Spring is finally here, in most areas anyway, and where it hasn’t arrived, it probably won’t be long now. It’s a great time for photography for many reasons, but nature’s rebirth and the specific light are among the best. It’s best to be prepared for this special time of the year, so we have made a list of 7 tips to help capture spring at its best.
1. Get ready for walking
The best way to capture amazing images in spring is by walking. Forget your car and pack your backpack. Nature is at its best in the wildest regions, those places that are the least touched by man. Make sure to have extra batteries, comfortable gear and proper hiking boots. You might have to walk for a while to get the best shots, so make sure you do it in a comfortable way, so that when you get there you will still have an appetite for photography.
2. Whatever you do, bring a macro lens
It would be a shame to go out for a spring photo session without a macro lens. Vegetation comes back to life, and some trees and plants produce incredibly photogenic flowers. I’m not saying you should buy a macro lens especially for this, if you don’t already own one, but consider renting one because you might go home with some regrets if you don’t.
3. Use the color contrasts
The ground is just starting to exhibit interesting colors in the wild regions, so some of the places you will go at this time might still look winterish. However, sprouting buds on tress can give amazing bursts of color and the contrast created can result in fantastic images.
4. Turn rain into an ally
Water droplets, pool reflections and not to mention rainbows are all the result of rain, so make sure you use it to your advantage. It might not be very pleasant to be caught by rain in an open field, but it can result in some great photos as long as you stay sharp and watch out for changes in light.
5. Photograph people
Nature is just one thing that gets better with spring. People also change. Couples go out for walks more often, grandparents take their grandchildren out to learn how to ride a bike and the examples could go on. They’re all opportunities for the trained eye and they can bring a sense of romance into your work.
6. Don’t afraid to get low
Some of the most amazing transitions happen at ground level. You wouldn’t normally consider looking for interesting shots so low, but spring is the time to explore new perspectives. By using a good macro lens, a plant at bug’s eye view can turn into an amazing, architectural shape. It’s all about vision at the end of the day.
7. Mind the shadows
The sun is higher in spring than in winter, therefore the shadows cast by a subject, such as a tree, will be shorter. Take this into account when photographing groups of trees, as they will appear more open than they were in winter.
Also Read: 5 COMMON REASONS FOR TAKING PHOTOS FOR FREE AND WHY IT IS WRONG TO DO SO.
Recommended Reading:
- Mastering Studio Strobe Lighting: Beginning to Advanced Photography Instruction by Jay P. Morgan
- 75 Portraits: Lighting and Posing Techniques for Portrait Photographers
- Master Lighting Guide for Portrait Photographers
- 500 Poses for Photographing Women
- 500 Poses for Photographing Men
- Light It, Shoot It, Retouch It: Learn Step by Step How to Go from Empty Studio to Finished Image
- Secrets of Great Portrait Photography: Photographs of the Famous and Infamous
- Shooting in Sh*tty Light: The Top Ten Worst Photography Lighting Situations and How to Conquer Them
Image credit: seaonweb / 123RF Stock Photo