{"id":1648,"date":"2018-09-07T15:00:19","date_gmt":"2018-09-07T18:00:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.halifaxtrails.ca\/blog\/?p=1648"},"modified":"2022-12-18T22:25:16","modified_gmt":"2022-12-19T02:25:16","slug":"landscape-photography-tips-for-the-amatuer-photographer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.halifaxtrails.ca\/blog\/landscape-photography-tips-for-the-amatuer-photographer\/","title":{"rendered":"Journeys Through Outdoor Photography: Tips, Tricks & Lessons For Amateur Enthusiasts."},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span>\"Google<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Recently I received an email from Google informing me that my Google Maps photo views surpassed a milestone of 3 million views. \u00a0\u00a0A proud accomplishment and a good opportunity to reflect on my journey as an amateur nature\/landscape photographer.\u00a0 I’ve spent many thousands of hours both trekking through the wilderness and sitting at my desk editing.\u00a0 An interesting dichotomy that I’ve come to enjoy.\u00a0 \u00a0I hope this rundown of my ever-evolving photography will help you learn some of the lessons I have along the way.\u00a0 \u00a0If you enjoy this post or any of the other work I do with HalifaxTrails.ca, support it<\/a> to help me continue the journey.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In The Beginning…<\/b><\/h1>\n

The Dawn Of The Digital<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0My photo library began in the early 2000s, coinciding with the dawn of the digital photo era when cameras didn’t produce the best quality images.\u00a0 The digital medium revolutionized photography for other reasons, like removing traditional barriers of expensive film and having to take it to a store for processing.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>Now anyone could get into photography without any expense beyond the camera.\u00a0 The simplistic ease of use of these popular point-and-shoot cameras allowed me to snap pics to easily share with friends and family.\u00a0 I couldn’t have cared less about composition theory<\/a> or the technical artistry of photography in these early days.<\/p>\n

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Guysborough County, Nova Scotia.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Early Outings.<\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0When I tree planted as a summer job, I brought my digital camera with me to capture interesting scenes to share and keep memories for myself. \u00a0\u00a0I captured contrasting shots of natural beauty and the devastating effects of industry which are typically hidden from most people\u2019s view. This is when I began nature and landscape photography. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0I wanted to be able to portray the daily scenes of tree planting.\u00a0 Starting my days with warm sunrises over cool misty valleys, and ending with scorching heat bleaching a devastated clearcut wasteland. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0I began paying attention to framing and trying to capture the essence of these scenes.\u00a0 I also learned the practical challenges of photography in remote areas in all different kinds of weather.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Next Step<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0Around this time, I launched the website HalifaxTrails.ca<\/a> where photography is an important aspect.\u00a0 I wanted to take my photography more seriously so I dug deeper into the art and science of photography.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0I began reading and researching, mostly through landscape photography magazines. \u00a0I gravitated towards the magazines that showed a great shot and explained the camera settings behind it.\u00a0 This helped direct my photography in a more disciplined direction.\"Landscape<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Now I head out with a plan and an idea as to what settings I intend to use for certain destinations.\u00a0 Mix in some experimentations with new approaches and it’s a recipe to continually improve and evolve.<\/p>\n

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Lessons Learned<\/b><\/h1>\n

\"dslr<\/p>\n

Looking Back.<\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Every photographer can give you a different list of things they wish they knew when they started out–like wishing they spent more time studying the X’s and O’s of all the camera settings.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Personally, I learn more by going out and doing. I highly recommend getting a command of the basics such as aperture, shutter speed and ISO.\u00a0 Those settings are the basic tools required to get the exact photo you\u2019re aiming for.<\/p>\n

A New Approach.<\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Beyond those basics, I think it’s most important to learn by doing, by trial and error.\u00a0\u00a0This does not mean taking 200 photos and hoping a couple of them turn out. \u00a0That’s a mistake I made for a long time. There are two main problems with that approach: \u00a01) Sifting through and editing 200 photos is a logistical nightmare. 2) You learn much more from spending time setting one particular shot than you do from sifting through many which you don’t even reme<\/span>mber the setup process.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0You aren’t going to examine the approach used for each photo of a huge batch, which makes it hard to come away with any meaningful lessons. \u00a0I made the biggest strides by taking fewer photos, spending more time on one shot and examining the settings when I was home editing.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Most photo editing software will show the camera settings used for each shot. \u00a0It could be buried in menus, usually filed somewhere under a heading like “details”.\u00a0 These details will include the ISO, aperture, shutter speed and more.\u00a0 It is one of the most useful tools when reviewing your photos. Making a mental note of the best settings used for certain situations is where I started to make big improvements and gain confidence that my intentions can be turned into predictable results.\"rule<\/span><\/p>\n

Composition Theory.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Beyond the settings of the camera, the composition is extremely important. \u00a0It’s disappointing to get home and edit that perfect shot, only to realize that you cut off a cloud, tree or rock that is important to the overall composition. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0These parts of the photo may be seemingly unimportant at the time but can be aspects of a perfect shot, in hindsight. Take the time to perfectly frame a steady shot, turn on the grid lines that are on almost every phone or camera to help you with this. \u00a0These grid lines help you compose a shot following the all-important <\/span>rule of thirds<\/span><\/a>. \u00a0A lesson I learned is to <\/span>always<\/span><\/i> look at the corners and outside edges of your shot while you’re framing it to make sure you’re not cutting off anything important to the overall composition.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Photography Yoga<\/h2>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The best shots, more often than not, come from uncomfortable angles. \u00a0While most people\u2019s inclination is to take everything from standing eye level, better photos await when you aren’t afraid to contort yourself into positions that are sure to entertain passers-by. \u00a0Rather than relying on the zoom of your lens, it is always better to physically place yourself at the right distance and position and make fine adjustments with your zoom from there.<\/span><\/p>\n

Equipment<\/b><\/h1>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0When I started, I used some of the typical point-and-shoot cameras of the era that required no manual settings. \u00a0They were fun, easy and did their job just fine. Great for sharing with friends and family but not so great at capturing stunning landscapes. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0I’ve never spent more money than what’s required for a basic entry-level model of any camera.\u00a0 I’d love to have the better equipment, but until that becomes a realistic possibility (with enough support<\/a>), I’m satisfied with what I can produce with my entry-level models. \u00a0The common wisdom that a good photo is the result of a good photographer (not the camera), is largely true.<\/span><\/p>\n

DSLR’s<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"Olympus<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0I graduated from a point-and-shoot to the cheapest entry-level DSLR at the time, an<\/span> Olympus E-420<\/span><\/a> which treated me well for years. \u00a0Its small form-factor allowed me to bring it along on hikes, and it took great pictures compared to anything I had previously. \u00a0This is the first camera with which I began to set up photos by experimenting with manual settings.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Action Camera Revolution.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"gopro\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Next, I bought a GoPro Hero 2 Silver, on my wishlist for a while. \u00a0It had many features ideal for outdoor adventures. Waterproof, indestructible, small and great picture and video quality, it ticked every box for me. \u00a0Its wide-angle lens was a great compliment to the narrower kit lens on my DSLR.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0To mount the GoPro, I bought a “selfie-stick”.\u00a0 I hate that moniker and think of it more as a walking stick that doubles as a tripod. \u00a0The majority of all of my new outdoor adventure videos were filmed with this camera setup.\u00a0 Its versatility and quality made it my favourite piece of equipment.\u00a0 The versatility and ease of use made it available for any moment a great photo or video presented itself.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"DSLR
DSLR Lens Filters<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Filters.<\/h2>\n

\u00a0 I learned about and began using various filters for my DSLR, which brought my photos to a new level. \u00a0My filter collection includes a clear filter, various graduated neutral density filters, polarized filter, and neutral density fader. \u00a0I recommend having each one of these in your bag at all times. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0The clear filter will protect your valuable main lens, allowing you to throw out the scratched filter rather than your entire lens. \u00a0Graduated neutral density filters are a must when capturing bright skies, snow or other layers that are much brighter than the rest of the picture. It will darken the sky so that you can actually have detail in the clouds rather than a washed-out white blur. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0This was a game changer to my photos and I think you’ll find the same.\u00a0 Another game changer is a polarized filter.\u00a0 Identical to what your polarized sunglasses do, it greatly reduces glare from the sky or water so you can see the details in them. It’s very noticeable with water, and I wouldn’t take any water shots without one. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Finally, a neutral density fader lens, which is essentially an adjustable neutral density lens.\u00a0 This means you can twist the filter to dial in your desired darkness, allowing you a long shutter speed without resulting in washed out, ultrabright garbage.\u00a0 I use this for moving water, like a waterfall, river or the ocean.\u00a0 Using a tripod and the self-timer function or remote control on your camera is a must. \u00a0Your camera has to be perfectly still for any long shutter speeds. The resulting photos will turn waterfalls, rivers, and oceans into an artistically pleasing soft, glassy smooth blur.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Pockwock
8-Second shutter with neutral density fader<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Two Steps Forward, One Step Back.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0This group of equipment treated me well until my camera bag full of all of my cameras and equipment got stolen out of my car. \u00a0I always engrave my contact info onto expensive gear in case it gets left behind or lost.\u00a0 This actually paid off one time when I accidentally left a tripod behind and had returned to me by the good people of Kejimkujik National Park<\/a>.\u00a0 What I never anticipated was losing all<\/em> of my equipment in one fell swoop.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Theft can be combatted in a more modern way.\u00a0 There are <\/span>websites<\/span><\/a> which allow you to upload a photo from your stolen camera to obtain the serial number, and trace any new public photo uploads from it. \u00a0I didn\u2019t have any luck with it in my case, but it’s a good last resort.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Rebound.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Losing all of my camera gear was pretty devastating and forced me to make some tough choices.\u00a0 I considered giving up on the forms of photography I was doing and be limited to my phone.\u00a0 In the end, I decided that my website and photography relied on these cameras and they should be replaced, even at great cost.\u00a0 I saved, borrowed and endured economic hardships to do so.\u00a0 It was a bold decision at the time, but one that I don’t regret.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0To replace my stolen Olympus and GoPro I again bought one of the cheapest entry-level DSLR’s (<\/span>Nikon D3100<\/span><\/a>), but upgraded to a <\/span>GoPro Hero 3+ Black<\/span><\/a> (The best model available at the time). \u00a0\u00a0Both cameras were significant upgrades as the technology had progressed.\u00a0 It felt great being back in business with upgraded equipment.\u00a0 The new cameras renewed my inspiration and confidence to create bigger and better things.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0The cameras have allowed me the versatility to take almost all of my desired shots and are still my go-to cameras today.\u00a0 Sure I’d like to get a full-frame <\/span>high-end DSLR<\/span><\/a>, but my budget won’t allow for that any time soon.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n