Spring is finally here (well, not in Wisconsin, but just about everywhere else) which means you have no excuse not to get outside and document the first signs of the season. If you are an avid photographer, now is the time to fine tune your outdoor shooting skills. For most of us, these skills have laid dormant for the past few months, especially if you don’t enjoy taking winter photos in the great outdoors.
Take your camera outside and document spring flowers, bugs and green landscapes. Just remember these simple tips before you point and shoot:
Timing is Key: High noon is the worst time to take pictures of flowers. Actually, you really don’t want to shoot pictures between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., as that is when the sun is at its peak. You never want to take pictures in direct sunlight. You’ll get better results if you shoot in the early morning or late evening. Otherwise, wait until the clouds roll in. If you are determined to shoot in the mid-day sun, use a polarizing filter to reduce glare and enhance colors.
Be Observant: You can add a lot to your spring shots if you are observant in the great outdoors. For example, instead of taking a static shot of blossoming tulips, consider waiting for a breeze to come by and snap a shot of the flowers blowing in the wind. Likewise, if you wait a while after a spring shower you can capture drops of water on leaves, which can add a new dimension to your pictures.
Adjust ISO: When you are shooting outdoors, it’s best to lower the ISO setting on your camera. Start at ISO 100, and then reduce it to ISO 50 if the images are not up to par. Ideally, you want to eliminate as much grain as possible. You might have to shoot a series of test shots to get the pictures to look just right.
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