Autumn is a dynamic season that changes landscapes in exciting ways. Capturing these transitions can make for compelling images. This aerial view of the Knik River Valley in Alaska is all about contrasts—color and seasonal—and highlights a couple of compositional techniques.
The first compositional technique is color separation, which adds depth and dimensionality. In this photo, we have color separation between warm and cool colors, specifically yellow and blue. Complementary colors, like yellow and blue, are opposite each other on the color wheel. When they are together, they enhance each other and appear more intense.
The second compositional technique is visual counterpoint. The juxtaposition of two visual elements and their interaction can be used to make a powerful visual statement. In autumn, weather patterns begin to change. On this crisp day late in the season, a cold high-pressure system has pushed out low pressure where a day earlier, precipitation fell as rain at the lower elevations and fresh snow on the mountaintops. The interplay of the autumn colors on the valley floor with the snow and blue skies amplifies the seasonal contrast and signals the coming winter.
Lastly, there is also a minor visual counterpoint between the liquid water in the pond just below the ice field of the Knik Glacier in the distance.
