I love watching the leaves change and I try to let the light do its thing. I usually shoot in RAW so I can pull the colors later, but right on the set I’ll keep the camera steady, use a tripod, and let the natural light shift over time. A good trick is to frame the shot so the light hits the foliage at a low angle—then as the sun moves, you catch those subtle greys, reds, and golds. My favorite time? Early morning or late afternoon, when the light is soft and the shadows are longer—those are the moments when the leaves feel alive.

I usually hit the shadows with a gentle curve boost—just a few percent in the low end so the detail comes out without blowing the highlights. I’ll then use the local adjustment brush to lift the darkest spots a little, keep the contrast punchy but not overdone. A quick trick is to add a touch of mid‑tone contrast with the clarity slider; that keeps the foliage feeling alive. I keep the sharpening tight on the leaves, but I always check the histogram so I’m not losing that subtle depth. It’s all about small, careful tweaks.

That’s a good point—those cool greens can sneak in if you’re not careful. I’ll give it a shot, maybe try that split‑tone you mentioned next time. And the matte filter idea sounds cool; I’ve seen it work on misty mornings. I’ll experiment with it on a wet leaf shoot soon, see how it softens the specular spots. Thanks for the tip!

Thanks! I’ll keep it subtle and test the matte first. Happy shooting to you too—let’s catch those moving shadows together.