It is summer! The swimming season is open. Why not take your camera to the beach to capture some unforgettable moments on your camera. Beach photography can give you the wealth of bright and attractive photos, but one should know the basics of photographing at bright sun to get really worthy beach images.

How to get optimum pictures shooting by the sea or in the sun?

1. Photographers say that there cannot be too much light. But if illumination is too intensive, sometimes the shutter speed is not too fast in compact digital cameras and the aperture is automatically closed to its minimum. In this case you may end up with out-of-focus images because of diffraction. Modern compact digital cameras have the maximum aperture of only 4-5.6. That is why it makes sense to use a neutral color filter, which defuses light flux.

2. When the light is too bright, visibility on the LCD monitor is poor, that is why you would better make use of the viewfinder, if there is one.

3. When you take beach photos, pay attention at the horizon line – it should be exactly parallel to one of the sides of the frame.

4. Beach photographs are generally high contrast. And often details in shadows are not well seen. If you want to avoid this effect, it is recommended to use reflectors directed against the shaded side of the shot. If there is nothing suitable, you can use a white towel as a reflector. Portraits require special attention. As a result of high contrast and intensive light, faces often appear too dark and shaded.

5. It is recommended to use color filters (ultraviolet, protective or Skylight) to protect lenses from salt sea splashes. On the whole, keep your digital camera away from water – in most cases the camera will not function after being put into the water. So, don’t leave a camera bag with the camera inside of it too close to the water, don’t leave it in the sun for a long time and in the car either.

6. It is NOT advisable to shoot at noon. Shadows are short at this time, which can result in the loss of the dimension of a shot. Besides, bright contrast is maximum at noon. Be especially attentive when you photograph portraits – the upper lighting creates unattractive shadows under the eyes.

Want more tips? Read the articles:

Ten Beach Photography Tips
Give Me a Minute and I will Give You the Secret of Summer Landscape Photography
The Lazy Photographers Way to Look Slim

Technorati Tags: digital photography, photography tips, photo tutorial, beach photography

I think you will agree that every season is beautiful in its own way. And thus every season offers some great opportunities for landscape photography.

Need ideas for landscape photography during the year? Read the following articles:

• 5 Basic Ideas For Autumn Landscape Photography
• Give Me a Minute and I will Give You the Secret of Summer Landscape Photography – Summer photography tips
• What Photographer Ought to Know About Seasonal Variations – Spring photography tips
• Winter photography: tips for beginners
• Winter Photography tips: Part II

Four Seasons Pictures

Summer

Lake Distract, England. Although summer landscapes often look toneless, still there is always a possibility to take a good image, if you find suitable scenery. In the photo above, the photographer didn’t include the sky and heat haze, but concentrated on the bright greenery of the meadow and trees. The author also used a polarizing filter to intensify color saturation.

The equipment used: Nikon F90X, 80-200 mm zoom lens, cable release, tripod, polarizing filter, Fuji Velva, 1/14 sec., f/11.

Spring

Outskirts of Monticello, Toscana. Spring flowers cover the ground and create a riot of color. That is an ideal foreground for shooting with a wide-angle lens.
The equipment used: Pemax 67, 45 mm lens, cable release, tripod, polarizing filter, Fuji Velva, f/22.

Autumn

Rydal Walter, Lake Distract, England. You will hardly find more dramatic scenery than on a nasty autumn day. The picture above was taken at the end of the day, when soft light and the low sun do accentuate the diversity of colors of hills and trees. It was a windy day, so it was difficult to hold the camera steady and other shots of this landscape got blurred.

The equipment used: Horseman Woodman 5×4, standard 150 mm lens, cable release, tripod, filter 81B, color filter 0.6 ND, Fuji Velva, 1 sec., f/22. Winter

Northumberland, England. In winter weather conditions are of utmost importance for landscape photography. However you can always find something interesting to shoot. The landscape above is photographed in a cloudy evening. Probably a clear blue sky would look better, but the photographer still decided to use a neutral color filter to add color to the sky and thus to separate it from the landscape. 

The equipment used: Petax 67, 55 mm lens, cable lens, tripod, color filter 0.6 ND, Fuji Velva, 1/2 sec., f/11. 

Read more about landscape photography:

• Ten Landscape Photography Tips
• Color Accent in landscape photography

Technorati Tags: digital photography, landscape photography, winter photography, four seasons, photography tips

Autumn arrives and the nature is about some colossal changes. What does it mean for a photographer? In autumn the photographer will find the wealth of vivid colors and tones and a rich diversity of patterns and textures.

In the middle of autumn the day lasts about 12 hours. In good weather, especially in the morning and in the evening, you can enjoy soft light, which is ideal for landscape photography.

The temperature drops down, leaves fade and change their color to red, yellow, and then fall on the ground to form a colorful carpet. Autumn is not only the harvest time, but also the time of fog and rain, and even frost. These all create great conditions for landscape photography. No wonder that autumn is a favourite season of many nature photographers.

1. Shoot in early morning and at late night. Don’t miss an opportunity to photograph a bright navy blue sky on a sunny autumn day. Early mornings and late nights are the best time for landscape photography in autumn. The light is warm and the sky is deep blue.

Besides, early morning is a good time for woodland photography. The sun is low over the horizon and trees throw long shadows. Open areas in the forest are good places for shooting. You can place shadows in the foreground and include in the shot backlit trees with glittering leaves.

2. Take advantage of different filters:

• Make use of a polarizing filter to accentuate the blue of the sky.

• Besides, you can intensify the natural warmth of autumn light and landscape using 81B or 81C filter.

• You can use a polarizing filter even on a nasty day. It will help get rid of the shine on wet leaves and makes the colors brighter.

• Experiment with orange and other warm color filters to accentuate the yellow colors of leaves.

• Diffusion filters help to create special atmosphere, especially in photographs of trees, which are backlit.

• Color filters that emphasize red colors will make warm tones more saturated.

Find more information about polarizing filter in Color Accent in landscape photography.
3. Shoot small details (Read Landscapes in Details). There are so many diverse natural patterns and textures around us – these are small details that form a landscape. Look attentively under your feet and you are sure to notice a rich diversity of patterns, colors and textures in the carpet of fallen leaves. Include them in the shot, using a standard or zoom lens.

4. Get up early in the morning and you will be able to capture dense fog hang over the water and the first sun that create an intense light effect.

5. Take smooth water photos (Read Beginners Guide to Shutter Speed). Brightly colored leaves look very beautiful in a water and on grey stones. Set a low shutter speed to create a silky water effect.

Read more about landscape photography:

• What Photographer Ought to Know About Seasonal Variations
• Give Me a Minute and I will Give You the Secret of Summer Landscape Photography
• Winter photography: tips for beginners
• Ten Landscape Photography Tips
• Winter Photography tips: Part II

Technorati Tags: landscape photography, nature photography, digital photography, photography tutorial, photo tips