for autumn images at the next opportunity.
Because this Recipe uses the Reala Ace film simulation, it is only compatible with fifth-generation models, which (as of this writing) are the Fujifilm X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50 and X-M5 cameras. There is a version that uses the PRO Neg. Hi film simulation, which is compatible with the X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II.
This is another Fuji X Weekly App Patron-only Early Access Recipe, which means that only App subscribers have access to it at this time. Eventually it will be made available to everyone once a different Early Access Recipe replaces it. I like this one, although it can be a bit too contrasty in high-contrast situations, so it isn’t for every scenario.
While I would certainly consider having this as one of my seven C1-C7 Recipes, I’m not certain if it would make the cut or not. It’s close, and it definitely can be useful, so if it didn’t, it would be a tough cut. The Ektachrome E100 Recipe is compatible (as of this writing) with the Fujifilm X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50 and X-M5 cameras.
Last but certainly not least is Pacific Blues. This is another of my favorite Recipes, so it should not be surprising that I also like it for fall photography. This one has a lot of contrast, so it can be challenging to use, and is clearly not for every fall image. Even if the situation where it works well is only encountered occasionally, I would still have this as one of my C1-C7 Custom Settings presets.
This particular version of the Pacific Blues Recipe is for X-Trans IV cameras, which are the Fujifilm X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II cameras; for fifth-generation models, there’s a version for your camera.
Fujifilm X-E4 – Pacific Blues Recipe
Fujifilm X-E4 – Pacific Blues Recipe
Of these 11 Film Simulation Recipes, which seven would I program into my Fujifilm X-T5 or X100VI? Velvia Film, Appalachian Negative, Kodak Portra 160, Kodak Portra 400 v2, PRO Negative 160C, Ektachrome E100, and Pacific Blues—I think, anyway. Kodak Negative was a tough cut in that scenario, so I would probably take a longer look at it, and really consider if that’s what I want to do. In any event, that seems like an excellent set of seven for fall photography that covers most subjects and situations. But, don’t forget, there are also the seven I used in Flagstaff last year, and I would certainly consider including some of those, namely CineStill 400D v2, Kodak Ektar 100, Fujicolor Superia 100, and The Rockwell. This would be a lot easier if we had more than seven slots. More likely, the next opportunity to capture the autumn leaves, I will have different Recipes programmed into two or three cameras, so that I can use more than just seven.
The fall colors won’t last long. If you’ve been wanting to photograph them, don’t procrastinate. Grab your Fujifilm camera, program in a few of these Recipes, and head out the door. The time is now, so make sure that you don’t miss out.
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Autumn in a Mountain Meadow – Flagstaff, AZ – Fujifilm X100V – Fujicolor Superia 100
When you think of dramatic displays of Autumn colors, you probably don’t think of Arizona. It’s easy to miss that Arizona has a significant amount of mountainous terrain, with extensive forests and even snow-capped peaks in the winter. In autumn, some of these trees change color as the leaves prepare to drop. The fall foliage in Arizona can be impressive!
Two days ago I drove up north to the slopes of the San Francisco Peaks just outside of Flagstaff for an autumn hike. The trail is called Aspen Corner Trail, which sits right below the Snowbowl ski resort. Interestingly, I was looking for the Aspen Loop Nature Trail, but I didn’t quite go far enough, and didn’t realize until later that I wasn’t even on the intended path. I had never been on any trails in this area before; I saw all of the cars and the many photographers, and just figured I was in the right place.
It was an easy hike, with very short sections that might be considered moderate (maybe). I didn’t go anywhere close to the end, just perhaps a quarter mile down where the thick forest opened to a large meadow, then back to the car as the sun was beginning to dip below the horizon. The place was nothing short of stunning!
Arizona Aspens – Flagstaff, AZ – Fujifilm X100V – The Rockwell
For those who don’t know or remember, the way I’m currently using my X100V is the rear LCD is turned off, and the hybrid viewfinder is set to OVF. That means that I don’t know how the pictures turned out until later when I review them. This is intended to replicate a film-like experience, in a way. Since I don’t know what I’m getting, I try to take a little extra care to ensure that I get it right. Also, I really enjoy reviewing all of the photos at once, not knowing how exactly it all went; there’s a certain thrill when one is especially great or unexpectedly interesting. This process has been a good exercise for me.
Now, let’s take a look at the seven Film Simulation Recipes that I used to photograph fall colors on my Fujifilm X100V!
This Recipe produces bright and colorful pictures. If you want to really show off a vibrant scene, The Rockwell will do it! The flip side is that it can be over-the-top sometimes—too bold, too colorful, too crisp. I was confident that this would be a good option, and I was right. If you want to emphasize the vivid colors of autumn, The Rockwell will deliver just that. I used this Recipe more than any of the others.
I don’t shoot with the Kodak Ektar 100 Recipe all that often, so I thought this would be a good opportunity. It’s warm and vibrant, and seemingly a good match for autumn photography. After reviewing the pictures, my regret is not using this Recipe more! The image above, for example, is one of my favorites of the outing. I’m going to keep this one programmed into my camera for awhile longer.
Kodak Portra 400 v2 is one of the Recipes that I typically use the most—definitely Top 5, maybe Top 3—so I thought I’d try the “v1” Kodak Portra 400 Recipe instead on this trip. I just don’t shoot with it often enough. After reviewing the pictures, this is another one that I wish I had used more. While it doesn’t emphasize the colors like the two Recipes above, it does produce an analogue-like rendering that’s easy to appreciate.
Another Recipe that I didn’t use a lot was Reggie’s Portra, although it certainly did quite well. In retrospect, I probably didn’t need to have both Kodak Portra 400 and Reggie’s Portra programmed into the camera. Personally, I prefer the aesthetic of Kodak Portra 400 just slightly more (although, overall, they’re pretty similar), but Reggie’s Portra is more versatile, so it can be the better choice if the light might be something other than sunny daylight. If I were to do this again, I’d choose either Kodak Portra 400 or Reggie’s Portra and not both.
This is a Recipe that I suspected might be very good for fall foliage photography, but I wasn’t certain. I’m now convinced that it is! Upon reviewing the pictures, CineStill 400D v2 was one of my favorite Recipes that I used, and another that I wished that I used more. Very beautiful results, perhaps the best of these seven for the light and colors on this particular adventure. I really liked this one!
Fujicolor Superia 100 was my second-most used Recipe (only behind The Rockwell), and I chose it because I wanted a Fuji color-negative film look, plus I thought this might be a good option for autumn images (although I wasn’t sure). While the picture at the very top of this article, which was captured with this Recipe, was one of my top favorites of this trip, overall I was a tad disappointed with Fujiclor Superia 100. It wasn’t a bad choice for fall colors, but it wasn’t as good as some of the others that I used less often. So, basically, Fujicolor Superia 100 was great sometimes and mediocre at other times, depending on the exact light and colors.
I wondered how a Recipe with a bit more green in it might fare in the fall. I knew there’d be some pines, and figured that the Fujicolor NPH Recipe might render those well. I think the results were interesting—and definitely different than the others—but this was my least favorite of the seven. That’s not to say that it was bad, but only I preferred the other six more. It has some potential, though—for example, the very last picture has an obvious similarity to some prints I have in a photo box in the closet. But, overall, I think there are better Film Simulation Recipes for autumn photography.
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Road Through the Autumn Trees – Bountiful, UT – Fujifilm X100F – Velvia
Autumn officially arrived yesterday. I didn’t notice because I moved to the Phoenix metropolitan area, and in this part of Arizona it is still summer, as far as the weather and trees are concerned. Besides, this area isn’t known for its fall colors, anyway. But I used to live in Utah, and loved watching the autumn colors descend on the Wasatch, beginning at the mountain peaks in late-summer and working their way to the valley by October. I will miss that this year, for sure.
A common question I’m asked around the Autumn Equinox is which Film Simulation Recipes are best for photographing fall colors. There are many that could work well, much more than merely 10. I think, generally speaking, any recipe that uses Velvia or Astia could be solid options. Classic Chrome and Classic Negative recipes can be good, too. I don’t believe any film simulation is inherently “bad” for fall colors, but obviously some are better than others. I think oftentimes the recipes that are more vibrant will do better, so perhaps look for those. Download the Fuji X Weekly App (if you haven’t already), browse through the sample pictures, and see which recipe stands out he most to you. Or, if you’re brave, use the new Random Recipe selector to choose one for you!
If you are not sure which Film Simulation Recipe to use on your Fujifilm camera and are looking for some ideas, I have suggested 10 below, which I believe will do well for photographing fall colors. Best of luck this autumn season!
Back in October I took a quick vacation to Montana. I’ve shared some of those pictures on this website, but many of them I haven’t, because I’ve been busy with other things. Today marks Winter Solstice, which means fall is officially over, yet I’ve finally just now found the time to post some of my autumn pictures from that Montana trip!
All of these pictures were captured with my Fujifilm X100V. The film simulation recipes that I used were Kodak Portra 400 v2 (currently only available on the Fuji X Weekly App for iOS), an experiment (which I had actually forgotten about until I was reviewing these pictures) where I used Classic Negative instead of Classic Chrome with the Kodak Portra 400 v2 recipe (I might have also adjusted the WB Shift a little, I don’t remember), and The Rockwell for a few pictures (I think I might have made an adjustment or two to that recipe on this trip, but, again, I don’t really remember). Most of these pictures were captured with that Classic Negative experiment, and I realize that I need to revisit it, because the results are pretty good!
The Fujifilm X100V is such a great camera to carry around on vacation. It’s small enough that it’s not in the way, yet it’s capable of capturing amazing pictures. It rained while I was there, and the camera survived getting a little wet. The X100V is my favorite travel camera hands down, and I enjoy it immensely. It’s not the right tool for every situation, but it’s the camera that I use most often, especially when on vacation.
Yellow Spots – Big Arm, MT – Fujifilm X100V
Wet Red Leaves – Big Arm, MT – Fujifilm X100V
Turning Red – Big Arm, MT – Fujifilm X100V
Red – Big Fork, MT – Fujifilm X100V
Yellow in the Forest – Big Fork, MT – Fujifilm X100V
Changing to Yellow – Big Fork, MT – Fujifilm X100V
Early Autumn Forest – Big Fork, MT – Fujifilm X100V
Golden Forest – Big Fork, MT – Fujifilm X100V
Light Log – Big Fork, MT – Fujifilm X100V
Sunlight Through The Forest Trees – Big Arm, MT – Fujifilm X100V
Mountain Autumn – Big Mountain Pass, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 90mm
Fall might be my favorite season, but it’s always too short. Summer often overstays its welcome. Winter usually comes too quickly. Autumn gets squeezed in the middle. You have to be quick, because it’s fleeting. It comes and goes so quickly! If you don’t take time to see and experience it, you’ll flat out miss it, and you’ll have to wait another year for fall to return.
Autumn is the season of change. The weather changes. The colors of the leaves change. The food we eat and coffee we drink change (if you want them to). There’s beauty in change, and uncertainty. It ends cold and gloomy as winter budges in, but before it does autumn puts on a spectacular show. Autumn can be breathtakingly beautiful!
Apple Harvest – Logan, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 90mm
The photographs in this post were captured during the 2019 fall season. Many of them I’ve yet to share on the Fuji X Weekly blog, but you’ve probably seen a few of them in other articles. Some of the pictures are from early autumn when the weather was still warm and the leaves only beginning to change colors. Others are from late fall when the temperatures dipped cold and the scene turned drab. Still others were captured during the height of vibrant colors, which unfortunately didn’t last very long, yet long enough for me to get a few exposures made.
Autumn & Winter – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30
One thing that’s great about where I live is the view. The Wasatch Mountains loom over our house, and are clearly visible from the back windows and throughout the yard. Autumn is one of my favorite times of the year because the mountains behind our house become dotted with the vibrant colors of the season. That’s how it is right now. The view doesn’t get old, and I feel fortunate to live where I do.
A few days ago a storm rolled through and dusted the top of the mountain with snow and ice. The contrast between the autumn trees and winter weather was intriguing and beautiful. It seemed much too early for these two seasons to meet, but there it was on display for those willing to take a moment to look. It caught my attention, and I proceeded to capture it with my camera.
Despite the front-row seat from my yard, the white mountain peaks were actually a good distance away, and required a long telephoto lens to bring the scene close enough to photograph. Attached to my Fujifilm X-T30 was a Fujinon 50-230mm zoom lens, which is my longest telephoto option. Actually, this lens belongs to my wife, Amanda, but she graciously let me borrow it. I photographed all the pictures in this article from my yard using this camera and lens combination, along with my Velvia film simulation recipe. I hope that you enjoy these pictures of when fall meet winter a few days ago.
Frosted Hill – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30
Veiled Mountain – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30
Vibrant White – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30
Winter Kissed Autumn – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30
Mountainside Autumn – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30
Frosted Autumn – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30
Peeking Peak – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30
Lifting Autumn Sky – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30
The Hoya Intensifier filter claims to increase the intensity of reds and oranges within an image while not adding an overall color shift. It’s a great promise that might be especially beneficial for fall foliage photography. But does it work? Is it worth buying?
I have had my Hoya Intensifier filter for several years now, but I rarely use it. It does, in fact, intensify the reds and oranges within an image, but the promise of not making an overall color shift is false. The filter has a purple tint to the glass, so it should not come as a surprise that it adds a slight purple cast to the picture. That color shift is what makes the reds and oranges appear intensified. That’s how it works. In fact, if you don’t use the filter, but shift the white balance a couple spots towards purple, you can accomplish something similar. While I think that this filter could be beneficial for photographing autumn leaves, I don’t think it’s anywhere near an essential item for that purpose. If you like how it makes pictures look, by all means buy it and use it. If not, skip it. That’s my advice.
Here are two examples of how the Hoya Intensifier filter effects the picture:
No filter.
With intensifier filter.
No filter.
With intensifier filter.
There is another reason why you might use the Hoya Intensifier filter. This filter reduces light pollution in astrophotography. It does a decent job of it, in fact. If I’m photographing stars somewhere that I know will have light pollution, I like to use this filter to reduce the effects of it in my pictures. If I’m photographing stars somewhere where there is little to no light pollution, I won’t use the filter, as I prefer to not put extra glass between the subject and the sensor if I don’t have to. If you are interesting in astrophotography but aren’t near any dark sky parks, the Hoya Intensifier filter is probably worth buying and using.
To conclude, the Hoya Intensifier filter is perhaps OK for autumn foliage pictures. On one hand it does seem to intensify the reds and oranges within the picture, but on the other hand it does so by way of a color cast, which can be done in-camera with a white balance shift, and is opposite of what Hoya claims. But if you like to photograph stars and want to reduce the effects of light pollution on your pictures, this filter is a good option for that.
Fall is one of my favorite times of the year for photography. The weather gets cooler, the coffee turns pumpkin flavored, and the leaves change to vibrant colors. Autumn is the season of change, perhaps more than any other season. Autumn begins almost summer-like, yet ends wintry cold. The trees begin green, but quickly turn yellow, orange and red, before becoming bare and dormant. It’s a vibrant season, that is until winter begins to grab hold. You can’t let time slip away from you or else you’ll miss the annual autumn show, as it never seems to last long enough.
If you don’t have much experience photographing fall foliage, you might not know how to get the most out of it. Since autumn officially began a couple of days ago, and I’ve already seen a few leaves begin to colorfully transform, I thought this would be a good time to share with you some tips for photographing the season of change with your Fujifilm X camera. Below you’ll find five tips for fall foliage photography.
You need quality light to capture good autumn pictures. All great photographs begin with great light, because, after all, without light there is no photograph. Fall foliage pictures feature trees, so you’ll often find that a certain type of light situation works especially well: back-lit. I think, generally speaking, the best light to capture dramatic tree photographs is when the sun is behind the tree. This is even more true in the autumn, as the sunlight illuminates the colorful leaves, displaying them in their most vibrant fashion.
I find that early morning or late evening, when the sun is low to the horizon, provides the best light for fall foliage photographs. Sometimes when the weather is changing, you might find low clouds or fog, which could provide a softer quality of light that can be especially beautiful. While I highly recommend seeking back-lit opportunities, don’t limit yourself strictly to that, but also try to find those fleeting moments of diffused sun.
2. Location
Yellow Tree Against Red Rock – Zion NP, UT – Fujifilm XF10
Not everyone has a brilliant autumn display near where they live. Those colorful fall landscapes aren’t found everywhere. When I lived in California, I had to drive several hours to find a good show, but I would still try to capture the small amount of colorful leaves that were nearby. There would be a tree at the park, or in someone’s front yard, and even at my own house, that would have a less-than-spectacular display, but nevertheless the leaves would change colors. There were times that by really isolating the subject with a tight crop, I could create a decent picture with what was there. Don’t overlook the small opportunities that are nearby.
Oftentimes, unless you happen to live in the heart of fall leaves, such as one of the New England states, you’ll have to travel to photograph a grand display. Do a little research and plan your trip wisely. You’ll want to find out where a good location is, when the leaves are at their colorful peak, and what the weather will be, so that you can make the most of your photographic adventure. Pre-planning goes a long ways, and as the saying goes, “Location, location, location!”
3. Leaves
Sycamore Autumn – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm XF10
Robert Capa famously said, “If your pictures aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough.” That’s not always true, but often it is, and you might find it to be helpful advice for your autumn pictures. Get close to the leaves, capturing their shapes and patterns. Don’t be afraid to use a macro lens and get super close. Make the leaves the main subject, and don’t even show the rest of the scene in your composition.
Some of the best autumn pictures that I’ve seen have a narrow focus. Isolate the scene with a tight crop. Make the scene a bit abstract. Oftentimes less is more. The vibrant leaves are what make this season so colorful, so don’t hesitate to make that the clear subject of your pictures.
4. Lenses
Yellow & Green Trees – Wasatch Mountain SP, UT – Fujifilm X-Pro2
You can use any lens to photograph fall foliage, but I find that telephoto lenses are especially useful. The Fujinon 90mm f/2 is a good one for creating tight compositions. The Fujinon 60mm f/2.4 Macro is another good one for this, plus it’s a macro lens, so you can focus close to the leaves. Another strategy is to go wide-angle, and showcase the larger scene. It’s a little trickier, but the results can be very rewarding. The more wide-angle, the more dramatic, but also the more difficult. The Fujinon 16mm f/2.8 might be a good option for this.
My recommendation is to have a few lenses in your bag, if you can. If you’re only going to have one, consider a telephoto lens instead of a wide-angle. Best case is that you have a telephoto, a wide-angle and a “standard” prime. A zoom lens, like the Fujinon 16-55mm f/2.8, would be a very good alternative, especially if you don’t want to carry a bunch of gear around.
5. Lively
Red Leaves In The Forest – Wasatch Mountain SP, UT – Fujifilm X-Pro2
Go bold when capturing the vivid colors of the season. My favorite film simulation recipes for autumn pictures are ones that use Velvia, either my original Velvia recipe, the new Velvia, or my Ektachrome 100SW recipe. Astia can work well, too, and my Ektar recipe, which utilizes Astia, is a good option. I’ve even had good luck with my Vintage Kodachrome recipe, so don’t be afraid to try different settings, but, generally speaking, the lively colors of Velvia deliver the best results for fall foliage pictures.
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Autumn officially ended a little over two weeks ago. It was a good season for fall foliage photography, with plenty of opportunities to capture the autumn colors. The leaves began to change in September here in Utah, and the leaves were still colorful when I visited Seattle in late November.
This was my first year photographing the season of change using my Fujifilm X100F. The camera is a great all-around photography tool, and (no surprise) it did just fine capturing autumn leaves. For these photographs I used Velvia, Astia, Classic Chrome and “Vintage Kodochrome” film simulations.
The 20 photographs below are some of my favorites that I captured this last autumn. I obviously made a lot more images than these, but the ones below are what I decided to share, they’re the ones that I like best. Even though winter has fully taken hold, I hope you enjoy these fall foliage photographs, and perhaps the bright colors will bring you a little unexpected warmth today.
Temple Square – SLC, UT – Fujifilm X100F
Zions Bank Building – SLC, UT – Fujifilm X100F
Leaf On The Windshield – Bountiful, UT – Fujifilm X100F
Country Leaves – Bountiful, UT – Fujifilm X100F
Leaf In The Stream – Bountiful, UT – Fujifilm X100F
Floating Yellow Leaves – Bountiful, UT – Fujifilm X100F
Fall Leaves, Wet Road – Richland, WA – Fujifilm X100F
Red Autumn Leaf – Uintah, UT – Fujifilm X100F
Golden Forest – Uintah, Utah – Fujifilm X100F
Autumn Forest Light – Bountiful, UT – Fujifilm X100F
Orange & Yellow – Bountiful, UT – Fujifilm X100F
Wasatch Dressed In Fall Colors – American Fork Canyon, UT – Fujifilm X100F
Timpanogos September – American Fork Canyon, UT – Fujifilm X100F
Alpine Autumn – American Fork Canyon, UT – Fujifilm X100F
Vibrant Forest – Bountiful, UT – Fujifilm X100F
Highway 158 Junction – Ogden Canyon, UT – Fujifilm X100F
Yellow Bush & Red Berries – Edmunds, WA – Fujifilm X100F
Autumn Hike – Bountiful, UT – Fujifilm X100F
Forest Trail – Bonney Lake, WA – Fujifilm X100F
Road Through The Autumn Trees – Bountiful, UT – Fujifilm X100F
Fall is for family field trips to the farm. In fact, my family and I went on a field trip to Black Island Farms in Syracuse, Utah, just last week. I also brought along my Fujifilm X100F.
The farm was great! We went on a tractor ride to pick pumpkins in a pumpkin patch. We saw some farm animals. We watched a pig race and a turkey race. We played on a giant playground made from stacks of hay. We made our way through a big corn maze (and didn’t get too lost). It was a nice autumn afternoon, and this was a great way to soak it in.
As far as photography goes, it wasn’t the best conditions. The midday light was harsh with plenty of bright highlights and deep shadows. And when you have four young kids, you need a free hand or two for them. But that’s where the X100F came in handy.
The camera is small enough to fit into a large pocket. Grab it when I want to snap a picture, hide it when I need free hands! Smaller is better in these types of situations, and pocket-sized is a huge plus. A DSLR is simply too big and bulky.
I used the built-in fill-flash frequently on this trip. It handled the tough lighting without fuss. The X100F has a good dynamic range, but the scenes typically exceeded the limit of the sensor; however, the flash helped fill the gap, making the light a little more even.
I used my Classic Chrome Film Simulation recipe for these photographs. I love the film-like way it renders the pictures. It has a classic Kodak slide film look. And it come straight out of the camera looking finished. These are unedited. I don’t have time to mess with RAW anymore, and the X100F speeds up my workload drastically by producing good results that don’t need editing.
The Fujifilm X100F is the best camera I’ve ever used for snapping family pictures. Go on an adventure with the kids and come back with nice pictures to supplement the great memories made. It’s so effortless. I wish that I had this camera years ago!
The takeaway is that a couple hours at the farm in difficult light can still produce a number of keeper photos when you have the X100F in your pocket. These are mostly personal family pictures, but I hope you enjoy them nonetheless.
Autumn Flag – Syracuse, UT – Fujifilm X100F
Red Tractor – Syracuse, UT – Fujifilm X100F
Empty Bench – Syracuse, UT – Fujifilm X100F
Biting Cabbage – Syracuse, UT – Fujifilm X100F
Carrot Farmer – Syracuse, UT – Fujifilm X100F
Three Pumpkin Heads – Syracuse, UT – Fujifilm X100F
Say Hello – Syracuse, UT – Fujifilm X100F
The Crate Pumpkins – Syracuse, UT – Fujifilm X100F
Cute Little Pumpkin – Syracuse, UT – Fujifilm X100F
Found Two Great Pumpkins – Syracuse, UT – Fujifilm X100F
Help Needed – Syracuse, UT – Fujifilm X100F
The Pumpkin Master – Syracuse, UT – Fujifilm X100F
Jon’s Pumpkin – Syracuse, UT – Fujifilm X100F
The Perfect Pumpkins Are Picked – Syracuse, UT – Fujifilm X100F
Trouble – Syracuse, UT – Fujifilm X100F
Jon Watching The Turkey Race – Syracuse, UT – Fujifilm X100F
Climbing Hay – Syracuse, UT – Fujifilm X100F
Hay, Girl – Syracuse, UT – Fujifilm X100F
At The Bottom of The Hay Slide – Syracuse, UT – Fujifilm X100F
Jon In A Corn Maze – Syracuse, UT – Fujifilm X100F
Down Into The Corn – Syracuse, UT – Fujifilm X100F
Tattered Corn Blade – Syracuse, UT – Fujifilm X100F
Corn Stalk – Syracuse, UT – Fujifilm X100F
Nice Day At The Farm – Syracuse, UT – Fujifilm X100F
Over the last couple of weeks I’ve captured a bunch of pictures with my Fujifilm X100F. Most of them have been color photographs. During the autumn months I tend to shoot more color than black-and-white, mainly because of the changing leaves.
Even though I’ve shot a lot of color, I still have captured many monochrome images. As I was looking through some of those pictures this morning, five stood out as a mini-set. They’re not really related to each other (well, two of them are), but they don’t seem out of place side-by-side either.
The commonality between these pictures (besides lack of color) is that they show the changing weather of the changing season. Note how the sky looks in each image. It’s the same autumn in every photograph, but the conditions are different. It’s not just the tree leaves that change in fall. This mini-set demonstrates that. The autumn sky takes on many different looks, even on the same day.
The photographs below were all captured using my Fujifilm X100F within a two-week period between late-September and early-October. They are all camera-made JPEGs using my Acros Film Simulation recipe.
Alpine Loop Monochrome – American Fork Canyon, UT – Fujifilm X100F
Wasatch September – American Fork Canyon, UT – Fujifilm X100F
Farm Windmill – Syracuse, UT – Fujifilm X100F
Monochrome Architecture – Lehi, UT – Fujifilm X100F
Snow Dusting The Mountain – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X100F
