Nanny-level tutorial! Even ordinary people can shoot stunning photos of the Yiwu Populus euphratica forest
Just got back from Yiwu Populus euphratica carrying my camera! While organizing my photo album, I realized that by mastering a few small tips, ordinary people can also take autumn photos that go viral on social media. This tried-and-true guide is a must for sisters who want to check it out!
🌅 Remember this! The golden hour for great shots
From late September to mid-October every year is the peak beauty period of the Yiwu Populus euphratica, with trees full of golden leaves forming vast patches. Miss it and you’ll have to wait a whole year!
There are only two “magic moments” each day: one hour after sunrise and one hour before sunset. At these times, the light acts like a soft filter, making the Populus euphratica glow with warm golden edges, with saturated colors that are not harsh.
📸 4 must-shoot spots! Even beginners can nail it in one go
• Sunrise + Snowy Mountains: Head to the high ground on the east side of the scenic area! Use a telephoto lens to compress the space, capturing the golden Populus euphratica, distant snowy mountains, and orange sunrise in one frame. Press the shutter and you get a cinematic poster.
• Golden Forest: Don’t just shoot by the roadside! Walk into the forest and shoot upward with a wide-angle lens, sweeping from the ground up. This maximizes the tall and dense feel of the Populus euphratica, as if you’ve stepped into a golden kingdom from a fairy tale.
• Silhouette Moment: At sunset, find a uniquely shaped Populus euphratica (like one with curved branches), meter the exposure against the bright sky, have a person pose simply beside the tree, and the dark background with golden outlines instantly creates a strong atmosphere.
• Starry Sky Masterpiece: Late at night, avoid the scenic area lights, use the Populus euphratica as the foreground, set up a tripod and do a long exposure. You can capture the Milky Way and the silhouette of the Populus euphratica together. No one on social media will believe you took it!
👗 Outfit & Color Grading Tips
Choose solid colors like white, red, or denim blue for your outfit. These contrast strongly with the golden Populus euphratica, making any pose under the trees photogenic. Avoid flashy patterns that steal the spotlight.
Color grading doesn’t have to be complicated: slightly increase the saturation of yellows and oranges, and reduce the greens a bit. This will enhance the autumn vibe of the whole picture. You can easily do this with a mobile photo editing app.
After trying it, you’ll see that the beauty of Yiwu Populus euphratica doesn’t rely on “expert-level” skills. Master these small tips, and you can shoot photos that will have your friends bombarding you for the location! Quickly grab your photo buddy and take advantage of the perfect autumn scenery for a shoot~
Xinjiang Travel