When scanning through a magazine or browsing the internet, we are continuously exposed to photographic images. The power of images plays an integral role in storytelling. Amazing photographers like Ansel Adams, Annie Leibovitz, and such like produce amazing work that captures the imagination at first glance. How is it that we are drawn to their images in such a way?

Whether we are a professional photographer or just an aspiring one, I am sure that we would all like to create memorable images that tell a story. Images today can be captured either with a traditional DSLR, mirrorless camera or even with the latest generation of smart phones. But if I am capturing images to submit to a fine art gallery, I would definitely use a high-quality camera and lens system to capture a high-quality file size in order to create a wall art print.

A memorable image reflects a frozen moment in time. Steve McCurry’s 1984 image of an Afghan girl, a refugee in Pakistan during the Soviet–Afghan War is a good example of creating an iconic moment in time. So how do we approach making memorable images? There are several factors to consider, but let us take a look at my top five.

1. Light is Critical

You might have heard it said, it is better to have a decent composition with fantastic light than a great composition with poor light. Lighting is all important. It can make or break a photograph. It is important to watch your camera’s histogram to make sure you have good highlight and shadow detail. Go too bright or too dark and the image will be spoiled and hard to work with afterwards in post production. If the light is not right when you get to your location, you are best to scout out the area and come back another day when the light is right. 

2. Every Picture Should Tell a Story.

Every picture should tell a story in its own unique way. When you take a photo, what are you trying to convey to the viewer? Photography is not just about taking photographs, it is about choosing a life of curiosity, exploration, and wonder and it all starts with developing an eye to see things from a different perspective that tell a story.

3. Composition is Key

Composition is the foundation of any good photograph. A good photographer arranges the visual elements within their frame to tell a story. Rules of composition may include using the “rule of thirds,” creating depth with “leading lines”, “focusing to fill the frame”, choosing a “suitable depth of field”, or perhaps using diagonal lines to add energy. You can look up these “rules of composition” online and practice using them in your photographs. My favorite saying is, “learn all the rules and then break them, and that’s when you start doing some brilliant stuff.”

4. Serendipity (Timing)

Serendipity is one of the most beautiful things about photography. It is explained as “making fortunate discoveries by accident.” Sometimes things just happen in front of you, and we need to be ready to capture this moment in time. There is a need to be spontaneous, yet if you don’t do any preparation for the photo shoot, you will probably miss the moment. Sometimes I get up early to get to a location for that gorgeous sunrise just to discover that the blue hour, half hour before sunrise, was really the magical moment. It is all about the timing.

5. Image Processing

The last factor we want to look at has to do with the post editing of the image. If you are a strong believer in “Straight Out Of Camera” photos, then this last factor might not be as relevant for you. If you shoot in raw (which I would recommend) then you end up with a file that is much like a canvas upon which you can paint. I think this is a creative way to look at editing to create a memorable image. I do believe a good understanding of Lightroom or Photoshop can go a long way to creating a great image. In many cases, it can make or break an image. But be careful, too much contrast, too much saturation and other image manipulation can ruin a good image as well.

Conclusion

Once I have created the image that I am happy with, I feel it would be a disservice to just leave it in the digital abyss. Many people told me that they thought my images were beautiful when displayed online. But they were blown away when they could hold the image in their hands. Holding the printed photo allowed them to connect to the image in a much more personal way. The texture of the print with all its detail, brings out a whole new dimension to the image. I would highly recommend printing your image to experience this first hand. The Hahnemühle Natural Line is fast becoming my favorite medias to use. Check it out at your favorite camera store!

Happy Shooting!

Try and anticipate the right conditions for your photos. Any time rain has cleared the atmosphere and the remaining clouds are mixed with sunlight, there’s a good chance for a vivid sunrise or sunset. The other thing to keep in mind is to look for a good foreground. Sure, skies alone are beautiful, but you need an interesting foreground to make it a truly meaningful photograph. I quite often will use people silhouettes in the frame. But it can be driftwood on a beach, a building, a light house, or anything of else of interest. Another thing to remember is to check the sky behind you. Some of the best sunrise & sunset shots I’ve taken is when the sun is reflecting it’s light onto the clouds behind you and a wonderful hue of colors is visible on the pattern of the clouds.

So, with this in mind, here are some tips on producing better sunrise & sunset photos.

Photographer’s Ephemeris

I use my The Photographer’s Ephemeris app to determine the best time to shoot. Using this Ephemeris is especially useful for working with natural light. Whether you’re shooting landscape, wildlife or nature, the Photo Ephemeris will tell you everything you need to know about sunlight, moonlight, and starlight positioning. That’s a good start and will help you to be at the right place – at the right time.

Anticipating the moment

Photography is largely about capturing the moment, so anticipating the moment becomes crucial to great story telling. Waiting for the right moment when the light, expression and movement all converge is critical for great photos. You should be aware of the environment around you, perhaps silhouettes of people that can be incorporated into the scene. This is called active image making. It helps to be on the move, looking at different angles, perhaps sprinting with your backpack full of camera gear over rough terrain so that you could get to the right vantage point. That’s active image making and that can make the difference between a good and a great photo.

Choosing the Right ISO Setting

When shooting a sunrise or sunset, you’ll generally want to use an ISO setting of 100, 200, or 400. Quite often I’ll get my camera to shoot bracketed photos which involves the camera automatically taking several exposures, some under exposed and some over exposed and usually one will be perfect. This way I have more options to choose from later on when I get into post processing in Photoshop.

Choosing the Right Aperture

Although the aperture sweet spot varies depending on the lenses, I will typically choose a high aperture, such as f/11, f/16 or higher. This allows for a greater depth of field and sharpness throughout the whole photo. If you want a blurry background, then you only need to set the aperture low, like f/4 or lower. I use the AV shooting mode quite a bit. This way the camera will automatically set the shutter speed for me, and since the camera is mounted on a tripod, I don’t have the worry about a long exposure making my photos blurry.

Determining a Camera Mode

Your camera settings will heavily determine the outcome of your landscape photos. For landscape photography, using aperture priority (AV) is often the best way to go. This will allow you to control your depth-of-field. If I use an ISO setting of 100, then the only thing I need worry about is which f-stop to choose. If I am shooting flowing water or waterfalls and I want that smooth milky look, then I will use the manual settings and shutter priority becomes important. The slower the shutter speed, the milkier the water will look. You just need to experiment using the histogram as an indicator of whether you’re under or over exposed. I will mount my camera on a tripod for these longer exposures. You’ll also want to switch your camera mode to manual if you’re shooting at night.

Choosing the Right Shutter Speed

Assuming you are shooting in manual mode and hand holding to camera, a good place to start is 1/125 to 1/250 of a second. Keep in mind when choosing your shutter speed, you need to take into consideration the focal length of your lens. Higher focal lengths will exaggerate camera shake, while wide focal lengths will reduce the effect of camera shake. The general rule is to have a shutter speed higher than your focal length. So, with a 24mm lens, you will need to use a 1/30th of a second shutter speed. Shutter speed can be one of the most powerful tools in landscape photography and knowing how to use it can make your photos stand out from others.

Choosing the Right File Format

There is no question, if your camera shoots in RAW file format, use this. Compared to JPEGs, RAW files produce much higher quality images and give you greater control in post processing programs like Photoshop and Lightroom. RAW format is perfect for landscape photography because it produces images with a high level of detail and clarity.

Choosing the Right White Balance

I always shoot in RAW and set my white balance to auto. Raw files allow me to adjust my white balance with great precision in Photoshop. If you want to experiment with sunsets or sunrises and remove the warm color cast, you can try the sunrise/sunset pre-set.

Choosing the Right Focus Setting

For landscape photography, I almost always find myself using autofocus. It’s easy and efficient to shoot this way. I use single-servo when shooting landscapes. Single-Servo focus focuses on a subject once, and then stops focusing, which is perfect for landscapes. AI-Servo is perfect for scenes with moving subjects.

Bring Your Tripod

A tripod is essential because of the low light you will experience at dusk. You need to keep the camera steady, other wise you can end up with a grainy photo because of high ISO (sensitivity to light) exposure. Also use a self timer, perhaps the one built into the camera, to ensure sharp photos. If its windy, you will need a sturdier tripod or something to hold the tripod down.

Conclusion

Sunrises and sunsets change constantly so keep on shooting and keep on experimenting. The best way to choose your camera settings is by understanding your camera. With a little practice, you’ll be able to know the right settings to use to capture gorgeous sunrises and sunsets. So go head and have fun with it!

We hope you enjoyed our “10 Tips for Better Sunrise & Sunset Photos” and will stay in touch with us.

https://photographyadventures.ca/free-e-book-offer/
 

Here are 4 things to consider when developing your own artistic visual impact:

Creativity & Vision

What are the elements that go into creating good visual impact? First of all, you need to start with a vision of what you would like to convey. When travelling to unique destinations, I generally spend a lot of time researching the area, the possible photo opportunities, what time of the day will have the best light to capture the scene. Research ahead of time will save you a lot of time later when on location. Certainly, there will be moments of serendipity, when things just fall into place, but I have found that doing a little homework ahead of time will prepare you for the opportunities that you will encounter.

They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder. One person’s trash is another person’s treasure. When we photograph something, it should be meaningful to us first and foremost. Ideally the photos should make the viewer think for themselves. If you have something worthwhile to say, then make sure it comes across in your photographs. Being true to yourself lies at the heart of being an artist. So, start off with a vision of what you would like to capture and what you may want to say about it.

Emotional Appeal

I’ve written a separate article just on this topic. (https://photographyadventures.ca/5-ways-to-evoke-emotionin-your-photography/) But to summarize this important aspect, I would say Landscape photography is very much about seeing into the soul of a place. A photograph can have a profound impact on a wide range of emotions for the person viewing it. The key to great photograph is to engage your viewers to look more deeply into your image and have a moment of discovery that makes them want to climb into your photo frame and explore the inside for themselves. Creating emotional photography takes a bit of practice, patience and learning to see things in a new way. In all my years of photographing landscapes, I have been on a path of constant learning and it’s not just about “practice makes perfect” in the sense of shooting thousands of photos. It’s about developing a story that draws your viewer into your frame. Something that engages your viewer emotionally and draws them into your artistic expression. For me, the mark of a truly great landscape photograph is one which stirs the emotions.

Technical Expertise

I must admit that I’m not the most technically astute photographer, but I know how to control the exposure to get the results I need. I have a tendency to be more plugged into seeing the artistic side of things. But to take great photographs with visual impact does take knowing your camera and what you can do with it.

Although we can create some amazing images with the latest smart phones, the better images still come from a DSLR or mirrorless camera. So, it’s a good idea to become very familiar with what your camera can do. Learn to shoot in the different modes from AV to TV to Manual mode. This will come in very handy under certain lighting conditions. Learn to control your exposure. The benefit of a good camera is that you can see a display on the back showing you a histogram of the image exposure. This will allow you to see if the image is being under or over exposed. Understanding the “exposure triangle”– aperture, ISO and shutter speed controls is critical to controlling the exposure of the light. Another important technique to understand in photography is the concept of focus. If the focus is not sharp, your image will look weak.

Post Processing Your images

With the advent of digital photography, computers have now made is possible to get rid of the darkroom and do all of your post processing in programs like Photoshop and Lightroom. (And there are many other software programs and on-line programs that can be helpful as well) If you’ve taken a well exposed photo, then the photo tweaking will be minimal. But learning to harness the power of Photoshop and Lightroom can add that extra pizazz. I’m more of a Photoshop fan and since I shoot in RAW file format, I open my files in the Photoshop Camera Raw plug-in. Shooting in RAW mode tells my camera’s sensor to capture all the information that is coming in and not to convert or compress it in any way. This is critical because every single data point is still intact and I can rescue my highlight and shadow detail that may otherwise have been lost. There are a multitude of controls that can be implemented in Camera Raw before bringing it into Photoshop. In the simplest format you can hit the “Auto Edit” button, and you will get a much better image to start with. Once in Photoshop, a number of other edits can be applied. I certainly use the levels control a lot to ensure a good histogram (good highlights and shadows). I also like to use the Nik filter plug-ins. This is still the best plug-in suite that there is for photographers. It will take a bit of practice learning how to use these filters, but there are many good YouTube videos that can help. Two of my favorite filter sets are – Color Efex Pro (There are 55 filters in this set, but with the ability to stack filters, the possibilities are endless) and HDR Efex Pro (Here you have to be careful because HDR images can be overdone if you are not careful)

Summary

There are many other things that could be discussed here, but we hope that this guide may give you some ideas and tools to start with. Practice taking photos with these tips and eventually you’ll find yourself naturally applying those that fit your composition style. Do you have any questions? If so, feel free to ask them in the comments section of our website. Most importantly, enjoy the adventure.

One of the hardest aspects of landscape photography is composition and knowing what it is that will make an image work. What is it that makes certain images pleasing to the eye? How do we distill a 3-dimensional landscape scene into a 2-dimensional image? Capturing a stunning landscape photo requires more than just taking a “happy snap” with your camera. You can have the latest and greatest camera gear, but if you don’t know how to approach the composition of your photo, it will lack the impact to draw the viewer’s eye. Landscape photography is very much about the “Art of Seeing”.

Photography has always been a hobby of mine, even at an early age. I was born in England, lived in Austria and Yugoslavia before finally coming to Canada with my parents at an early age. All of this travelling around gave me an appetite for travel and adventure at a very young age. Then over the course of a number of years I became really interested in landscape and travel photography. Having worked with Canon Canada for the last 14 years as National Manager of large format printing, it gave me the opportunity to travel much of Canada and USA and photograph different parts of the country. Whenever vacation time would come up, I would travel to other destinations further away. Iceland, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Israel, and the Caribbean being some of my favorites.

What is Emotional Photography?

A photograph can have a profound impact on a wide range of emotions for the person viewing it. One thing that makes a great photo is its ability to convey emotion. Landscape photography is very much about seeing into the soul of a place. When we begin to study photography, we learn that compositional techniques can make our images more pleasing to the eye and more quickly to be understood. But there’s more to this than just rules of composition. All of these techniques are certainly valuable and create a good starting place, but the key to great photography is to engage your viewers to look more deeply into your images and have a moment of discovery that makes them want to climb into your frame and explore the inside for themselves. Creating emotion with your landscape photography takes a little bit of time and patience and learning to see things in a new way.

In all my years of photographing landscapes, I have been on a path of constant learning and it’s not just about “practice makes perfect” in the sense of shooting thousands of photos. It’s about developing a story that draws your viewer into your frame. It engages your viewer emotionally and draws them into your artistic expression. Composition allows you to express your artistic viewpoint and vision (rather than just taking a “Happy Snap” as my Sheridan College professor used to say.) For me, the mark of a truly great landscape photograph is one which stirs the emotions.

How to capture emotions 

Developing Your Style

Everyone sees the world in their own unique way, and that’s the foundation of developing your own personal style. Style is like a fingerprint, it’s the personal aspect that makes your work uniquely you. It’s important to find your style and continue to develop it, not just for your personal taste, but for helping your work stand out in the crowd. Examples of personal style may be that you concentrate on landscapes, street photography or maybe macro photography. It might be that all your photos have a certain coloring style that defines them. The use of lighting may be a unique feature or perhaps it’s how you arrange the elements within the frame. For some photographers their unique style may be found in their post-processing technique. It takes a while to develop your own style, but it should express something about who you are.

Capturing the Mood

Have you ever taken a photo and felt the thrill that something special had been captured? You just have a sense that you’ve uncovered a moment in time and captured it in a state of emotional euphoria. As an example, think of a beautiful sunset photo with a bright orange sun descending over the lake behind the forest trees. It’s beautiful for sure, but what happens when you zoom back to a wider angle and show a couple in silhouette holding hands as they watch the sunset go down. That’s emotional photography. That romantic mood of the couple adds emotion to the photo. It’s important to capture the moment of where you are and realize that this emotion will likely come through in your photography.

Minimalist photography

I love storytelling images filled with emotional details, yet it’s often a simple uncluttered photo that has an emotional impact. Such is the evocative power of minimalistic photography. Keeping it simple doesn’t mean it has to be boring. It’s all about careful observation and capturing the moment. Because the photo frame will contain a lot of negative space, it’s important to think about the nature of your subject, and how its relevance in the frame will create an emotional impact.

How Adding a Human Element Changes Emotion

When you think about landscape photography, you most likely think about wonderful sunsets, shimmering lakes and sweeping vistas. But in order to have an engaging photograph, it needs to connect with its viewers on some emotional level. It could be any range of human emotions, but there needs to be an emotion attached to the image. If the viewer feels like they could step right into the scene and want to be there, then you have an engaging photo. You don’t always need people in your landscape photos, but often it helps.

People, birds and animals can add emotions to your photos. I love to get people into the shot, not as the main subject, but to give the photo a sense of scale and emotion. A cliff jutting out into the lake or ocean becomes so much more meaningful if a person just happens to be standing on the cliff. It creates a feeling of awe and contemplation, and tells a story. 

Research & Preparation

Ansel Adam once said that “There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept.” I think what has changed my photography most over the years is the focus I put on planning and preparing ahead of time for my photography. Research is critical to creating a great photo. To be at the right place at the right time takes a lot of prep work. Sometimes you might get lucky when shooting and serendipity comes into play, but it’s better to start with a vision already in your mind. Google Maps is very helpful for photographers to scout out locations. The 3D renditions of the earth surface are very helpful. The Photographer’s Ephemeris (TPE) is also a great app that I use to plan outdoor photography shoots. TPE is a map-centric sun and moon calculator that lets you see how the light will fall on the land, be it day or night, for almost anywhere on earth. Once I know the location that I want to explore, I will use google research to find images of the area. The right light is fundamental to evoke emotions in landscape photography. Think about what kind of light will fit best with that landscape and make a plan to return to the scene when the light is right.

Post-Processing

Photography is a bit like an art medium and the raw photo files are like a canvas upon which you paint. In essence, you become a digital painter where post processing plays an essential part. Good post-processing can bring out the character and emotions of a landscape transforming a good photo into a great one. So, it’s important to know how to edit your images once you get them home. It’s not within the scope of this article to explain all the techniques that can be used in either Photoshop or Lightroom software programs, but one filter set I love to use is the NIK Collection by DxO. The Nik Collection is a suite of eight powerful photo-editing plug-ins for Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom that helps photographers take their images to the next level. Easy to use effects and great black & white conversions allow for fabulous mood effects.

Conclusion

Learn to build your own style and vision. In a way, my life has become my photographic style. Wherever I go, I automatically think of what can I capture that is unique in this area, whether it be landscape photography or aerial photography with my drone. Hopefully this article will help you to build on and refine their own photographic identity and bring out the emotion that draws viewers. 

I hope you find these tips useful and welcome you to visit my website for more informative information – www.photographyadventures.ca 

Every picture tells a story and I’m passionate about telling stories and sharing my travel experiences through my landscape and travel photography websites.

Quite often I get asked about what kind of camera gear I use to capture my images. Back in the 70s I started out shooting with a simple Olympus film camera. I recorded my journey in pictures and I’m so glad I did. As a wise man once said – todays moments are tomorrows memories!

I am a photographer that doesn’t rely on a lot of fancy technical gear. There’s a lot of people that think that if you don’t have the perfect camera, the latest gear, or the best accessories, then you’re not ready to be a photographer. Yet it’s not the tools that make the photographer, they simply help you to bring your ideas to life. If it’s my iPhone that’s in my pocket when I see the perfect shot – then that’s what I shoot with.

Having had the privilege of working with Canon Canada for 14 years, I’ve had a chance to meet & work with some incredible photographers. I’ve also had the privilege to try out a lot of different types of camera gear, so listed below are some ideas I’d like to share. 

TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY CAMERAS

So, what makes the best camera for travel photography? This is kind of a complicated and constantly-evolving question to answer, but it’s probably a camera that allows you to capture great quality images and doesn’t weigh a ton. Size is a key factor. Camera manufacturers are always changing up their line-up with the latest and greatest features, but the things to look for in a good travel camera is image quality, long battery life, size and weight, simple to use and that doesn’t cost a fortune. The most important thing about a travel camera is that it doesn’t get in your way of enjoying the adventure and at the same time delivers stunning images. The best travel camera for you is going to be very dependent on your needs and situation.

I’ve gone through a number of camera bodies throughout the years but settled on the Canon EOS 6D full frame DSLR camera. I have investigated and tried mirrorless cameras, but because the weight wasn’t significantly less, I’ve stuck with what works for me and gets me great photos. The Canon 6D is one of the lightest weight DSLR cameras (1.7lb with battery). The camera battery gives me decent life (if I’m not using GPS). The processor delivers enhanced noise reduction and exceptional processing speed, all in a compact body. Because if it’s compact size, it fits into my hand like a glove. 

Camera Lenses for Travel Photography 

Whilst it would be wonderful to have a large range of lenses to take with you on trips, the reality of travel is that you can only carry so much before you feel like a weighed down camel. It’s better to try and focus on getting a smaller number of lenses that work well in a wide variety of situations. I personally use 3 lenses 99% of the time. When we consider travel photography, we’ll be capturing landscapes, portraits, street scenes, architecture and so on — and all of these subjects require different lenses to be properly framed. 

So, lets look at a few lenses. 

• The “Do It All” Lens 

  – The 24-70mm lens or 24-105mm lens is enormously versatile. The 24-105mm lens is the one I use mostly because of its versatility. It gives me a wide-angle to nearly telephoto range and allows me to capture large landscapes, close-up portraits, and everything else in between without having to change lenses. It’s a good size and doesn’t weigh a lot.

The Ultra Wide Zoom Lens – The 16-35mm lens or something close to it is the ultimate go-to-lens for a travel photographer looking to capture landscapes, cityscapes or even internal building spaces. Not all wide-angle lenses are the same, so you need to do a little research. You want to make sure it creates a sharp, beautiful images with little to no barrel distortion or fish-eye effect. Some lenses are better at this than others.

The Telephoto Lens – Having a good quality telephoto lens in your travel kit is a big plus for landscape photography. Sometimes you just need that tighter close up shot to get more detailed photos. I would recommend a 70-200mm telephoto zoom lens because of its versatility. You get a little longer, like a 100-400mm, but it adds weight and costs a lot more. The 70-200mm f/2.8L is what I use, but it’s also the heaviest lens in my kit.

So, for travel photography, it’s better to try and focus on getting a smaller number of lenses that work well in a wide variety of situations. That way you are more likely to take them with you and use them.

Camara Bags for Travel Photography

There are a lot of camera bags on the market today and so many options to choose from. It can get a bit confusing trying to figure out which one is best. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, so you need to do your research. Being a travel photographer means you have to look at not only size, but do I need a bag that’s completely waterproof, crush proof, designed for climbing rocks as well as hiking? If you are swimming through the Zion Park Narrows – then that’s a completely different story. 

The following are good questions to ask yourself: 

• • Do I want the bag to be multifunctional so it can act as both a camera bag and a day pack? 
• • Do I want to carry a laptop computer or tablet in the bag? 
• • Do you need a trolley strap included so you can attach it to rolling luggage? 

Camera backpacks are one of the most popular options for carrying around your gear, but you may also consider a shoulder bag. Sling bags that have one strap offer quick and easy access to a camera. Holster cases are designed to be used with a camera and a single lens if you want a light-weight option for biking. Spending money on the right bag to protect your gear is cheaper in the long run. So which bag is the best bag for you? 

I think it’s best to take your gear to the store and try out a bunch of camera bags – that’s what I did. So, here’s what I use.

• • My Lowepro Classified 160 AW Shoulder Bag is great for one camera plus three Lenses and goes with me everywhere, plus the bag is easy to store in overhead bins on a flight.
• • The Alta Access 28X Shoulder Bag is what I pull out when I have a few extra lenses to haul around. The bag effortlessly carries a professional gear kit, which consists of my Canon 6D DSLR, 4-5 lenses (up to 70-200mm), a flash and a multitude of accessories as well. No problem to store in overhead bins on a flight.
• • I also use a Lowepro holster bag when I’m biking. It provides good protection in a small package for my camera and attached lens.

Other Useful Travel Photography Accessories

• • I highly recommend carrying an lightweight carbon fiber photography tripod. I love my Sirui T-025SK carbon fiber travel tripod. It’s super light weight and folds up into a 12-inch length. It’s maybe not the sturdiest of tripods, but it’s so much easier to carry around when hiking and biking.
• • I also carry a circular polarizer filter which helps to reduce reflections and glare by filtering out light that has become polarized due to reflection from a non-metallic surface. It cuts down on certain types of light in a way that can benefit your images.
• • 6 to 10 Stop ND filters can be really useful for landscape photography when you want to slow down your shutter speed to capture creative landscape photos.

Not Just Camera Gear

When I’m out and about and the temperatures start falling, there’s nothing better than a great winter jacket. I love my Eider Men’s Lillehammer III Jacket with under arm air vents in case it gets really hot. Good waterproof hiking boots and warm wool socks are also critical. I have owned a pair of Guardo boots for about 1 year now and love them. They’re stylish, comfy, warm, and have a super grip on slippery surfaces. I’ve always believed that if you don’t want to get sick, keep your head, chest and feet warm. My Stansfield Merino Wool Short Sleeve T- Shirt is top quality and offers great warmth.

Travel photography isn’t just about making photographs; it’s about choosing a life of curiosity, exploration, and wonder… immersing yourself in the world around you. If you want to be an effective travel photographer, it is important to carry the right photography equipment and know how to use it. I hope you find these tips useful to get you started. 

Do you have any questions? If so, feel free to ask them in the comments section of our website – 

Flower photography is one of my favorite types of photography, especially in spring. You don’t have to leave home to take up this great hobby. But many people struggle in trying to get a really unique image that becomes frameable flower art. Sometimes photos are beautiful sharp images and other times they are blurry and out of focus. Not quite what you envisioned when you first saw the flowers.

We hope in this “How-To Photograph Flowers as Art” guide to provide you with tips & techniques on how to go about it.

https://photographyadventures.ca/how-to-photograph-flowers-as-art/
 

They say that about 12,000 years ago, a glacier traveling across Canada tore its way through the land and created the Niagara Falls as we know it today. I particularly love the winter season at the falls, less crowds, better hotel rates, less people and a remarkable winterscape. The whole region of the Niagara Escarpment is a masterpiece of living art that has been recognized by UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve because of its beauty. 

We hope you enjoy the photos!

https://photographyadventures.ca/travels-to-niagara-falls-a-photo-adventure/
 

Costa Rican Beaches ... Unforgettable!

Set in beautiful, sheltered coves, all the way down the coastline, the beaches of Costa Rica present awesome scenery complemented by its coastal greenery. A photographer’s paradise awaits.

Surfs Up ...

Costa Rica is known for its miles of white sandy beaches, monkeys swinging in the trees that line the sand and endless waves that begged to be ridden. With the name Costa Rica meaning the “rich coast”, it certainly lives up to its name by having some of the best surfing destinations in the world. 

Pacific Coast of Costa Rica
Costa Rica is lucky enough to have two beautiful coastlines, the Pacific Coast and the Caribbean Coast, each with their own unique culture and landscapes. Life is laid back and warm and too easy to get used to. 

Glass Frog

Costa Rica is world renowned for its abundance of wildlife, none more colorful and dazzling than its diverse population of frog species. The frogs are perhaps the country's most iconic and famous residents, embodying the beauty and wonder of the rainforest. For the frog shots, we visited Arenal Natura Ecological Park and hired a private guide to hunt down the frogs so I could photograph them – otherwise it would be very difficult to find  and photograph them. I would highly recommend a visit there.
A Vision of Serenity
The romantic scenery beckons visitors to stroll along its pristine shoreline, enjoy the serenity of the sapphire waters, or behold a brilliant sunset draping the evening with a silvery moonlight that dances atop tranquil waters.

Flamingo Beach Sunset
Costa Rica has some of the most amazing sunsets in the world and Flamingo Beach is the place to be when the sun goes down. We hired a private ATV guide to take us up through the dry forests of Guanacaste region, stopping by the remote beaches along the way to take a dip as we searched for the perfect location for the sunset over the water photo. Flamingo beach didn’t disappoint as we sat at local favorite Coco Loco bar and restaurant. And as the music played, we enjoyed and captured some beautiful sunset photos. 
 

Read our full blog with photos + tips - https://photographyadventures.ca/costa-rica/

The Art of Yellowstone Algae

Yellowstone National Park is a geologic wonderland and one of the most unique places on earth. More than a third of Yellowstone Park sits within the caldera of a giant, ancient and still active volcano. I admit, I was having second thoughts just before my feet touched ground in this amazing park. All around the park - steam is being released from the earth and vents shoot boiling water more than 300 feet into the sky. It was quite something to behold. But when you start to look closely at the colourful geothermal springs, you realize that the colourful algae of Yellowstone Park are actually varieties of microbes. Hot Springs originate from the same geothermally heated water as geysers do, but in this case, they do not have a constriction that builds up pressure, so they bubble or flow continuously rather than erupt. Hot springs are the most common type of hydrothermal feature in the park, and they can be found throughout the geyser basins and elsewhere.

Colourful microbes are caused by bacteria and thermophiles: heat-loving algae that contain colorful pigments. Each color of algae is specific to a particular temperature range radiating from the center of the hot spring. So, this was a photographer’s paradise for capturing some of the most unique landscapes in the world. We stayed at the Old Faithful Inn, right in Yellowstone – this is the place to be. The Old House Inn provides some charming basic rooms with two or three queen beds and a vanity sink. You don’t want to be driving 1 hour to get to the sunrise locations in the morning.

Check out the gallery on this site for more photos - 

Longing for summer ... In the depth of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer. …

Negril's world-famous Seven Mile beach has many beautiful coves - here's one around the corner from where we were staying - the all new Royalton Negril Resort - ya mon !

Just back from an amazing holiday in Italy. We stayed just outside Positano which is a cliffside village on southern Italy's Amalfi Coast. The church Santa Maria Assunta is a center piece of the town and features a majolica-tiled dome and a 13th-century Byzantine icon of the Virgin Mary. Amazing views from all angles.