Tips & Techniques Articles

Shipboard Photography: Carrying, Stabilizing, and Protecting your Gear

June 15, 2018 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.

Why You Should Consider Shooting Raw Format for Outdoor Photography

June 5, 2018 By Ian Plant & filed under All Articles, Tips & Techniques Articles.

Most digital cameras give you two basic choices for recording your photo files: JPEG or raw (and, sometimes, both). Which to choose? Although JPEG is fine for casual photography, if you really want to take your photography to the next level, consider using raw format for your image files. I shoot raw format because it…

Using Triangles in Landscape Photography

May 17, 2018 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.

The Best Times to Take Outdoor Photos

May 7, 2018 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.

The 7 Elements of a Great Bird Photograph

April 25, 2018 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.

How to Shoot Tack Sharp Stars

March 12, 2018 By David Johnston & filed under All Articles, Tips & Techniques Articles.

The dawn of the age of technology has given way to a ton of new types of photographs that weren’t necessarily able to be shot before. The leading companies in camera sensors have developed the tools necessary to shoot unbelievable images in some of the most difficult situations. My guess is that if Ansel Adams…

Think Outside the Box with High Key Photography

March 8, 2018 By David Johnston & filed under All Articles, Tips & Techniques Articles.

I’ve got a question for you. Have you ever been unmotivated to go out and shoot? It’s a weird question, right? I mean, we all love outdoor photography. What is there not to love? You get to be outside exploring and capturing your creative vision. But, I’d be willing to bet that there have been…

Essential Gear and Tips for Winter Photography

December 20, 2017 By Dean Sauskojus & filed under All Articles, Tips & Techniques Articles, Travel Photography Articles.

You’ve no doubt heard the saying, “Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.” This could apply to all seasonal photography but it is critical to taking successful photos in the winter. Here are some tips for winter photography to help you stay safe and comfortable while shooting and ensure you come away with some great…

How to Photograph Shapes Instead of Landscapes

November 16, 2017 By David Johnston & 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 like this: Gear: 10% Composition: 65% Post Processing: 25%…

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 photography as well. Look for…