Photography is a hobby that virtually everyone, old and young can enjoy. Taking pictures and capturing moments out in nature allows you to return to those places over and over. Capturing memories that last forever is what photography is all about. This article will give you some great ideas for taking photographs when you are out exploring in the wilderness.
Try using a tripod to take your photos. This will reduce or completely remove your movement’s influence. It’s incredibly frustrating to have lined up a perfect shot only to discover that your hands were shaking a bit and completely blurred the photo. This is especially important if you know you don’t have extremely steady hands.
Hold your camera tight, keep your arms close to your sides and put your hands on both sides and the bottom of your camera. This will help to steady your hands and prevent blurry shots. Supporting the camera from underneath, as opposed to holding the top, will also make it much harder for you to drop your camera.
When taking a picture, try to take one at a medium distance and then take one closer. You may decide later on that a picture would have looked better had you taken it a little closer. Also, try to make sure your subject is toward the center of the picture.
Understand and anticipate the impact that wind will have on the photos that you take. For example, if you are planning on shooting flowers, avoid days where the wind is very active. When flowers and plants are stable, you will have the best chance to get the highest quality and resolution in your picture. In situations where you don’t have a choice, such as weddings, have a contingency plan. Are there sheltered areas where the wind will have less impact?
Use a rather low ISO. A good ISO is around 200. Using this range of ISO will make your pictures look dark in certain situations, but you can easily change the contrast and light on a computer. If you use a higher ISO, you will get a lot of noise on your picture, which makes editing harder.
A good photography tip that can help you is to take a step back from your work sometimes. A picture you might not have like before might suddenly seem appealing to you. It’s very important to step back from your work so that you can always have a fresh perspective.
When photographing portraits, isolate your subject. Use a medium telephoto lens or the medium telephoto setting on your zoom. That, combined with a large aperture (try f/4 or larger), blurs the foreground and background. Focus on the eyes. Use diffused lighting for a flattering look. If outdoors, wait for an overcast sky or shoot with the subject in the shadows and the sun at your back.
Natural light will always provide you with the highest quality photos. Cloudy days are actually better for shooting than sunny ones, because the clouds act as a natural diffuser, spreading the light out and eliminating shadows and harsh contrasts. Opt for your next photo shoot outside on an overcast day.
Take the time to improve the sharpness of your shots by adding a key piece of photographic equipment to your arsenal. This would be a tripod. This will hold your camera steady, unlike your hands, and will be an effective way to ensure that you take clear, sharp, shots of your subjects.
Photography is a fun hobby that virtually anyone can do. No matter your age, it is easy to take photographs. Taking pictures while you are out exploring nature is a great idea to help remind you of the unique and beautiful things you encountered. Apply the tips from this article, and you will be sure to be taking memorable nature photographs in no time.
