Get The Shot: Photo Tips From Western Slope Pros

They say a picture is worth a thousand words — but sometimes a truly wondrous sight feels impossible to capture in even a thousand pictures. And with the camera almost everyone carries in their pocket, it’s easy to take dozens of shots and still feel like you missed the moment.

The good news is you don’t need a fancy camera to take great photos. With some advice from the pros and a little practice, anyone can shoot pics to be proud of on their cell phone. So, as the leaves start turning, here’s how you can brush up on your photography skills before heading out to see the foliage.

GET TO KNOW YOUR PHONE

Photographer Catherine Mayer explains how she used the rule of thirds to compose this photo on her iPhone. “Here I used my camera grid to create a photo so that the buildings are in the first two-thirds of the left side of the image, and the umbrella tables are in the last third. In between is the leading line of the canal,” she says.

It’s easy to take smartphones for granted, but Grand Junction-based photographer Catherine Mayer says, “The tech packed into these pocket cameras is truly remarkable.”

Phones typically handle settings like exposure automatically — features that often require manual adjustment on traditional cameras — and they offer a convenient, shareable photo library without the need for an SD card. While it’s easy to simply point and shoot, getting to know your device is the key to capturing photos that pop.

“This is an often overlooked step,” Mayer says.

David Kish, who teaches cell phone photography at the Crested Butte Wildflower Festival, says there’s just a few technical things to remember.

One common drawback is that phone cameras don’t perform well in low-light situations. A second thing to check before you snap is the focus, as phones may automatically focus on or blur different aspects of a picture, especially when they’re very close to an object.

Mayer advises getting to know the tools, settings and editing features on your phone. In this photo, she utilized portrait mode to play with foreground and background subjects.

Finally, Front Range photographer Matt Siffert encourages using your phone’s editing features to bring photos to life. “You don’t always need to drastically edit your photos,” he says, “But don’t feel like editing falsifies the authenticity of your image.”

He believes exploring your editing tools and developing preferences is “part of the journey,” and tweaking just a few settings, like brightness and saturation, can make a huge difference.

THINK ABOUT COMPOSITION

Composition, more than any camera, is what really sets images apart.

“Shift your perspective into photographer mode,” Kish says.

While hikers can see the beauty around them as they walk along a trail, he explains, holding the phone up at head height won’t capture the scene like they intend. Instead, he suggests trying different angles, like kneeling down and capturing a trail from ground level.

Siffert says playing with foreground and background elements can give photos a creative edge, and he loves juxtaposing fall foliage with objects like tractors.

“Consider the various objects that surround what you’re focusing on,” he says, and “see if you can arrange everything harmoniously.”

To keep things simple, Kish says photographers can always use the rule of thirds: a design principle that involves visualizing an image as a three-by-three grid and placing the most important parts at the intersections of those squares.

Photographer Matt Siffert encourages phone users to explore editing tools on their phone and tweak settings like exposure and contrast. “Don’t feel like editing falsifies the authenticity of your image,” he says.

Boulder-based Siffert likes shooting the juxtaposition of objects and nature when he shoots fall foliage.

FIND THE SPOT FOR THE SHOT

Siffert recalls the biggest risk he ever took as a photographer — capturing residents’ reactions in Cuba when Fidel Castro resigned as president amid widespread concern for public safety. “I don’t know if I’d have the guts to do that today!” he says.

Mayer got this beautifully-lit shot in Zion National Park, Utah.

Around here, photographers often take a different kind of risk to get the shot, from climbing to get a vantage point or hiking to a remote location.

Luckily, you don’t need to take any big risks to capture the perfect shot, though they do make for good stories.

A quick hike, leaf-peeping drive or even a step out the front door all provide ample opportunities for creative photographers.

Mayer loves shooting on the Grand Mesa and capturing the peaks of the Sneffels Range, and said Ashcroft is another cool place for autumn exploring. She and Kish both recommend Kebler Pass, the scenic byway that connects Paonia and Crested Butte.

Kish says one last tip for nailing foliage photography is avoiding full sunlight, which can cause too much reflection from the leaves. Instead, he suggests shooting earlier or later in the day, in overcast conditions or, at least, waiting for a cloud to block the sun.

Ultimately, he says, when the leaves turn, “the pictures almost take themselves.”

Originally published in the fall 2025 issue of Spoke+Blossom.