Illuminating Autumn’s Palette From Up Close

I’m always looking for unique ways to capture the beauty of the natural world. Last fall, I embarked on a photographic exploration that allowed me to delve into the mesmerizing intricacies of autumn leaves up close.

Green autumn leaf with hints of yellow backlit closeup — This mostly green leaf shows the beginning of the colour changes signalling the transition from summer to autumn.

I learned from Bryan Peterson a creative setup that would showcase the vibrant colours and delicate textures of fallen autumn leaves. It works extremely well for translucent subjects.

Green and yellow leaf macro photograph — This leaf shows a more advanced stage of the change to fall colours.

Green and yellow leaf closeup, backlit by a small flash — This leaf showcases the subtle dance between yellow and green, softly accentuated by the backlighting.

Each leaf was carefully positioned and taped to an A4 slab of frosted plexiglass, ensuring a uniform surface to avoid depth of field issues. I placed a flash behind the plexiglass, to backlight the leaves and transform them into radiant works of art, each one telling its unique story of autumn’s beauty.

closeup of ywllow and green autumn leaf — Adorned in hues of yellow and green, a leaf symbolizes the natural transition of seasons.

This leaf shows the subtle variations in colour in the transition to autumn

Backlit macro closeup of yellow autumn leaf with hints of green — This leaf displays the harmonious interplay between yellow and green.

What struck me most about this photographic project was the incredible range of colours that unfolded before my lens. The subtle greens tinged with hints of yellow to the fiery oranges and deep, velvety reds, each leaf seemed to embody the very essence of the season, a vivid testament to the beauty of nature’s cycles.

closeup photograph of a yellow autumn leaf with subtle hints of green — At this stage of the transition, the green colours have almost disappeared.

Backlit close up of an autumn leaf shoing the transition of colours — This leaf only shows minute traces of the green colour it once was.

closeup photograph of an autumn leaf turned yellow — This leaf glows with radiant yellow hues, without a hint of its previous colour.

But beyond the visual spectacle, there was something profoundly intimate about observing these leaves up close. I was granted a glimpse into the intricate tapestry of life itself, a reminder of the interconnectedness of all living things and the fleeting nature of beauty.

closeup of yellow antumn leaf — At this stage, the yellow hues become even more vibrant.

backlit closeup of vibrant yellow autumn leaf — This images shows the subtle variations between leaves of yellow colour.

closeup of vibrant yellow autumn leaf — In this mostly yellow leaf, one sees subtle hints of orange.

As I sifted through the images captured during this photographic project, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe and wonder at the sheer diversity and complexity of the natural world.

close up of orange leaf with touches of red — The orange hues are now more pronounced, and there are subtle hints of red.

closeup or another variation of an orange and red leaf. — This leaf shows a gradual change from orange to reddish tones.

close up of an orange autumn leaf with more touches of red. — This leaf radiates with the hues of sunset.

in this closeup, the orange colour is giving way to red — At this stage of the evolution, the tones have shifted to red, with only traces of orange.

In the end, this close-up exploration of autumn leaves served as a poignant reminder of the power of photography to illuminate the beauty that surrounds us, even in the most ordinary of moments.

Closeup of a red autumn leaf — A crimson leaf reveals its fiery hues, softly illuminated by the backlighting.

As I continue to hone my craft and seek new ways to capture the magic of the world around me, I’m grateful for the opportunity to share these moments of wonder with others.