How to Photograph Wildlife in Autumn

Autumn offers one of the most rewarding times of year for wildlife photography. As the days shorten and temperatures drop, animals become more active by foraging, migrating or preparing for winter. The vibrant colours of the autumnal landscape, paired with the soft light and increased visibility due to the thinning foliage, make autumn a season of endless photographic opportunities.

This guide to photographing wildlife in autumn will help you better understand and anticipate animal behaviour, choose the best camera settings and gear so you can get the best shot.

Animal Behaviours in Autumn

To capture the best of wildlife in autumn, it’s important to understand and anticipate animal behaviour. Knowing what animals are doing and when they are most active will help you position yourself for the most natural shots.

Deer

In autumn, stags compete for dominance and attempt to form harems of females to mate with. To challenge rival stags they lock antlers and fight - a behaviour known as rutting. Consequently, deer enter rutting season at this time of year, typically from early to mid-October.

It's important to be aware that red deer are the largest land mammals in the UK and they can be dangerous if you approach them too closely. Always photograph from a safe distance ideally using a telephoto lens to avoid disturbing them.

Birds

As temperatures drop, many bird species begin migrating south for the winter which brings an increased activity to coastal estuaries and wetlands. At the same time, several migratory birds arrive in the UK to overwinter, including the redwing, fieldfare, and waxwing. These birds are attracted to bushes with berries on so if you want to photograph these birds you should keep an eye out for these bushes.

Starling murmurations become more frequent in autumn as flocks grow larger with the arrival of migrants from Eastern Europe and Scandinavia. If you want to capture these aerial displays head out around sunset. They're commonly seen over reedbeds, moorlands, cliffs and piers.

Red kites in particular are more visible between October and April and can often be seen circling feeding areas. Across the UK, there are commercial red kite feeding stations where you can observe and photograph these birds up close for a small fee.

As trees shed their leaves the birds, including owls and birds of prey, also become easier to spot.

Food Gatherers and Hoarders

Autumn is also the season of food gatherers and hoarders with no animal showcasing this better than the squirrel who busily collects nuts to store for winter. Both the squirrel and the fox are particularly active during daylight hours as they forage as well as birds such as the European jay and woodpecker. Setting up a bird feeder station in your garden can increase your chances of seeing them and it will attract visitors throughout the winter months too.

Best Camera Settings for Shooting Wildlife in Autumn

Now you know when and where to find wildlife, the next step is making sure your camera is ready. Autumn light can change in an instant and the wildlife won’t wait so knowing the right settings in advance is useful.

Shutter Speed

As wildlife rarely stays still for long, having the right shutter speed is important. For faster moving animals you should opt for a shutter speed of 1/500s to freeze the motion. For birds in flight, increase this to 1/2000s or higher and you'll be able to maintain crisp wing detail. For slower or stationary animals, drop your shutter speed to around 1/250s to let in more light whilst still keeping the image sharp.

Focus Mode

To track moving subjects, switch to AI-Servo (Canon) or AF-C (Nikon/Sony) mode which will continuously adjust the focus as your subject moves. For shots with precise details use single-point AF and focus on the animal's eyes.

Aperture

Use a wide aperture (f/2.8 to f/5.6) to separate your subject from the background. The blurred red and orange autumn leaves behind your subject can create a warm bokeh effect that frame your subject and capture the season's atmosphere.

ISO

Although autumn light is soft and golden, it can also be overcast thanks to overcast conditions or if you're under tree cover. To mitigate this you can increase your ISO to between 800 and 1600. This will allow you to maintain a fast enough shutter speed. If you're finding your photos are starting to look grainy, gradually reduce the ISO until you find the right balance between brightness and clarity.

Exposure

To keep the detail in both highlights and shadows, try using exposure compensation between -0.3 and -1 EV particularly in bright or misty conditions. This slight underexposure will help to preserve colour depth in fur, feathers and autumn leaves which may otherwise appear washed out.

White Balance

As autumn light is warmer you can either neutralise or exaggerate this through your white balance. To do this, set your white balance manually to 'daylight' or 'cloudy'. 'Daylight' should keep the colours true and 'cloudy' will enhance the warm reds and oranges. Shooting in RAW will allow you to fine-tune the temperature in editing later on.

Essential Gear for Wildlife Photography

To get the best autumn wildlife photographs, you'll also want the right gear.

A sturdy tripod or monopod is almost essential as it will help keep your camera steady and reduce camera shake which is especially important when using long lenses in low light. Staying still also makes you less noticeable to the wildlife, allowing you to observe and photograph without causing disturbance.

Wearing camouflage clothing or using a portable hide will help you blend into the environment and capture the most natural behaviour. The less the wildlife notices you the better although this does require patience.

A telephoto lens will allow you to keep your distance whilst still capturing some fantastic photos. Lenses in the 200–600mm range are ideal for wildlife photography as they allow you to remain unobtrusive and respectful whilst still achieving detailed shots.

Compositional Ideas

Try getting low and shooting from ground level. This will create a sense of intimacy and will put you at eye level with your subject creating an engaging photo.

Use things like branches, grass and other foliage to frame your subject. Not only will this bring greater attention to your main subject, it will also allow you to capture the essence of the season.

Similarly, avoid cropping the photo too tightly to preserve the warm reds, yellows and browns of the landscape. This will add depth and atmosphere to enhance the photo.

Remember to be patient. It’s important to wait for natural and authentic behaviour rather than trying to force a reaction. After all, you are a guest in their home and the best wildlife photos tell quiet and honest stories.

Camera Insurance

Wildlife photography in autumn often means dealing with unpredictable weather and uneven terrains. Whether it’s mud, moisture, rain or mist, the autumnal elements have the capacity to affect delicate camera equipment. Even a small knock or fall can cause damage that’s expensive to repair.

Camera insurance from Eversure covers accidental damage and theft giving you peace of mind to focus on getting the perfect autumn photo as you know your equipment is protected.

Final Thoughts

Autumn wildlife photography is all about know-how, patience and timing. If you can master these, you’ll capture not only the animals but the atmosphere of the season too which will make for some really compelling photos.