What are your best tips?

[cowcrzy06]

Hello all!

Just a friendly question. What are your best light /lighting tips for outdoor/ Nature photography? What about when the clouds roll in? I have all the sudden begun having lighting issues! So instead of embarrassing myself by showing these pictures I would rather just ask for everyones best tips! What I mean is how do you use available light? Are there tricks for certain situations? I do know the basics and I know about camera settings so there is no need for that unless you feel it is necessary.Thanks in Advance!!

[coupekid]

Re: What are your best tips?

Hello all!

Just a friendly question. What are your best light /lighting tips for outdoor/ Nature photography? What about when the clouds roll in? I have all the sudden begun having lighting issues! So instead of embarrassing myself by showing these pictures I would rather just ask for everyones best tips! What I mean is how do you use available light? Are there tricks for certain situations? I do know the basics and I know about camera settings so there is no need for that unless you feel it is necessary.Thanks in Advance!!

Hi,

Firstly, dont be embarassed about showing pictures, sometimes its so much easier to interperate a question, if we can see what failed image is being spoken about.

As you say you know about the settings, I am assuming that you have the aperture as wide open as possible, and you have ISO bumped right up to an acceptable level (though not too high to introduce too much noise).

The obvious solution is a tripod, and remote release. Alternatively, plonk your camera on a nearby flat surface and use the delayed shutter release.

Another thing I use is a monopod

Does that help at all?

Cheers,
Ben

[Pops]

Re: What are your best tips?

I don't think there is much you can do about bad light outdoors other than what Ben has already stated re aperture and ISO.
There are times though when even bad light can be an advantage by it creating an atmosphere for the photograph.

[Ian]

Re: What are your best tips?

Hello all!

Just a friendly question. What are your best light /lighting tips for outdoor/ Nature photography? What about when the clouds roll in? I have all the sudden begun having lighting issues! So instead of embarrassing myself by showing these pictures I would rather just ask for everyones best tips! What I mean is how do you use available light? Are there tricks for certain situations? I do know the basics and I know about camera settings so there is no need for that unless you feel it is necessary.Thanks in Advance!!

Try experimenting with flash outdoors, Flash is occasionally used by wildlife photographers to subtly supplement natural daylight when the conditions are adverse. Don't over-do it and force the background to darken though. Use the flash power sparingly and avoid shadows created by the flash.

Ian

[cowcrzy06]

Re: What are your best tips?

Ben,
In this picture we had accidentally drove up onto a wild coyote.The sun was behind him and to be honest I did not think that my camera's flash would have made much difference. The young male was at least 25 feet away. We do not know why it didn't run from us.We had three kids with us ! my camera was not even set correctly I just picked it up and started to take pictures!I know that was my first mistake and it was stupid to say the least.I was thinking at the time that it would run away.

[Patrick]

Re: What are your best tips?

Ben,
In this picture we had accidentally drove up onto a wild coyote.The sun was behind him and to be honest I did not think that my camera's flash would have made much difference. The young male was at least 25 feet away. We do not know why it didn't run from us.We had three kids with us ! my camera was not even set correctly I just picked it up and started to take pictures!I know that was my first mistake and it was stupid to say the least.I was thinking at the time that it would run away.



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You did exactly the right thing, first rule get your grab shots in case the opportunity disappears, then take the more considered shots if it still remains possible.
As to your picture, if your camera has spot metering then a reading from the fox would have been your best option. And no flash would not have helped in this case it would just frighten the fox.
I have cropped slightly to get rid of that little strip of sky, you simply don't need it and it take the eye away from the fox. I then selected the fox roughly with the lasso and feathered then lightened it a shade, I also upped the contrast a touch on the whole picture.
Hope you feel thats better.

Patrick