Whether you are staying close to home and basking in the unusually warm weather or you’re jetting off to spend spring break in a more tropical locale, you’ll likely want to brush up on your outdoor shooting skills, especially if you have been cooped up inside all winter.
FLOWERS: With fresh blooms all around, now is the time to experiment with close-ups. If you are shooting in macro mode, then your background will be slightly blurred, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be mindful of what else is in your frame besides a pretty blossom. Examine your background before you shoot. For example, a red rose might pop more if you use a blue sky as a background rather than the brick exterior of your home.
SPRAWLING LANDSCAPES: If you are traveling to a National Park to view a natural wonder over spring break, don’t miss out on documenting its beauty. Panoramic photos should be recorded in RAW instead of JPG. This will allow you more flexibility if you want to edit or enlarge the image once you get home. Remember: RAW images record tiny details that JPG doesn’t.
WATER: Nothing adds more interest to a shot than movement. When you are out and about in nature this spring, look for streams, rivers or waterfalls. Each is an ideal subject if you are looking to experiment with movement within a single frame. Focus in on ripples, waves or cascades and then manipulate your aperture and focal point to further enhance the water’s movement.
Finally, if you are shooting with a DSLR camera, don’t forget to pack a few filters and lenses. A wide-angle lens is a must if you plan to shoot sweeping vistas. Also, consider investing in a polarizing filter to help saturate colors when shooting in the great outdoors.
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