A woman holds a phone that is taking a photo of a beautiful forest view.

Tips for outdoor photography

Apr 2024

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Let’s face it: with the advent of smartphones, virtually everyone on planet Earth has easy access to a camera and has the technology to take beautiful outdoor photos. According to MarketSplash, an online publication centred around entrepreneurship, digital marketing, design and e-commerce, people are taking full advantage of this opportunity. There are approximately 54,000 photos taken every second, 3.3 million every minute and 1.7 trillion every year*, give or take a billion or so.

Outdoor photography can be done anywhere. Have camera, will shoot. Outdoors provide natural light, a never-ending array of colours, real, unmatchable scenery, urban or rural settings, four distinct seasons, wildlife and so much more. So, we thought it would be a good time to share some tips:

Let’s begin with traditional cameras. Even if you’re a new photographer, DSLR or mirrorless models have many pluses compared to fixed-lens point-and-shoot models for outdoor photography.

Two young girls on a forest path with hiking backpacks share a look at their camera screen.

DSLR camera types include full frame, APS-C and micro four thirds (no, that’s not a typo). Full-frame cameras are the largest of the three, provide the best image quality, and are compatible with several different features. APS-C cameras are terrific for beginners or individuals with some photography experience. Micro four thirds cameras are lighter and more affordable than full-frame models and can easily go from shooting stills to 4K videos.

One of the biggest advantages of DSLR cameras is their adaptability with a variety of lenses, which means you can capture a variety of different looks, angles, compositions, etc.

Wide-angle lenses (14-24mm) are great for horizontal-formatted pictures, as they capture a broad setting such as a wide valley. Telephoto lenses (70-200mm) work well for vertical-formatted pictures, as you can capture tight, close-up images like a deer at a stream. 50mm lenses are a happy medium, allowing you to still get good-quality images of either distant or close-up objects, like a bubbling brook.

If you intend to take loads of facial photos, be sure that the camera has an eye autofocus feature. It automatically locks onto – and stays locked on – the eyes of the individual (or pet) being shot, even if they’re mid-shuffle.

The Workflow Station SD Card Reader WFS-SD sits on a desk next to a laptop and two SD cards.

Remember, when shooting pictures outdoors, the sun is your friend. Make use of it. Golden hours in the early morning and late afternoon often provide the best lighting for outdoor photography. The light is softer, more even and warmer. Also, having the sun at your back as you shoot provides excellent lighting for the subject matter. To avoid squinting eyes, have the subject look away from the camera and not directly at the sun. In situations where shadows interfere with your shot, reflectors are an easy and inexpensive way to direct more light onto the subject.

When shooting outdoors, it is important that the memory card in your camera has sufficient capacity, or you have multiple cards, so you don’t run out of storage space. Also, the memory cards need to be fast enough to keep up with your camera if you use continuous shooting mode to capture action shots outside. The Kingston Canvas line of flash memory cards is designed specifically for digital cameras, smartphones, drones, dashcams and security cameras. With capacities of up to 1TB, there is plenty of room for storing days’ worth of shooting, including RAW files, and speed to keep up with your camera.

#KingstonIsWithYou

* 200+ Photography Statistics: Demographics, Market Trends & Revenue; 17 September 2023, marketsplash.com/photography-statistics