Autumn in Conguillío National Park

Autumn in Parque Nacional Conguillío

Recently nominated by National Geographic as one of the top 10 most beautiful Parks in the world, one might ask when is the best time to visit. The last week of April and the first week of May is one of the best times to visit the Park due to the splendid display of orange and red tones of autumn leaves from the Nothofagus genus which dominate the Park. These tones contrast beautifully with the dark green of the evergreen Coigüe (Nothofagus domebeyi) and the oddly shaped Monkey Puzzle Tree (Araucaria auracana). The display is equal to or better than the best art exhibitions to be seen. The autumn change of colours begins slowly with some leaves turning yellow, then orange and finally all turning an intense red that dominates the landscape. For photographers of landscapes, autumn in Parque Conguillío presentes a marvellous opportunity that is difficult to capture in any single photo. The autumn colours can be enjoyed from various viewpoints within the Park, for example from the trails Los Carpinteros, Sierra Nevada, around the lakes and from either entrance of the Park.

Tips for taking photos in autumn

1. For a vibrant photo, demonstrating the brilliant red and orange hues of the leaves a backlit shot is often best. Although difficult, it is worth a try. Shade the lens to avoid flares and open up the exposure a little in Aperture Priority to avoid the problem of stark contrast.
2. Try using a focal length of 200-400mm to create interesting compositions from within a general landscape view, you´ll need to use a higher shutter speed and therefore a tripod and cable release to reduce vibrations
3. Another technique is to use large apertures to create a shallow depth of field and images with out of focus areas and a softness.
4. Reflections in water of autumn colours make nice shots. Try some of the lakes in the Park for autumn colours reflected in the water. Try a position that is across from a sunlit autumn mounmtain or hill.

Vary your position to get different shots. For example, getting close-up to fallen leaves on the ground with a wide angle for fallen leaves on the ground or looking up into the canopy, can create some nice shots. Climbing up on something or getting to a high spot to look down over an autumn landscape also gives the shot a wow factor.