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Golden Wanderlust: Versatile autumn photography in all weathers

Golden autumn leaves, bright blue skies, a day in nature - this is how you actually imagined your trip. The hike has been planned for weeks, but your app is now predicting anything but perfect hiking weather? No need to hang your head - in fact, less-than-ideal days offer a great opportunity to expand your photography spectrum with new perspectives. With these tips for different weather conditions, you can take your photography to the next level!

Dripping details - beauty in miniature

Well wrapped up, you step outside the door, small clouds of breath rising in front of your face. You can't see much of the surroundings, fog and clouds obscure your view. The rain drips from the tip of your nose as you set off. You hardly meet anyone on your tour, so you have nature to yourself. Since you can't see far, your gaze is focused on your surroundings. You can consciously focus on details, maybe you even have a macro lens like the 60mm f2.8 with you - especially in the wet, drops often hang beautifully on leaves or in spider webs. Likewise, the first crystals or snowflakes are very photogenic. You can also take great close-up pictures with a telephoto like the 40-150mm f2.8. Small animals like snails or mushrooms are great and don't run away quickly either, so you can try something new right away on your hike.

OM-1 • M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F2.8 Pro • 85 mm • 1/2 s • F4.0 • ISO 800 • MC 14

OM-1 • M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F2.8 Pro • 90 mm • 1/200 s • F4.0 • ISO 1600 • MC 14

Let your creativity flow: Hiking and photographing by the water

The little things aren't really your thing? For example, you can focus your hike on the theme of water, because there will be plenty of that in this weather - research the nearest river or waterfall in your area and plan your route there! Maybe you can even find a path with a (suspension) bridge - especially in combination with clouds, this can make for great pictures. You can then use different techniques to "blur" the water with your camera. Either play with a longer exposure time - the OM-5's excellent stabilisation even allows you to do this handheld to a certain extent - or try it with the high resolution setting. This works very well with water and produces great results! Depending on the subject, a wide-angle lens like the 7-14mm f2.8 or the 8mm f1.8 can also create great perspectives – btw the distortion of the fisheye can be "calculated out" in Lightroom.

OM-5 • M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm F2.8 Pro • 40 mm • 1/80 s • F2.8 • ISO 250

OM-5 • M.Zuiko Digital ED 60mm F2.8 • 60 mm • 1/500 s • F2.8 • ISO 6400

Fog and clouds can be used to your advantage

Your hike takes you through what feels like cotton, every now and then a mountain peak shortly appears around you. The white clouds waft through the trees and make everything around you misty. If you can spot a subject in the mist - perhaps a hut or a gnarled tree - it can be a great opportunity for a quick stop. A colourful leaf held close to the lens can create a foreground and a splash of colour and add depth to the image. By the way, a foggy background is also great for bringing calm to the subject or creating a backdrop for a subject - a chance for a very special picture. That's why I always have my camera attached to the outside of my backpack with the Peakdesign clip when I'm hiking - so it's always ready to hand when the fog in front of me briefly opens up to reveal a special composition. Structures such as rain or snow are often better seen against a dark sky or background, so the mood can be captured particularly well.

OM-1 • M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F2.8 Pro • 102 mm • 1/200 s • F4.0 • ISO 200 • MC 14

OM-1 • M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F2.8 Pro • 97 mm • 1/200 s • F3.5 • ISO 200

OM-1 • M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F2.8 Pro • 82 mm • 1/320 s • F2.8 • ISO 200

Equipment for wet days

My equipment tips: Even though the OM-5 has weather sealing and you can shoot with it in the rain - the lens will still get wet for sure. That's why I always carry at least one microfibre cloth with me to dry it in between shoots. An ultra-light umbrella can also be handy if you want to change lenses in the dry in between - depending on the situation, you can even attach it to your backpack with some carabiners and have your hands free. I always stow my lenses on the outside of the backpack strap in neoprene pouches - that way I have everything quickly to hand without having to put the backpack down.

Winter is coming, the sun is retreating to the other side of the globe - but even shorter and wetter days offer a chance to discover peace and new perspectives while hiking and photographing. It is all the nicer when, after a whole day outside, a hot tea is waiting for us in a warm room somewhere.

OM-1 • M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F2.8 Pro • 40 mm • 1/5000 s • F2.8 • ISO 200

OM-1 • M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F2.8 Pro • 85 mm • 1/1000 s • F4.0 • ISO 200

OM-5 • M.Zuiko Digital ED 8mm F1.8 Pro • 8 mm • 1/400 s • F3.5 • ISO 200

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About the author

JuliaWunschengel

Visual storyteller fueled by nature & raw wilderness, finding joy in outdoor minimalism. OM System Ambassador.

Born in the 80s in Cologne and calling Switzerland my home since 2007. My greatest passion is storytelling and photography – my first savings were spent on an (analogue) camera in 1996. Nowadays I'm capturing all the beauty around me with an Olympus OM-1 & OM-5. I’m enthusiastic about storytelling and experiences around the outdoors, as well as the question of how life can be lived more sustainable and environmentally friendly. 

My outdoor passion entails hiking, camping, bivouacing, skicamping, skitouring, slacklining climbing, via ferratas, trailrunning and outdoor survival skills. I just love to roam the mountains and capture all the adventures that I encounter when I leave my comfort zone!

Follow me on Social Media or have a look at my blog to read stories like "The coldest night of my life - wintercamping at -30 degrees": juliawunsch.ch

 

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