By: Alex
Japan’s autumn foliage season is gradually drawing to a close this year: leaves are starting to fall, and tree branches are slowly becoming bare. However, for photographers, there are still plenty of opportunities – it’s just that you shouldn’t focus solely on the treetops anymore, but shift your attention to the ground.
▲ Dōkō-ji Temple, Hyōgo Prefecture (photo by studio_sunset_sea @IG)
Naturally scattered maple and ginkgo leaves, whether on grass, sidewalks, streams, ponds, stone sculptures, or moss, all make for a scenic view. In some places, people deliberately leave the fallen leaves untouched, letting them pile up and eventually form what’s called an “autumn leaf carpet.” Have you noticed that when leaves first fall, they often still retain their vivid red or yellow colors, only turning brown and withered after some time, giving the “autumn leaf carpet” its rich, layered hues.
▲ Ryūon-ji Temple, Kyoto (photo by ariel1162km @IG)
▲ Keizō-ji Temple, Shiga Prefecture (photo by tsubassa_photo @IG)
Even a peony needs green leaves for contrast. Shooting only the “autumn leaf carpet” might lack variety – it’s recommended to pair it with nearby distinctive scenery or buildings to make the image more prominently reflect the theme of “late autumn.” Generally, Japanese photographers prefer to visit less-crowded temples or even hidden gems to shoot the “autumn leaf carpet,” as it’s easier to find unique scenes, and similar to shooting deserts or snowscapes, a “carpet” that’s been stepped on by others may bear distracting marks, significantly detracting from the visual appeal.
▲ Kyōrinbō, Shiga Prefecture (photo by gracias_ken @IG)
▲ Kyōrinbō, Shiga Prefecture (photo by sxbxr_69 @IG)
▲ Hyakusai-ji Temple (Shaka-san), Shiga Prefecture (photo by _take_taro_ @IG)
▲ Iwase Ochiba Shrine, Kyoto (photo by midori_32_ @IG)
▲ Dōkō-ji Temple, Hyōgo Prefecture (photo by _nico_0205 @IG)
▲ Tochigi Prefecture (photo by sxbxr_69 @IG)
▲ (Location unknown) (photo by _iori_xx21 @Twitter)
▲ Dōkō-ji Temple, Hyōgo Prefecture (photo by anakichi0325 @IG)
▲ Mizutani Chaya, Nara Park (photo by tera_2002 @IG)
▲ Jōgō Sports Park, Yamagata Prefecture (photo by northern_sheep @IG)
▲ Fukuda Shrine, Okayama Prefecture (photo by ke_camera @IG)
Source: #AutumnLeafCarpet (IG), #AutumnLeafCarpet (Twitter)