No matter how beautiful something looks in your eyes, if you can’t capture that beauty on camera, it doesn’t exist, right?
That’s why nature and landscape photography are so hard to get right. You want your photo to look just like the view you were looking at, only better. If you think that sounds easy, you’re wrong.
Nature photography is Thomas Baskind‘s profession and it isn’t as simple as pointing and shooting – there are plenty of techniques you can use to get the best results.
Here are tips you can use to capture better nature and landscape photos on your next trip outdoors!
- Use a Tripod
A good way to make sure you’re getting sharp photos is to use a tripod. A sturdy tripod with a sturdy head will keep your camera steady, which is necessary when you want to take photos in low light.
Remember that not all tripods are created equal – some are designed to be lightweight so they can be carried easily, whereas others are designed to carry heavy equipment.
If you plan on taking photos in low light or at night, it’s worth investing in something more substantial.
- Consider the Weather
Weather can make or break a photo, so it’s important to know how to take the best photos possible in any given weather condition.
If you’re photographing in bright sunlight, using a lens hood can prevent glare on the lens and keep unwanted highlights from ruining your shot.
For cloudy skies, use a polarizing filter to make those clouds pop! When it’s raining, use a rain cover on your camera or pack an extra lens in your bag so you don’t miss out on capturing that one perfect moment.
- Shoot in Raw Format
Camera settings are crucial when it comes to getting the perfect shot. So, what’s the best format to use? Raw. Shooting in Raw format ensures that you have a lot more editing capability with your photos once they’re taken.
Shooting in Raw also means that you’ll be able to make adjustments later on if necessary without compromising quality.
One thing to keep in mind is that shooting in Raw can take up more space on your camera’s memory card than other formats like JPEGs or TIFFs, so make sure you have enough storage space before hitting the shutter button!
- Use a Polarizing Filter
Experiment with long exposures to capture motion in the scene. When using a tripod, make sure the shutter speed is no slower than 10 seconds. Experiment with different aperture settings as well to get differing levels of depth of field (DOF).
The more open the aperture, typically up to f/22 on some lenses, the more blurred and out-of-focus objects will appear in front of or behind your focal point.
This effect can be used creatively to emphasize foreground details or create an interesting juxtaposition between foreground and background elements.
- Consult a Professional Nature and Landscape Photographer
Working with a professional nature and landscape photographer like Thomas Baskind will help ensure that you’ll get the best shots possible.
They’ll be able to advise you on how to set up your shot, what angles to take the photo from, how to frame the image, and more.
Working with them can also give you a new perspective on how other photographers approach nature photography that you may not have been aware of before.