Outdoor Photography How To

Have you ever found yourself in a beautiful outdoor setting, only to be disappointed in the images you captured of the scene? That’s not an uncommon occurrence among less-experienced nature photographers, and the video below will help you solve the riddle.

Most of us photograph birds on occasion, regardless of our favorite genre, because these colorful and accessible subjects are just about everywhere you look—including in your own backyard. Inexperienced shooters typically concentrate on stationary subjects perched on a branch because of a common misconception that capturing birds in flight is far beyond their skills.

One trick employed by experienced landscape photographers is to use long exposures to capture dramatic images of soft, flowing water and cotton-like clouds. This technique typically involves the use of neutral density (ND) filters to reduce the amount of light entering the camera, thereby permitting extended exposure times.

Every photographer has a personal vision and a particular taste in composition, light, color and so on. For example, many photographers chose nature’s details simply to abstract the color and form they find. Others like to use extremely shallow depth of field—also called selective focus—so only a sliver of the subject is sharp while the rest of it is soft. People who are intrigued by the beauty, intricacy and complexity of nature usually shoot with the opposite approach. They want to reveal as much detail in the subjects as possible so those who view their work can appreciate the designs and the patterns in the images with tack sharp clarity.

If the term “lens compression” sounds familiar and you know it’s a thing, but you’re not sure what it does, how it works, and why it can be beneficial, the video below is for you. We’re going to clear up all the above and more in this episode of “Booray Explains.”

There was a time when lens flare was considered a negative attribute of photos shot outdoors. Often caused by using a lens with inferior coatings (or no coatings at all), flare can also result from failing to use a lens hood when shooting on sunny days (depending on your position relative to the sun).

If you're striving to shoot more impactful landscape imagery you've come to the right place, as one of our favorite instructors reveals seven simple techniques that "transformed my photos" as his skills evolved. These techniques are easy to accomplish but will have a huge impact on the quality of your work.