Getting the best shots of fall foliage

For amateur photographers trying to capture the season's beauty, here are seven pointers on shooting in the fall from photographer Ferenc Mate, a Tuscany-based photographer whose latest book is "A New England Autumn: A Sentimental Journey."

• Shoot early and late in the day. Try to shoot a half-hour before and after sunrise or sunset. The colors will be incomparably richer, the shadows deeper, textures and forms stronger.

• Shoot during or right after storms. The light is more dramatic, and wet leaves, structures, and even roads take on more vibrant, intense tones.

• Move around to find the most dramatic composition, whether you are shooting a seashore, pond, leaf or covered bridge. A few steps can make the difference.

• Check for colors, shapes and light each time you shoot. A red leaf may be eye-catching, but it might look prettier when lit from a side that shows more texture, or, like a stained glass window, when lit from behind.

• Shoot close-up details. A whole barn might seem boring, but its old weathered door or a cobwebbed window reflecting a tree might be a compelling image.

• Shoot for depth. Try to compose so you'll have something in the foreground, middle ground and background.

• If you are serious about photography, use a tripod. It's a must in the lowest, and often best, light.

Mate's favorite places to photograph in autumn in New England include Acadia National Park in Maine; Franconia Notch in New Hampshire; Woodstock, Vt.; Block Island, R.I.; Nantucket, Mass.; and Mystic Seaport, Conn.