photography Archives | Outdoor Photography Guide

Trip Report: Leprechaun Canyon, Utah

March 2, 2018 By Ian Plant & filed under All Articles, Ian Plant, Trip Report.

During a recent trip to southeast Utah, I spotted a magnificent rainbow arcing high above the twisted red rock desert. Unable to resist its beckoning call, I followed the rainbow to the end, where I found a wee little fellow wearing a bright green suit. He led me into… Read More

Behind the Shot: Caineville Badlands, Utah

February 8, 2018 By Ian Plant & filed under All Articles, Behind the Shot, Ian Plant.

In the past, I’ve written and spoken a lot about how planning for landscape photography requires a lot of scouting, and patience. During a recent photo trip to the desert of the American Southwest, I put all three to work while photographing the dramatic badlands found around Caineville,… Read More

Trip Report: Ethiopia’s Sof Omar Caves

February 7, 2018 By Ian Plant & filed under All Articles, Ian Plant, Trip Report.

One of the world’s most spectacular and extensive underground caverns and a proposed World Heritage Site, the Sof Omar cave system is an extraordinary natural phenomenon of breathtaking beauty. At almost 10 miles long, it is the longest cave system in Ethiopia, and possibly the largest cave complex in Africa. Read More

Trip Report: Rock-Hewn Churches of Ethiopia’s Tigray Region

January 23, 2018 By Ian Plant & filed under All Articles, Ian Plant, Trip Report.

Remote, ancient, and breathtaking, the over 200 rock-hewn churches of the Tigray region of Ethiopia were built in high, remote places to protect against attackers. Carved from cliff faces high atop seemingly inaccessible mountain perches, these simple yet stunning churches are the oldest in Ethiopia, some dating back to… Read More

Trip Report: Danakil Depression, Ethiopia

January 8, 2018 By Ian Plant & filed under All Articles, Ian Plant, Trip Report.

One of the hottest and driest places on Earth, the Danakil Depression in the northern part of the Afar region in Ethiopia (part of the great East African Rift Valley) is one of the most cruelly inhospitable places on the planet. Much of it lies below sea level, with temperatures… Read More

How to Photograph Shapes Instead of Landscapes

November 16, 2017 By Ian Plant & filed under All Articles, Landscape Photography Articles, Tips & Techniques Articles.

I believe that the three biggest concepts in photography are gear, composition, and post-processing. The smallest of those three is gear, the second smallest is post-processing, and the one that is most essential is composition. If I had to attach percentages to them, it would go… Read More

Tips for Planning Landscape Shooting Locations

November 6, 2017 By Ian Plant & filed under All Articles.

I often get asked the question: how do you find your landscape photography locations? Typically, a lot of planning goes into my choice of locations and compositions, sometimes even months ahead of time. I start with research at home, which helps me narrow down potential spots. When I arrive… Read More

The Importance of Photographing Clouds for Outdoor Photography

October 21, 2017 By Ian Plant & filed under All Articles, Ian Plant, Landscape Photography Articles, Tips & Techniques Articles, Wildlife Photography Articles.

Whenever you include the sky in your photos, chances are your compositions will look better if there are clouds—the right kind of clouds, that is. Photographing clouds is really important for landscape photography in particular, but I find the presence of clouds to be useful with other types of outdoor… Read More

Behind the Shot: Too Close?

October 10, 2017 By Ian Plant & filed under All Articles, Behind the Shot.

Possibly the most prominent symbol of Central America’s tropical forests, often seen on posters, puzzles, and greeting cards, is the red-eyed tree frog (Agalychnis callidryas). These small creatures are only about 5-7 centimeters long, and are very difficult to find in their natural habitat. Tree frogs are green, naturally… Read More

Photographing Birds in Flight

October 2, 2017 By Ian Plant & filed under All Articles.

When it comes to bird photography, there is nothing I love more than capturing an intimate portrait of a bird in its natural environment. Successfully creating an artistic photograph of a challenging bird on an appropriate perch is what I live for! That being said, there is also something… Read More