Travel Photography How To

One reason landscape photography is so challenging is that outdoor scenes tend to be very complicated. Not only is there often a wide range of tones, but composition can be difficult when there are several important objects from foreground to background.

OK, be honest here: Your camera has an AE-L/AF-L button, right? Do you understand how it works? Are you using it regularly? If you’re like many photographers, your answer to the first question is, “sure,” to the second question, “I think so,” and to the third question, “not really.”

The best travel and nature images include a bit of artistic flair, but there are also several common mistakes to avoid if you want your images to be really special. In the two-minute video below, an accomplished New Zealand pro summarizes the most consistent errors we make and explains how to fix them.

Is it just me, or is this summer extra hot? Grab your camera and stay cool with this extra cool Summer Sizzle Sweepstakes brought to you by Shutterbug. We might not include a yacht in the prizes, but maybe with the right gear you can convince a friend to let you take some nice photos on their boat. We gotcha!

 

We’re all familiar with the notion that the best time to shoot landscapes is early during Blue Hour or late in the day at Golden Hour. But what if you get the photography itch in the middle of a summer’s day?

All photographers strive for a creative edge that makes shooting more fun and convenient while delivering images that stand out from the crowd. And there are several affordable accessories that will help you do all that—particularly when shooting travel and nature photos.

Ask any experienced landscape photographer to identify the most important tool in his bag, and the answer is likely to be, “My ND filter.” Or more accurately, “My set of ND filters.”