Take Beautiful
Landscape and Nature Photos
By
Kelly Paal
We’ve
all been there. Spent a lot of money to go to someplace we’ve
never been before. We’ve taken the photos and brought them
home expecting family and friends to ooh and aah over the shots
we’ve taken. You open the envelope and take out the prints
and somehow the landscapes and nature shots that looked so beautiful
there look flat, dull, and you don’t remember seeing that
couple in the corner of your shot when you snapped the shutter.
First
thing that you must know is that to get really great landscape and
nature shots you really need an SLR with appropriate film for the
job, but these tips will help you even if you are using a point
and shoot.
1.
Appropriate film. I use 100, 200, and 400 speed maximum. Film brand
is a matter of personal taste. I use the 100 and 200 when I know
that it’s going to be bright out and I use 400 if I think
that I’m going to capture wildlife or if I’m deep in
the forest.
2.
Natural light. I try to avoid using flash. If I do use flash I only
use my fill flash. Whenever you use flash you rob the scene of most
of it’s natural charm. Think of it how many times did you
take a shot because the light was just to pretty.
3.
The right lens. A slight wide angle lens in very valuable for landscapes
and a slightly telephoto comes in handy for tight shots of beautiful
flowers. I personally have a favorite lens 30mm-70mm that is a staple
for me and I use it ninety percent of the time.
Now that the technical stuff is out of the way.
4.
Decide what it is EXACTLY that you are trying to capture on film
and crop accordingly. Not cropping enough is one of the biggest
mistakes amateur photographers make. Great thing about landscapes
is that they don’t move. So to learn take a few shots cropping
closer each time.
5.
Occasionally turn the camera vertically. So many people don’t
seem to realize that they can turn their camera on to the vertical.
Imagine that you trying to get this tall evergreen perched on a
rock above a vista. If the camera is horizontal you’ll crop
out the tree, if you turn the camera vertical you’ll get the
tree and a lot of the vista too. Try this when you taking photos.
Take one shot horizontal and then turn the camera vertical. You’ll
be surprised.
6.
If you’re taking a photo of a large horizon it will probably
look flat on film. You need a sense of scale. So frame your image.
Sometimes this can be a family member on one side of the shot, perhaps
looking out into the beautiful horizon. A tree, rock, or plant can
work in landscape shots just make sure that the framing item is
not the focus of your shot.
This will get you started. Nature and landscape photography is a
specialized area of the art but with practice you can improve your
snap shots to capture some of the great places you’ve seen.
If
you have some specific questions please visit my Photography and
Design Forum at: http://kellypaalphotography.com/v-web/bulletin/bb/index.php
and post your question there.
Copyright 2005 Kelly Paal Photography Kelly Paal is a Freelance
Nature and Landscape Photographer, exhibiting nationally and internationally.
She owns her own business Kelly
Paal Photography (www.kellypaalphotography.com). She has an
educational background in photography, business, and commercial
art. She enjoys applying graphic design and photography principles
to her web design.
How to
Take
Great Flower Photos
By
Kelly Paal
I know that many out there want to improve their photography in
one aspect. Flower photography. With gardening as popular as it
is this shouldn’t be a surprise. Flower photography while
looking like one of the simplest forms of photography can quickly
become one of the most difficult. Here are a few tips for you. (Keeping
in mind that basic good photography skills are always used.)
1.
Soft diffuse light. Today it’s very overcast outside, and
if there were any flowers in bloom today would be the perfect day
for capturing some great images. Soft diffuse light enhances color
saturation, so if you wondered how or why pro photographers flower
images seem so deep in color this is one of the reasons why. (There
are exceptions to this rule. I do some flower photography is bright
or dappled sunlight but I’m usually trying to get an effect
of light passing through the petals.)
2.
Slow film speed. 200 speed or less. The slower speed films have
greater detail and for flowers you’re going to need to get
close anyway and you want the nice sharp detail of a slower speed
of film. I use 100 speed for my flower photography.
3.
Tripod. Use one for this type of photography. Set up your shot,
get everything in sharp focus, and then shoot. A tripod will keep
your camera from moving on you and allow you to get the sharp detail
you will need.
4.
Look for great colors, a flower in full bloom next to a bud, and
don’t shoot on windy days. Keep contrast and color in mind
at all times and try different compositions each time you take a
shot.
Flower
photography can be a lot of fun especially if the flowers are your
own.
If you have some specific questions please visit my Photography
and Design Forum at: http://kellypaalphotography.com/v-web/bulletin/bb/index.php
and post your question there. Copyright 2005 Kelly Paal Kelly Paal
is a Freelance Nature and Landscape Photographer, exhibiting nationally
and internationally. She owns her own business Kelly Paal Photography
(www.kellypaalphotography.com).
She has an educational background in photography, business, and
commercial art. She enjoys applying graphic design and photography
principles to her web design.
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