How can we convey the beauty in autumn with photography

✦ Editor's Note

Each season is characterized by its own charm. For autumn, its distinct charm originates from brilliant colors, fluttering leaves, bleak branches and dancing lives. The beauty of Tsinghua campus in autumn is breathtaking. How can we convey this beauty with photography? 

Here is a useful guideline for you to follow!

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Photography is an art of time, freezing-frame the flowing views.

Photography is also an art of space, providing insights for those who can’t reach in the flesh. 

Let’s start by appreciating excellent examples and listen to what our photographers say!

1

                                d.   

Shooting Time: 9:58 , Oct.18

Shooting Spot: On the small bridge over the river behind the Mong Man Wai Building

Photographic Parameters: ISO-200 

    S:1/400s   F:4   Focal length:24-70 mm

The Photographer's Review: 

Colorful leaves blend with the river. We can stroll on the road and appreciate foliage in riotous profusion. The reflection gives a feeling of tranquility. These colors really impress me a lot.

2

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Shooting Time: 9:45, Oct.21

Shooting Spot: Northeast corner of West Gymnasium back pavilion, invert, 30, 1.6m

Photographic Parameters: ISO-32 

    S:1/163s   F:1.6  EV:-2.5

Post processing information: 

Exposure: -0.50, highlight: -100, contrast: 25, saturation: 20

The Photographer's Review: On Friday morning, I had a taekwondo class. I saw three colors outside the window before the class and took a picture with my mobile phone.

3

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Shooting Time: 16:00, Oct.21

Shooting Spot: Under the Ginkgo tree at the southeast intersection of the Old Gate

Photographic Parameters: ISO-50 

64 mm -0.3 EV, f/22, 0.0

Post processing information:

Exposure +1.69, Highlight -75, Shadow +25, Nature saturation -5, HSL hue -100, Saturation yellow +75, green +50, Brightness yellow +15, green +25, blue -100

The Photographer's Review: 

Autumn in Tsinghua is quite colorful. The Old Gate is a classic place for taking photos.

4

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Shooting Time: 12:09, Oct.22

Shooting Spot: Under the red maple tree in front of the Medical Science Building

Photographic Parameters: ISO-800 

  S:1/800s  F:6.3  Focal length:300 mm

The Photographer's Review: 

When I walked past this building, I was suddenly attracted by the tuk-tuk sound among the red maple leaves. Then I approached carefully and found the woodpecker. Zooming in and focusing on the woodpecker, I got the blur leaves as foreground, adding a hazy atmosphere to the image. The bottom-up angle provided space for the woodpecker and in this way the colors above and below the leaves formed a rich sense of contrast. 

5

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Shooting Time:  16:30, Oct.22

Shooting Spot: On the bike, halfway between the West Gymnasium and the University North Library  

Photographic Parameters: ISO-320 

S:1/250s  F:4.0

Post processing information:

Light perception -9, contrast +17, saturation +11, natural saturation +12, lower the middle of the curve, lighten the highlights a little, lower the shadows a little

The Photographer's Review: 

It makes me feel very warm with the autumn sun.  Everything is quiet and calm.

6

                                d.   

Shooting Time:  17:16, Oct.22

Shooting Spot: On the No.1 High Residential Area Building 

Photographic Parameters: ISO-200 

    S:1/250s  F:4  Focal length:24-70 mm

The Photographer's Review: 

It may be difficult to find the exact reason why I take the photographs of certain scenery, but the feeling of autumn really strikes me. I often feel that autumn is a season worth collecting and remembering. In autumn, we encounter some people and say farewell to some them; we meet some stories and say goodbye to them. We can freely lie on the lawn full of fallen leaves. We can stroll on the road and appreciate foliage in riotous profusion.  

7

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Shooting Time: 17: 00, Oct.23

Shooting Spot: On the Slate Road in the Zijing Sculpture Park

Photographic Parameters: ISO-1600 

   S:1/320s  F:6.3  Focal length:50 mm

 Post processing corrects the horizon and sharpens the image.

The Photographer's Review: 

It was a very pleasant sunny autumn afternoon. The sunshine was just right at that time, and the ginkgo leaves on both sides of the flagstone road have already been yellow. The scenery was spectacular. There were many students taking photos and children running and playing nearby. At that time, I saw two ginkgo leaves on the flagstone, so I got close to the ginkgo leaves. Against the background of the “Ginkgo Avenue”, I would like to create an atmosphere of “a falling leaf heralding autumn”. 

8

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Shooting Time: 17:10, Oct.24

Shooting Spot: Beside the West Lecture Hall

Photographic Parameters: ISO-200 

    S:1/100s  F:4   Focal length:24-70 mm

The Photographer's Review: 

The teaching building has been “dressed up” with “new clothes”, which shows the atmosphere of the new semester. We are welcoming the new life with vigor, like the red leaves to meet the future.

9

                                d.   

Shooting Time: 15:18, Oct.28

Shooting Spot: Shot at the stone lion in front of the Gong Zi Ting. In order to make the ginkgo leaves on the ground appear more and more dense, I squat down and shoot from a relatively low side.

Photographic Parameters: ISO100 85mm f/1.8 1/640s

Post processing information: Use the HSL tool to bring the green hue closer to the yellow hue and increase the saturation of the yellow and orange colors to make the ginkgo leaf stand out more.

The Photographer's Review: 

When the leaves were blown down, it's the time to take a photo. I squat down beside the tree for a long time and finally there is a gust of wind. I quickly press even shot and caught this photo. If possible, I would like to remove the interference of weeds in the lower right corner of the picture and shoot at a more left position.

Whether you prefer to use your phone or your camera to take photos, this guideline will inspire you in common methods, ideas and tips. While autumn still lingers, seize your chance to capture the beauty of surroundings!

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Campus | How can we convey the beauty in autumn with photography

Photographers: Liu Tong, Du Kunlin, Zhang Yuxuan, Wei Minglun, Yang Yuhan, Li Yuhui, Zhong Hao, Jia Baoru, Zhao Fangyilan, Ren Xiaoyu, Wang Tao, Gong Xinran

Writers: Wang Jingjing, Wang Jingyi, Liu Ruoqi

Editor: Liu Shutian

Designer: Xia Yifei