13 Tips to Perfect Your Landscape Photography |  |
- 13 Tips to Perfect Your Landscape Photography
- Pro Photographer Blooper: Wedding Party Falls Into Lake (Video)
- Sneak Peek: Timelapse Footage from an iPhone 5S with iOS 8
- Interesting Photo of the Day: Oregon Couple Doesn’t Let a Wildfire Ruin Their Wedding
- How to Attach Your Camera Strap the Right Way (Video)
- How to Keep Ambient Light from Ruining Your Images (Video)
| 13 Tips to Perfect Your Landscape Photography Posted: 10 Jun 2014 10:13 PM PDT
In my opinion, landscape photography actually only requires you to be at the right place at the right time. One of the keys to success for landscape photography is patience, and that’s it! Just click and there you go!  “Painted Rainbow” captured by Robert Davis (Click image to see more from Davis.) Having said that, there are some small details which are often forgotten. Let me discuss those small details; you can read them while sipping your coffee: 1. Choose Sky vs. LandPick one. Which one is more preferable for you? The sky or the land? Well, I would just pick both. Why not? Keep in mind that both the land and sky are supporting each other to generate a highly desirable photo.  “Growing Crop” captured by Dave Murray (Click image to see more from Murray.) Don’t be greedy, though. Prioritize the stronger one. For instance, during the golden sunset time, the sky will be more tempting than the land. Yet you have to keep in mind the classic photography textbook guideline, the rule of thirds. As a rule of thumb, the part you want to emphasize should be put two thirds of the way into the frame. But don’t solely rely on the rule. Art is all about your personal preference. What I would suggest is to become familiar with the rule of thirds, and then break it. 2. Find a Focal PointFocal point is not necessarily the point of interest (POI), but POI could be the focal point. On top of that, focal point can be the initial point to explore the POI.  “Lighthouse at Perch Rock, New Brighton” captured by Michael Porter (Click image to see more from Porter.) Focal point is where you want the eyes of the viewers to fall when they first see the landscape photograph. Focal point can be any object in the frame. 3. Don’t Underestimate the ForegroundWhile many photographers focus on finding the best background for their landscape photography, foreground is also very important. Foreground, when placed correctly, gives viewers a sensation of depth. Foreground can also be used as a focal point in many cases. You can use any object as your foreground, such as rocks, trees, or even a person.  “Moss Pillow” captured by Michael Huy (Click image to see more from Huy.) 4. Make Friends with Your TripodThis particular photography equipment presents a dilemma. It is too heavy to be carried, yet its function is too vital to be left behind. The main function of a tripod is to prevent the camera from shaking. When I’m going to hunt landscape photography, bringing my tripod along with me is a must. For me, it’s better to carry a heavy load than to regret the result of not bringing the tripod. 5. Use Depth of Field to the MaximumLandscape photography is usually sharp from one end to the other. Use a small aperture, f/22 or smaller, to maintain the sharpness of the landscape image.  “Loch Lubnaig” captured by Dave Murray (Click image to see more from Murray.) 6. Capture Nature’s MovementMany people consider landscape photography as capturing an image of peaceful, relaxing, and motionless nature. In fact, we can add some “drama” to our landscape photography. Capture the movements in nature, such as water flow, cloud movement, and swinging leaves.  “Waterfall near Connor Pass” captured by Pat Dennehy (Click image to see more from Dennehy.) Capturing these kind of movements definitely requires a tripod and neutral density (ND) filter. When we capture the image successfully, it could seem like it is from another world with a very strong mood. People may argue, “That doesn’t look real, does it?” Well, I didn’t take photos simply for documentation, did I? 7. Cooperate With the WeatherWeather is unpredictable. It is either good weather and take photos, or bad weather and do it another time. What if I told you bad weather is good for your landscape photography? Too many photographers take photos only on the good days. On the other hand, if you capture the moment of a thunderstorm, blizzard, or other bad weather conditions, your photos will be unique and more dramatic.  “Hallett Cove Lightning” captured by Justin (Click image to see more from Justin.) Keep in mind that everybody can make use of good clear blue skies, but few photographers work in bad weather. Go against the mainstream and create something different. 8. Wait for the Golden Hour & Blue HourGolden hour refers to the time during sunset. You will see the golden color of the sky when the sun sets. But after the sun sets, don’t pack up and get ready to leave. Instead, wait for a moment until the sun completely sets, and you will witness another great time for landscape photography. This is called the blue hour.  “Golden Hour” captured by Katelyn “Kate” Wall (Click image to see more from Wall.) Blue hour is the time after the sun is gone and before it is completely dark. You will see a dark blue sky. Turn your camera on and capture the moment. Quick! 9. Lines and ShapesPlay with composition. Lines and shapes give a very strong impression to an image. Also, remember the perspective and vanishing point. Both give a great sense of depth, which is very interesting to a viewer’s eyes.  “Napa Valley Sunrise” captured by Clifford Briggin (Click image to see more from Briggin.) 10. Change PerspectiveI cannot overemphasize that you should explore as much as you can. Get the infinite creativity in landscape photography. Change your point of view when taking photos. Even switching from a high angle to a low angle gives you a totally different effect and mood.  “Rainbow of Color” captured by Mitch Johanson (Click image to see more from Johanson.) 11. Look for Details of the LandscapeLandscape photography is not solely wide angle. Experiment with different types of lenses. If you only have a normal lens, then panoramic photos can be an alternative. 12. Use HDR TechniquesHigh Dynamic Range for landscape photography can be a great alternative when a camera filter is not available. Take several images of the same scene with different exposures, then combine them. Combining the images can be done using image editing software such as Photoshop. Don’t overprocess your image. Make it look natural, not like a 3D cartoon. 13. Keep Shooting!After reading all the tips, it is time to take action. Remember, knowing is nothing; applying what you know is everything. The very best thing you can do to improve your landscape photography skills is to practice. Get your camera, go out to take photos, and have fun! About the Author: For Further Training, PictureCorrect Suggests:Landscape photography is difficult to master until you learn that there are several massive compromises baked into the genre. This guide, Living Landscapes, will help you move past the point, click and hope approach to landscape photography. You'll learn from a pro how to capture stunning landscape photos you'll hang on walls – not hide in albums – by mastering the three key ingredients. There is also another good eBook as part of a bundle on post-processing. Found here: Living Landscapes Photography Guide Go to full article: 13 Tips to Perfect Your Landscape Photography |
| Pro Photographer Blooper: Wedding Party Falls Into Lake (Video) Posted: 10 Jun 2014 05:27 PM PDT Videographer Megan Fritze illustrated a valuable lesson about the importance of location choice when shooting wedding photos during Dan and Jackie Anderson’s wedding in Crosslake, Minnesota. Take a look at what she caught on video: Not that any photographer would know the weight limits of random lake docks, but if you’re shooting a wedding party, this little accident might be one to keep in mind. According to an interview by Mattie Kahn at ABC’s Good Morning America, the wedding party, who was posing on a dock for photos, remained in good spirits, clothing was not damaged, and the wedding thereafter went smoothly.  Check out the serene looks on the faces of the bride and groom as the wedding party takes a dunk. May they live happily ever after! In the interview, Fritze says that the bride “looked up with the biggest smile in the world. She was literally laughing out loud and just smiling. The first thing she said was, ‘Did you record that? Please tell me you got that on camera!’ I thought, ‘This is a really cool bride.’” Go to full article: Pro Photographer Blooper: Wedding Party Falls Into Lake (Video) |
| Sneak Peek: Timelapse Footage from an iPhone 5S with iOS 8 Posted: 10 Jun 2014 01:52 PM PDT There’s a lot of chatter about Apple’s iOS 8, the mobile operating system that’s scheduled to make an appearance this in the fall of 2014. The rumors, speculations, and confirmed details of the release are of special interest to photographers, as a few new camera-related features have been suggested. One of those features happens to be a timelapse mode which can be used to create timelapse videos like the one below: Apple fanatic iTwe4kz installed iOS8 on his iPhone 5S and created the timelapse to test out the new feature and show other iOS users what is possible with the latest upgrade (via PetaPixel). Unarguably, people have been making timelapse videos on their iPhones for quite some time now using third party apps, so it will be interesting to see how the native timelapse tool will measure up.
With luxury car manufacturer Bentley creating an entire commercial on an iPhone 5S, more and more attention has been placed on the capabilities of the device, perhaps inspiring filmmakers and photographers to create clips of their own. With a tripod or Shoulderpod for your phone, I venture to say that some really cool iPhone timelapse videos are about to hit the Internet. Other photo related additions that may or may not make it to the public release version of iOS 8 include increased photo editing functionality, a built-in horizon leveling option, and more organized file storage. You can read more about the specs in this earlier post. Go to full article: Sneak Peek: Timelapse Footage from an iPhone 5S with iOS 8 |
| Interesting Photo of the Day: Oregon Couple Doesn’t Let a Wildfire Ruin Their Wedding Posted: 10 Jun 2014 12:43 PM PDT April Hartley’s and Michael Wolber’s wedding at Rock Springs Ranch near Bend, Oregon on Saturday was anything but ordinary. As the ceremony was about to begin, the couple and their guests were told the venue must be evacuated due to a dangerous wildfire in the area. But that didn’t stop the love birds from enjoying their day.  Married in front of fire (Via Josh Newton/Buzzfeed. Click image to see full size.) Quick-thinking photographer Josh Newton captured this one-of-a-kind wedding portrait of the happy couple as the fire blazed behind them minutes before they fled:  A newlywed couple poses in front of a wildfire near Bend, Oregon. Captured with an iPhone 5S. (Via Josh Newton/Facebook. Click image to see full size.) Luckily, firefighters permitted a rushed ceremony and some pretty memorable wedding photos before the evacuation. As the Two Bulls wildfire raged on, the party moved to an impromptu location well out of the way of the smoke and flames.
Go to full article: Interesting Photo of the Day: Oregon Couple Doesn’t Let a Wildfire Ruin Their Wedding |
| How to Attach Your Camera Strap the Right Way (Video) Posted: 10 Jun 2014 11:22 AM PDT You just forked out big bucks to get your camera, and you want to see what the machine can do! Quickly throw on the camera strap, attach the lens and you're ready to go, right? Wrong! Incorrectly fastening your camera strap could end up in a fatal camera mishap, and probably a few (or many) tears. Lauren of Photography Concentrate shows us the right way to attach a camera strap while giving us a few other tips: Many of us have been feeding the strap backwards into the plastic fasteners. Although this seems secure enough, with a strong enough tug, the strap could slide right out. The Correct Way to Put on Your Camera Strap1. The plastic fastener should be right side up. As Lauren points out, it has two plastic strips with the strap fabric in the middle.
2. Feed the strap from the outside-in, through the camera's tether points.
3. Create some slack by pulling the strap upwards in the middle of the plastic fastener. It should create a large loop.
4. Feed the end of the strap through the retainer piece and up the back of the plastic fastener.
5. Pull both ends tightly to fix down the strap in the fastener. 6. Voila! A secure strap to keep you and your camera happy!
Here's another tip: most large camera companies provide straps with little folds in the end. These folds mimic the bends they will have when correctly inserted in the camera tether points and plastic fastener. Be sure to find a strap that is comfortable for you. The standard issue straps work great but are sometimes very stiff. Try using a neoprene strap for heavier cameras, or longer days photographing. It will provide softness and a little extra give. You may also want to consider a hand strap which may help reduce tension. Or, use both for optimal camera holding ability! And for those of you who had it right all along, give yourself a pat on the back for your extra good logic skills. Go to full article: How to Attach Your Camera Strap the Right Way (Video) |
| How to Keep Ambient Light from Ruining Your Images (Video) Posted: 10 Jun 2014 11:15 AM PDT Ambient light is the light not supplied by the photographer in a photo shoot, whether it be from a natural source or a light fixture. Especially when shooting portraits, this light can affect the color and tone of skin in an unfavorable way. The light usually affects the shadows and tints them a color such as green or orange, depending on the source. Lindsay Adler provides a few tips for keeping unwanted ambient light out of your photos: Solutions for Working with Ambient Light1. Shoot at or near sync speed. Flash sync speed is the fastest shutter speed you can use without shutter curtains closing mid-flash. This is typically somewhere around 1/200 of a second, but it varies with different gear. A faster shutter blocks out ambient light; the longer your shutter is open, the more ambient light can enter. 2. Turn off or minimize the ambient light. When possible, cover windows with light blocking curtains or turn off any overhead lights. 3. Shoot a test frame without the strobe. Typically, you want a shot without your strobe to result in a black frame. If you can still see your subject in the test shot, the ambient light is interfering.  Ideally, your test shot without the strobe will be a completely black frame.  A color cast from ambient light becomes more apparent with slower shutter speeds. 4. Increase the power of your flash. If all else fails, close your aperture down and turn the strobe up. This should minimize ambient light.
Go to full article: How to Keep Ambient Light from Ruining Your Images (Video) |
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