Outdoor Photography Class Information

It is hard to believe that the classes are about to start. Since this is my first time to teach these classes I am sure that the schedule and outline below will change as the class unfolds. One aspect to this class that I am still uncertain about is the need to work in different locations. In picking locations I have tried to address topics such as accessibility and the ability to find an easy assembly point.

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The tips and suggestions were presented at the first class night. If you have any person experiences or ideas to add please share them via the contact form. [Contact Us]

Outdoor Photography Tips

• Buy a tripod (a good tripod). Many times you'll want to use a very small aperture to achieve great depth of field. A steady camera is an important tool for sharper images. It also removes the human element by getting rid of camera shake. There are even some editing techniques which will allow you to combine images to create an incredible area of focus. If you opt for a cheaper tripod a gallon of water, bags of bird shot or similar weight will help you steady the beast.
  
  
• Learn to use and understand your histogram. The LCD gives inaccurate representation of the exposures. If your camera has the ability to display one learn to read it and rely on it as a guide to the quality of your exposure.  Remember, these are not supposed to be a bell curve.  The thing you should watch for is if the histogram goes off on either side.  The right side, or highlights, is the one you especially want to watch.
  
  Some Key Terms which we discussed were:
  • Exposure Compensation
  • Some of the various modes of the camera. (See Exposure Modes)
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• Be Prepared  - Make sure you have good batteries, room on your media card, a blanket for your knees, camera support, a way to see the display, and light modifiers. (Reflectors and such)
  
• Learn to override your camera settings.  Believe it or not, you are smarter than your camera. You just need to learn how to get it to do what you want it to do.
  
• Learn to take notes or use the exif data. Your camera stores a lot of information in the image files. This information is available through windows or many editing programs. Knowing what you tried makes a great shot repeatable. (See exif data)
  
• Experiment and learn which camera modes/settings to use. There is no 1 perfect camera setting that works for all outdoor photographs.
  
   If you are shooting portraits a soft background is preferable, unless of course that background is important and you want it in focus. How important is color? If vivid colors are important to you then you may want to use a different setting.
  
• Photography is all about light. The best time to take photos is before 10:00am, and after about 5:00pm in the summer.  Photographers call  these the “golden hours”.  The light is softer and the colors are more saturated.
  
  Photos shot during mid day are more apt to be very contrasty (extra bright highlights, and dark, dark shadows). An overcast day is best, but you must learn to work with what you have.  What for that occasional cloud and use the breaks in the harsher light.
  
  When the light is overhead you will have harsher shadows. If the object is small you can use a scrim, (a translucent reflector), if it is mobile, move to a shady location.
  
• Scout first, shoot second.  Don’t just walk up and shoot. Walk around, knell, and stand tall. Look for the right angle and decided what you want to do.  A little planning means better images and less waste of time and effort.  
  
• Learn to compose.  Here are 5 things to look for in planning your composition.
  1. – Look for repeating patterns.
  2. – Look for converging or leading lines to draw attention to your images.
  3. – Learn to understand the rule of thirds.
  4. – Learn to balance elements. This can be with dept or with symmetry and patterns.
  5. – Watch the background.
  6. – Crop creatively.
  7. – Experiment Experiment Experiment.
  
  
• Pick your subject, and shoot to emphasis and compose it well.  There is a reason you are taking the photograph.  Learn how to compose to best show off that subject. If it is a landscape and you want as much detail as possible dept of field is what is important. On the other hand, if you are wanting to show off a particular flower then depth of field is a distraction.
  
• Look at the big picture, but don’t forget the details.  Yes, that beautiful flower garden looks great, but those individual flowers look great too.
  
• Learn to see as a camera: Your brain tends to filter out the stuff you don’t want to see in the photograph. The camera will capture them. Specifically I am referring to wires, and branches, and assorted other things that detract from your subject.
  
  Look past your subject for a minute, and see what else is lurking in the background. Branches growing out of a subject can really detract from it.
  
  Learn to see these things before you press the shutter. Your photos will improve.
   
• BE SAFE and RESPECTFUL! If climbing up that tree or over that fence gives you a better angle consider it, and consider the cost if it all goes wrong. If you love nature consider those that mush come after you before you break a limb or climb into the middle of a flower bed.
  
  Another safety consideration in many parts of the country are insects. Ticks and Mosquitoes are a real pain and carry health risks. Use appropriate precautions for these are other creatures who may look at you as a meal or a threat.


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