Location, Lighting, and Composition Are the Keys to Taking Great Outdoor Photos
February 15th, 2009 by Dan BodensteinThe location is key to taking a great outdoor photo. Select a location that is not chaotic. A few trees or bushes are a good choice for a background. Or, look for places with unique backgrounds like gardens, or fountains, or even large boulders or rocks. When you are selecting your location, always keep the background in mind. You want the focus to be on the person in the photo and not on a distracting background. Position your subject so that the background is not interfering with your photo. Watch for trees that appear to be growing out of your subject’s heard. Moving your subject a little to the left or right will eliminate this illusion. Your photos should always tell a story. Things like trees, mountains, rocks and landmarks will set a serious tone to your photos. And, objects like flowers, beaches, grass, and rain will make your photos look like you are having fun.
The lighting is another key to taking a great outdoor photo. The best time of day to take outdoor photos is in the early morning or early evening hours. The sun is reflected on an angle during these times of the day and it will shed a natural and even light on your subject. Try to avoid taking outdoor photos from mid morning to late afternoon when the sun is at its highest because the bright sun tends to wash out your subject. A cloudy day is a great time to take outdoor photos. The clouds will help to create a natural diffused light on your subjects. If you position your subject in the shadow, it will help to eliminate any shadows that may appear on the face when outside. Have your subject stand with their back to the sun or at angle to the sun. This will prevent them from squinting due the sun in their face. If the sun is bright, consider using a fill flash. The flash will illuminate the subject’s face and will avoid the dark shadows on the face that often appears when the sun is shining brightly behind the subject.
The third key to taking great outdoor photos is composition. Take some time to compose your photo before you press the shutter button. If you are photographing small children, place yourself and your camera at their level. This will make for a more natural image. If you want your photo to focus on the children, then zoom in and fill the frame with the children and have a small amount of background. If you want your image to focus on the background, then position the children to either side in the front of the photo.
Taking outdoor photos can be fun and you will continue to improve your photography skills when shooting outdoors if you remember to choose a good location, ensure that you have the right lighting and focus on the composition. Keep these three keys in mind, and you will be taking beautiful outdoor photos in no time.
Leave a Comment