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Shipboard Photography: Carrying, Stabilizing, and Protecting Your Gear

By Chris Linder & filed under All Articles, Equipment & Gear, Tips & Techniques Articles, Travel Photography Articles.

More and more photographers are taking to the sea to visit island destinations like Svalbard, Greenland, and the Galapagos. Antarctic tourism, for example, has surged in recent years, with over 44,000 people visiting the frozen continent in the 2016-2017 summer season—and almost all of them by ship. Ships provide access to remote landscapes and a stunning array of marine species including polar bears, sea otters, penguins, and seabirds.

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Photographing Light as Your Subject

By Ian Plant & filed under All Articles, Ian Plant, Landscape Photography Articles.

Generally, photographers think of light as the thing that illuminates the subject being photographed. There are times, however, when the light itself can be the subject—or at least an important element of the overall composition. There are several general circumstances when you should consider photographing light as your subject. Sunlight passes through a layer of…

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Using Triangles in Landscape Photography

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

In my over ten years as a professional landscape photographer, I’ve learned that artistic composition—the positioning of visual elements within the picture frame—is vitally important to taking successful photos. A critical component of mastering composition is learning how to recognize and creatively use abstract shapes. When assessing potential landscape subjects, I always keep an eye out for objects that form a triangle shape, as I’ve found that you can make powerful compositions by using triangles in landscape photography.

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The Best Times to Take Outdoor Photos

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

I’ve been a professional landscape, nature, and travel photographer for over ten years, and I often get asked the question: what are the best times of day for taking outdoor photographs? The answer, of course, depends in large part on what you are photographing. Outdoor photographers like myself spend weeks in the field hoping for incredible displays of natural light to fully bring their subjects to life. Understanding light, how it changes during the day, and how you can best use the light to your advantage are all critical aspects of successful outdoor photography.

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7 Elements of a Great Bird Photograph

By Glenn Bartley & filed under All Articles, Tips & Techniques Articles, Wildlife Photography Articles.

In order to create beautiful images of birds on a consistent basis it is important to understand the many elements that combine to make a good photo. This includes: exposure, composition, light, sharpness, perch, pose, and background. However, these components are not absolute rules that must be followed in every image. As a matter of fact, some of the best images are those that break some of the rules or that are “outside of the box”. Nevertheless, understanding these 7 elements as a starting point will inevitably lead to better bird images.

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OPG LIVE: May 2018

By Editor & filed under All Articles, Ian Plant, LIVE Videos.

Say good bye to winter, and say goodbye to the old OPG LIVE – we return in May with a new, improved format to welcome the coming of spring! In this episode, pro nature photographer Ian Plant shares some of his secrets for making compelling spring photographs. And, as always, he will be answering the…

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The Joy of Scouting

By David Johnston & filed under All Articles.

There are many times in photography where you get caught up in the details and lose sight of how photography can be fun instead of a challenge. Maybe it’s because of all of the technical jargon you have to remember, or maybe it’s because of all of the gear you carry. Whatever the case may…

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OPG LIVE: March 2018

By Editor & filed under All Articles, Ian Plant, LIVE Videos.

In this episode of OPG LIVE, professional photographer Ian Plant shares photos and stories from his most recent adventure on the Colorado Plateau in Utah. He offers tips for making compelling landscape and aerial photos, as well as discusses how to photograph slot canyons.

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