The golden birch tree immediately caught my eye — glowing in the soft evening light, it stood out like a beacon against the darker autumn forest. Behind it, layers of red, orange, and deep green foliage created a rich and classic fall color palette that perfectly captured the essence of the season.

I was drawn to the strong contrast in this autumn landscape — a single birch tree illuminated by sunlight, framed by a shadowy background of pines and oaks. The mix of warm and cool tones gives the photo a natural balance, making it both calm and visually striking.

From a post-processing perspective, I developed this autumn photo in Photoshop using only adjustment layers. I began with Curves to add depth and contrast, then used Color Balance and Selective Color to enhance the reds, oranges, and yellows. Finally, a subtle Orton effect brought a soft, painterly glow without sacrificing detail or clarity.

If you enjoy autumn landscapes as much as I do, take a moment on your next walk to notice how the light transforms even the simplest scenes. 🍂