Free Autumn Pictures and Fall Backgrounds: 50 Photos
Here are 50 free autumn pictures from the BigFoto library: forests in October colours, carpets of fallen leaves, red and golden leaves up close and the first frost of the season. Use them as fall backgrounds for posts, slides, invitations and websites.
How to download: click a photo to see it large, then use Download. The originals are about 1200 × 800 pixels: right for blog posts, slides, social media, school projects and video call backgrounds.
Autumn trees and forests
Beech and maple woods in October colours, a lone tree in a field and golden crowns against a blue sky.
Fallen leaves: autumn backgrounds
Carpets of brown, red and yellow leaves on the ground. Even and full-frame, they work as autumn backgrounds behind text, on slides and in designs.
Autumn leaves up close
Single leaves and small groups in red, orange, gold and brown: maple, beech, vine and wild cherry.
First frost
Late autumn, when the first frost outlines the fallen leaves.
Why leaves change colour in autumn
In summer leaves are green because of chlorophyll, which the tree uses to make sugar from sunlight. As the days get shorter and colder, the tree stops making chlorophyll and the green fades. The yellow and orange that were hidden underneath show through, and some trees, such as maples, also produce new red pigments. Cool, sunny days and cold nights give the brightest colours.
Tips for photographing autumn colours
- Shoot on an overcast day or in soft morning light: colours look deeper and there are no harsh shadows.
- Look for backlight: leaves glow when the sun shines through them.
- Fill the frame with fallen leaves for a background, or isolate a single leaf against a dark or blurred background.
- A polarising filter removes the shine on wet leaves and makes the colours stronger.
More free photos
Questions about these autumn photos
Can I use these autumn pictures for free?
Yes, for personal and commercial projects. All we ask is a link back to BigFoto.com; the box at the top of the page has a credit link you can copy.
Which photos work best as a fall background?
The fallen-leaves photos: they fill the whole frame evenly, so text stays readable on top. For a header or a slide title, a forest in full colour works well.
