This is a wonderful time of year to head outside, strap your camera around your neck (or just bring your smartphone along) and shoot fall foliage pictures (perfect for computer desktop backgrounds!). And you won’t need to use any special photo-enhancing filters on the pictures you take while at Innsbrook. The stunning vistas here are 100% beautiful as-is.

Here are some tips we’ve gathered from experts for shooting fall foliage photos.

Photograph around sunrise and sunset for the best light and color. (Tip from photojojo.com). The photo below was taken by Innsbrook property owner Cindy Bowers in early morning.

Take leafy portraits. While you’re on a nature walk on one of Innsbrook’s trails or spending time in the backyard, don’t forget the leaf fights, leaf heaps and leaf tosses your kids and pets will surely enjoy – the spontaneity will give you the opportunity for dynamic photos, like the one below from Innsbrook property owner William A. Moran.  (Tip from photojojo.com)

Another tip is to focus on subtleties. Consider some close-ups that are related to autumn but not to the season’s bright colors, like the image of mushrooms growing on the side of a tree, or the photo of a milkweed seed pod with seeds being dispersed by the wind. Fall color is an excuse to go out in the woods, but it doesn’t mean that everything in your photo has to be defined by colorful leaves, says nature photographer Rod Planck. (Tip from NikonUSA.com)

This is another photo from Cindy Bowers that captures the subtleties of autumn.

So hit one of Innsbrook’s five hiking trails and, in case you ever find yourself away from the Midwest (or are just longing for the cooler season in the midst of a steamy summer), you’ll have some photos to remember it by.

And make sure to visit www.innsbrook-resort.com/community/photo-contest starting Nov. 4 to view and vote on all the property owner photos that were submitted to this year’s photo contest.

Did we miss any good fall foliage photography tips? Add your own in the comments!