Travel Photography How To

Here's the frustrating thing about shooting sunsets: While these scenes are among the most popular that we capture, oftentimes our results fall far short of the splendor we witnessed through the viewfinder. That's because the beautiful warm tones and a perfectly balanced  exposure can be very difficult to get right in the camera.

Here's a dilemma that many of us have experienced when shooting in the field or on the street: You capture what you think is a great shot, only to realize later that you failed to notice a person walking into the frame or emerging from behind a tree or building.

You're missing out on some great opportunities if, like other photographers, you always avoid shooting in harsh middy sun. There's no doubt that Blue Hour and Golden Hour can both be described as "prime time," but hard light offers bold shadows and strong highlights that deliver dramatic imagery if you understand what to do.

Unlike pros that get paid for their work, amateur photographers have limited ways to gain recognition for their images. One option is to enter, and hopefully win, photo contests. But there’s typically a lot of strong competition, so the images you choose, along with proper preparation, is really important.

One of the best things about landscape photography is the opportunity it provides for getting out of Dodge to explore mountains, valleys, rivers, and other photogenic aspects of the great outdoors.

Exploring Light is a new monthly Shutterbug column featuring tips, tricks, and photo advice from professional photographers in Canon's Explorers of Light education program. This month's column is by Bruce Dorn on how to shoot better travel photos.

What if an experienced pro told you that one simple shooting technique can instantly improve every image you capture in the great outdoors? This may sound implausible, at least until you watch the following video from the Gary W YouTube channel.