Autumn in the Utah mountains transforms the landscape into a mosaic of color, and few capture that transformation like Michael Shainblum. In his latest video, he explores how to find order in chaos, turning the overwhelming range of fall tones into cohesive, striking compositions. The focus isn’t on grand vistas but on patterns, textures, and subtle interplay between color and light.
Coming to you from Michael Shainblum, this thoughtful video begins with a Sony 100–400mm f/4.5–5.6 GM OSS lens trained on a distant hillside. Shainblum shows how zooming in on color variation (greens, yellows, oranges, and reds) creates natural abstractions that feel painterly. He keeps his settings steady around f/8 to f/11, shooting at infinity for crisp details across the frame. The process isn’t about finding a single perfect composition but observing how patterns shift with light and wind. He experiments with sage brush for contrast and explores how darker pines cut through bright foliage. What stands out is how he slows down. Rather than chase light, he waits for it, watching small changes turn ordinary hillsides into layered color studies.
Later, Shainblum moves closer to the tree line and shows what happens when you tighten your frame to emphasize texture. Using his telephoto, he isolates the vertical rhythm of aspen trunks and the interplay between warm and cool tones. He emphasizes how diffused light brought by incoming storms transforms the scene. Harsh sunlight flattens the leaves, but overcast skies reveal their depth and tone. When the rain starts to roll in, he raises his ISO and keeps the shutter just fast enough to hold detail through wind gusts. It’s a practical, real-world look at balancing creativity with control. The beauty comes less from post-processing and more from anticipating how light and weather work together in real time.
As the storm builds, Shainblum swaps to a Sony 28mm f/2 wide angle lens to capture the sweeping drama above the hills. A rainbow forms, stretching across a grove of aspen and pines. He stitches together five vertical images in Lightroom to create a panorama that feels both vast and intimate. His excitement isn’t performative; it’s the kind that comes from witnessing a scene evolve second by second. Even while rain textures the frame, he’s careful to preserve highlight detail in the sky and bright yellows of the trees. The balance between patience and spontaneity defines this sequence. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Shainblum.
And if you really want to dive into landscape photography, check out our latest tutorial, “Photographing the World: Japan II – Discovering Hidden Gems with Elia Locardi!”