Summer Celebration of Outdoor Photography

No matter what you normally shoot, this season get wrapped up in the carefree spirit of summer! In an attempt to help you bust out of your comfort zone, it’s time to drive through a beautiful landscape, scout an overlook, and take the time to capture the grandeur of everything you see. Time is the most important investment you can make in creating interesting outdoor photography. When you arrive in a new place for the first time, spend time scouting different locations, finding unique vantage points. Figure out where and when the sun will rise and set, where the light will and will not be falling, and if you’ll be able to get the necessary gear to your preferred location. If you’re ready to get off the beaten path and capture something majestic this summer, take a look at our top 5 tips for outdoor photography below.

Get the Maps Out and Plan Your Route

You should never leave home to shoot in new locations without a good map (especially in areas where cell phone reception is non-existent). Before you head out, use a map to do a quick recon of the area you are planning to photograph. Scout your location in advance, working out elevations and exactly where the mountain peaks, lakes and scenic spots are, and which road or hiking trail you’ll need to reach them. Once you arrive and unpack and setup your gear, all you need to think about is taking incredible pictures.

Get in Position to Take the Perfect Shot

There’s a lot to think about when it comes to outdoor photography. Working out where the sun will rise and set, the sun’s position in relation to you and your landscape, and ensuring you’re in the right place at the right time. Before setting up, visualize the photo you’re trying to capture. Take sample shots by shooting handheld, getting up high and kneeling down low. Take several photos until you’ve envisioned a good, balanced composition of foreground and background elements.

Take Your Time and Don’t Settle

When shooting landscapes, photographers can sometimes get lazy. They’ll reach a vantage point by car, park, and take a few snaps before driving off again. Want the best shot? Use your feet. Walk around, get down to the lakeside or base of the mountain, or walk up to a higher viewpoint, all of this will improve your composition. This can sometimes be difficult while lugging around gear, but in the end it’ll be worth it.

Shoot During the Golden Hours

Sunrise and sunset (and an hour before and after) are the best times of day for capturing captivating landscape shots with spectacularly colorful skies. Watch the weather forecast and try to avoid overcast or cloudy days – clear skies with just a few clouds usually create vibrant skies.

Review Your Shots

Unless you’re hiking for miles, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t shoot tethered, checking your images after you’ve taken them. The most important tools for this are a TetherPro USB cable, laptop, extra tripod, and light-weight Tether Table Aero. Using your laptop, you can easily check your composition and framing, while checking on your color and white balance. Need some inspiration? Here’s just a few of our favorite photographers who shoot landscapes, time-lapse, nature, travel, or wildlife. Pål Gabrielsen – www.palgabrielsen.com

A photo posted by Pål Gabrielsen (@palgapixels) on Apr 28, 2016 at 2:58pm PDT

Matt Shannon Photography – www.mattshannonphotography.com

A photo posted by Mattshannon Photography (@matt_shannon_photography) on May 4, 2016 at 5:18pm PDT

Scott Kelby – www.scottkelby.com

A photo posted by Scott Kelby (@scottkelby) on May 7, 2016 at 10:02am PDT

Timeographer – Ron Risman – www.timelapseworkshops.com

A photo posted by Timeographer (@timeographer) on Apr 7, 2016 at 7:31pm PDT

Laurie Rubin – www.imagesbylaurie.com

A photo posted by Laurie Rubin (@laurierubinphotography) on Apr 23, 2016 at 7:59pm PDT

Got tips of your own? Feel free to leave them in the comment section below!