Expert advice on taking the best fall foliage photos this season

You know a town has great fall foliage when it’s named after a tree.

Every fall, travelers and photographers descend–er, make that–ascend into the beautiful mountain town of Aspen, Colo., to witness the changing colors of Mother Nature.

But, while stunning, it’s not the only mecca for fall foliage vacations, which offer popular off-season reasons to take a trip and spend time in the outdoors, before the weather grows frigid.

Of course, one of the best bonuses of a fall vacation is the photos you will come home with. We talked to G. Mark Lewis, a Colorado-based photographer and teacher, about the best ways to land amazing foliage shots. Here’s his expert advice:

Be patient. Just like all types of photography, the two main challenges for fall foliage photos are lighting and composition. In a studio, you can control all of the elements of the shot: the subject, the lights, the time of day. But outside, you lose that control, so patience plays a big part in getting the best shot. Wait for a cloud to move, for example, so it can diffuse the light or open the light up, to make the colors pop.

Find the right perspective. Where you stand matters. The right angle can make or break a shot.

Shoot several variations of your subject. Light from behind the photographer can look quite different than light coming through the subject.

Shoot at the right time of day. Early and late in the day light can be magical.

Have fun. Make the outdoors your studio, and enjoy your surroundings as you relax and wait for the perfect light and composition.

Nikon also offers some helpful tips for shooting fall foliage.

Pick the right location. Some of the most popular places to view fall leaves are New England, the Colorado Rockies and upper Midwest Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Use a tripod. That way, shutter speed won’t usually be an issue. Pick up a tripod at Best Buy and get free shipping on orders $35 and up.

Consider buying a longer lens. Best Buy also sells long-range camera lenses, like the best-selling Canon EF-S 55-250mm telephoto zoom lens for Canon cameras.