Tips for Outdoor Photography – DIY in 5 Ep 224

There are many positives to outdoor photography, including the lack of need for studio or lighting rental, and the broad range of subjects to capture, but with that comes a lack of control over variables. If you are a budding photographer looking to shoot more outdoor content, this video will be perfect for you. Lighting Outdoor light, or natural light, is incredible in the right circumstances but can be horrible at others. Morning and early evening light often makes for the best circumstances to capture photos of the natural world. The light is softer and more diffused, and is referred to as ‘golden hour’. Midday light can create photos with harsh shadows or a washed out look. If you need to shoot during the middle of the day, try doing it with the sun behind you, so it lights your subject evenly. If your subject is a person, they should look away from the camera to avoid squinting at the bright sunlight. The changing sunlight during the day will influence both brightness and color, which can be used to your advantage. Lighting equipment Some equipment that might help with lighting is a lens hood to reduce glare, and polarizing filters. These filters will only allow light from certain angles, which can reduce glare and atmospheric haze when shooting distant objects such as mountains. Filters add an extra layer of protection to the lens in case of accidents. Reflectors, large reflective surfaces that can bounce sunlight towards the camera’s subject, are great to bring along too. They can be as simple as white cardboard, up to professional-level reflectors with different surface types to play with the light color. Camera equipment With lighting figured out, consider your camera and lens options. Wide-angle lenses are ideal for landscape photos, to capture your whole scene. Telephoto lenses are nice for wildlife shots to get close-up shots even from farther away. In terms of camera settings, focus is paramount. For your whole image to be sharp and in focus, like a landscape, an aperture of between f/8 and f/22 is advisable. But for a portrait, a wider aperture of f/2.8 to f/5.6, with a faster shutter speed, is more appropriate. On the topic of shutter speeds, if you’re working with slower ones or low-light environments, a tripod is a great way to ensure sharp shots. Turn off image stabilization, if your camera has it. Let’s shoot! When lining up your shot, keep the horizon level and play around with how it divides your photo. Find a focal point which draws the eye, and look for leading lines throughout the scenery that points to it. Typically, the focal point should be farther away, with leading lines in the foreground leading back to it. You can play around with it though and see what you come up with. Don’t forget the other necessities! Snacks, water, a cover for your camera in case of rain, and a secure way to carry personal belongings, especially when shooting near water. If you found this video useful, please like and subscribe so you can enjoy our future tech tips! Got questions about the video or Kingston products? COMMENT or contact us on SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter: Instagram: Facebook: LinkedIn: SUBSCRIBE for more DIY in 5 videos, and receive updates on the latest in Kingston’s memory & storage development, plus guides on getting peak performance from your hardware: 0:00 Intro 0:40 Lighting 1:30 Lighting equipment 2:19 Camera equipment 3:15 Let’s shoot! 3:35 Outro