With so much space to roam and so many places yet to capture, the great outdoors quite possibly the most interested yet hardest place to photograph. With so many variables and nature ever-changing, it keeps it fascinating yet challenging simultaneously. I've spent the last 5 years photographing some very isolated locations and I've put together 4 helpful tips to consider when planning your next Great Outdoor Photography session.
Wild Camping & Magic Hour
Your home in the outdoors, wild camping can provide perspectives on landscapes that you just can't get any other way. Being able to wake up in isolated location and being able to witness the golden hours of sunrise and sunset, you may be able to come away with images not possible any other way.
Find layers
Most great landscape shots have layers which can be hard to find and achieve, which ultimately makes these images even more great. The more layers you can find in a shot will no doubt make it more captivating. Filling up otherwise empty spaces with details will fill out the image and therefore ensure a more eye-catching image for the observer.
Be prepared
There is never too much planning, for the more variables you can take out, the more confident and equipped going into the trip you're making. Changing weather can ultimately ruin your plans and while in some places, particularly high-elevated locations which can ultimately be unpredictable, It's better to have some idea than none at all. For example, you want to go and shoot the Milky Way In a location that's away from towns and any light-pollution, however the forecast shows that during the evening, cloud is set to roll in or it's the wrong moon phase to be shooting starry skies. I personally like to plan as much as I can, for I have experienced these mistakes like many others.
Do I really need it?
I'm a camera gear junky as much as anyone, but there's big decisions to be made in the packing phase prior to your trip in the outdoors. Do you really need all those filters and multiple lenses? Or what about that heavy tripod and external flash? I have been on many a trip in the mountains when it turns out I'm carrying 3-4 kg's more than my colleagues, almost completely down to the fact I'm carrying these extra 'essentials' which painfully, I don't even end up using. The questions really has to be, " Do I want to lug these extra pieces up 1000m of ascent carrying a 20kg pack" and following that "What If I stripped out those extras to make it more like 17kg"? Every gram on your back counts when your up there and you'll be grateful for stripping out what are definitely considered 'extras'. Your answers start to change when you realise you have to carry it all up a mountain. These days, a camera, wide-angle lens, telephoto lens, a polarised and ND filter along with a lightweight tripod, are all I take it and there's little that can't be achieved with these tools.
Thanks for reading guys! If you have any questions or want to see more of my images, you can visit my website portfolio or head over to my social media feeds.
Until next time,
Jack
