Halloween might be all about pumpkins, ghosts and things that go bump in the night, but you don’t need any of those to take a brilliantly spooky photograph.
Autumn has a way of making perfectly ordinary places look a little creepy. A familiar woodland path suddenly disappears into the mist. Bare branches cast strange shadows across the pavement. Even a harmless garden spider can look like something from a horror film when you get close enough.
And the best bit? You don’t need an expensive camera or any fancy equipment. Your phone will do just fine.
We’ve already shared some Halloween photography tips for capturing the usual spooky celebrations. This time, we’re looking at the creepy side of autumn itself.
So, if you fancy getting into the Halloween spirit without another photograph of a carved pumpkin, here are seven things worth pointing your camera at.
There’s something wonderfully eerie about a thick layer of mist, particularly when it hides what’s just a few metres ahead.
Woodland paths, empty fields, lakes and quiet country lanes can all look completely different on a misty morning. Trees fade into the background, familiar landmarks disappear and everything takes on a slightly mysterious feel.
Misty mornings are just one of the reasons autumn is such a brilliant time to get out with your camera. We’ve shared a few more seasonal ideas in our autumn photography tips.
Photography tip: Try including something in the foreground, such as a tree, fence or bench, to give your photo some depth. Early morning is often a good time to find mist, especially after a cool, still night.
And if you’re using your phone, tap on the main subject to focus before taking the shot. You may need to lower the exposure slightly to stop the brighter areas looking washed out.
Spiders might not be everyone’s favourite autumn visitors, but they do make rather impressive photographers’ subjects.
An ordinary cobweb can look spectacular when it’s covered in tiny droplets of morning dew. Get close enough and you’ll see all sorts of patterns that are easy to miss with the naked eye.
For something a little spookier, look for webs stretched between bare branches, across old gates or tucked into the corners of garden sheds.
Photography tip: Get down to the web’s level and try photographing it against a darker background. This will help the delicate strands stand out. If your phone has a macro mode, this is a good opportunity to use it.
Just be careful not to disturb the spider or its web. It’s someone’s home, after all.
Ever caught sight of a shadow out of the corner of your eye and thought someone was standing there?
You’re not alone. Our brains are very good at finding familiar shapes in random patterns, which is why a perfectly innocent shadow can sometimes look rather sinister.
Autumn is particularly good for shadow photography because the sun sits lower in the sky, creating longer shadows during the day.
Look for twisted branches stretching across walls, unusual shapes cast by railings or the shadow of someone standing just outside the frame.
Photography tip: Experiment with different angles and try photographing just the shadow, leaving out whatever is creating it. A little mystery can make the image far more interesting.
A tree covered in colourful autumn leaves can make a beautiful photograph. But once those leaves start falling, something rather different happens.
The branches are suddenly exposed, and some trees have shapes that wouldn’t look out of place in a spooky film.
Old oaks, twisted hawthorns and trees with unusual trunks are particularly good subjects. Even better if you find one standing alone in a field or silhouetted against a dramatic sky.
Photography tip: Try shooting from a low angle, looking upwards through the branches. On an overcast day, the contrast between the dark tree and pale sky can create a striking image.
You could also try converting the photograph to black and white. Removing the colour often makes the shapes look even more dramatic.
Sometimes the most unsettling photographs are the ones that make you wonder what’s just out of sight.
An empty footpath winding into the woods, an old stone archway or a half-open garden gate can all create that feeling.
The trick is to leave something to the imagination.
You don’t need to go hunting for abandoned buildings or venture anywhere you shouldn’t. Old churchyards, historic buildings and public footpaths can offer plenty of interesting subjects, provided you respect any access restrictions.
Photography tip: Use paths, walls or fences to lead the viewer’s eye into the photograph. This is known as a leading line, and it’s a simple way to make a scene feel more atmospheric.
If the path disappears around a corner or into the trees, even better. What’s waiting at the other end?
Autumn skies can be spectacular, particularly when dark clouds gather just before a shower.
And while most of us reach for our cameras when there’s a beautiful sunset, a gloomy sky can be just as interesting.
Look for heavy clouds above rooftops, patches of sunlight breaking through stormy weather or the last bit of daylight disappearing behind the trees.
You don’t even need to leave home. Sometimes the view from an upstairs window is enough.
Photography tip: Try placing a dark silhouette, such as a rooftop, tree or chimney, against the sky. Tap on the brightest part of the sky on your phone screen and reduce the exposure if necessary. This should help preserve detail in the clouds.
Of course, if there’s a storm approaching, take your photographs from somewhere safe.
Reflections can make everyday scenes look surprisingly unusual, especially when they’re distorted.
Puddles, windows, ponds and even wet pavements can create interesting effects. A tree reflected in a puddle might look like it’s growing upside down, while a face reflected in a dark window can appear almost ghostly.
One particularly fun trick is to photograph a reflection and then rotate the image afterwards. You might be surprised by how strange the result looks.
Photography tip: Get your phone close to the reflective surface and experiment with the angle. After rain, try photographing puddles from just above ground level. You can often capture a much more interesting reflection than you would standing upright.
And if you’re photographing through a window, try including a faint reflection of something behind you. It can give the finished picture a slightly unsettling feel.
Once you’ve found your subject, a little editing can make a big difference.
You don’t need specialist software. Most phones have built-in editing tools that are more than capable of giving your photographs a spooky feel.
If you’re keen to improve your photography skills, experimenting with light, composition and editing is a good place to start.
For a spookier finish, try experimenting with:
Don’t feel you need to use every effect at once. Often, a small adjustment is enough.
The great thing about spooky photography is that you can find interesting subjects almost anywhere. A morning dog walk, a trip to the park or even a wander around your own garden could turn up something worth photographing.
And unlike Halloween decorations, these scenes don’t disappear as soon as November arrives.
If you manage to capture something particularly striking, why leave it sitting on your phone? A moody woodland scene or dramatic black-and-white photograph could look fantastic as a personalised metal print.
So, next time you’re out and about, keep an eye open for the slightly unusual. You never know what might be lurking around the corner.
Happy snapping, and happy Halloween! 👻
