Capturing the Majesty of National Parks

When it comes to summer holidays, visiting another state or national park is high on the list for many vacationers.  Sometimes the vastness of these natural beauties can overwhelm our senses and interfere with our ability to decide how to best photograph such a vast space.  It’s an issue that puzzles many photographers – how do we do justice to the grandness and detail of our country’s natural treasures?  We have a few tips to help you capture the essence of the beauty that surrounds you:

Be Prepared:  Shooting in nature requires the right accessories, so think about what kind of images you’d like to create while you’re in that amazing environment.  For example, a tripod is invaluable, as it will provide stability and flexibility, allowing you to compose images that you might otherwise miss.  We have a complete range of quality tripods for you to consider here.

Take it In:  Those first moments when we arrive at the park can open the floodgates of ideas, but reaching for your camera immediately can be a mistake.  Instead of shooting as soon as your reach the park’s entrance, consider taking in the scenery first.  Let your eyes and senses experience the views around you; let your imagination wander as your drive along the path.  Your creative mind needs a bit of time to process this new space, and this patience will pay off in your composition.

Shoot a Quick Memory List:  When taking in a park’s many views and vistas, it’s easy to forget certain areas that you wish to shoot.  Use your camera as a visual ‘to-do’ shot list and take quick photos of the areas that interest you.  Don’t be too concerned about composition or details at this point; the goal is to simply create a shot list to remind yourself of which areas you plan to explore in greater detail.

Choose Different Times of Day: The sun’s changing position throughout the day can create a wealth of different images even though the scenery remains the same.  Areas with trees can cast interesting shadows based upon the sun’s position, so you’ll want to explore those options, as the day stretches on. 

One Location, Many Viewpoints:  Instead of rushing from one location to the next, take a bit of time and study your space from several angles.  Shoot from numerous angles – high, low and close up – to examine how the same area can provide so many distinct and different views.  Find a focal point and shoot it from different vantage points.

Road Trip Photography: The Big Picture

Road trips are the kind of vacation often met with a combination of anticipation and dread.  Traveling with family, especially with small children, isn’t easy and the logistics of planning a driving holiday can confuse even the most organized among us.  Still, the rewards far outweigh the hassles, which is why we still load up the car and the kids and take off down the interstate.   So, the adventure begins and so does the opportunity to share your story.

A road trip is really a fantastic adventure story, isn’t it? Documenting the fun and frustrating parts is key in sharing the entire narrative, so it’s important to remember that during the entire trip.  Here are few tips to help you make the most of this experience:

Begin at the Beginning:  So often, we don’t start taking photos until we’ve arrived at our destination, but taking photos even during the packing and planning stages helps set the stage for what is to come.  Snap a few shots of the suitcases being filled, of what your daughter is planning to put in her backpack, of art supplies being prepared to keep kids entertained while on the road.  No need for posed pictures or asking the kids to smile.  Candid photos are best at the beginning, and in fact, some photos of only the cases or preparations may be more visually interesting from a storytelling perspective than requiring family members to occupy every shot.

Shoot Every Stage:   Keep your camera in hand and feel free to shoot during the day.  Don’t wait until you arrive at a particular location, as you will find rich material and interesting sights out your window during the entire journey.  We don’t always know which images will resonate with us until we review them later, so shooting throughout the day may reveal some gems you might have otherwise overlooked.

Experiment with Multiple Viewpoints:  Whoever owns the camera is usually the one behind it, but that also means that the primary photographer is left out of most of the photos!  Also, each of our travel partners will have his own perspective and viewpoint.  Share the camera and encourage others to take photos of what interests them.  Even the younger kids can take great photos with a bit of instruction but counsel only on how to handle the equipment and not what to shoot.  Let each person’s imagination wander while behind the lens.  You’ll be pleasantly surprised with the results.

Stop for Signs:  Road trips are a fantastic opportunity to discover unique, interesting, historical and funny signs alongside of the road.  Keep your eyes open and your camera ready.  If one catches your eye, pull over for a posed photo.  You can use the image to create a postcard to mail to friends or enlarge and frame it for your desk to remind you of the holiday.  Check out the many ways we can turn your memories into mementos: 
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Car Capture:
Photographing objects while shooting from a moving car can be a challenge but the opportunity to experiment makes it more fun.  It’s better to shoot objects that are far away as opposed to close up; your ability to get clearer shots will improve if your subject is father away.  You can also play with a panning technique, but usually panning is used when the subject is moving, and in this case, you’re the one moving!  You may shoot some blurry duds, but you may get a few photos that capture your moment in contrast with the scenery.  It’s worth a shot (pun intended)!

Taking Your Show on the Road

One of the best ways to celebrate summer’s arrival is with a road trip.  With the expense and hassle of traveling by air, packing up the car for a weekend adventure is an increasingly popular alternative. 

All great road trips require a bit of planning.  Our camera gear is often an afterthought, but with a little preparation, you can be ready to capture all the great moments during your holiday. 

Location, Location, Location:  Where you will be traveling and what you plan to do will make an impact on which items you’ll need to pack in your camera bag.  For example, will you be in the countryside enjoying nature? This means packing your macro lens would be in order so that you’re ready to capture blooms and bugs.  Or, if you’re going to be spending time in a city or hill country locale, using a multipurpose lens such as a 70-200 or a 28-300 might be all you need.

You’ll also want to consider how much walking you’ll be doing during your holiday.  If you plan on having three kids in tow and walking in a variety of terrains, less is more in this instance.  You’ll also want the right bag to handle being on foot for much of the day.  Don’t have one? Check out our extensiveselection of quality bags, perfect for your next trip! 

Often Overlooked, But Oh So Important:  Smudged or hazy images are often the result of a dirty lens.  Don’t let a stray fingerprint or dust ruin your vacation photos.  Keeping a compact cleaning kit in your bag is an easy way to keep your gear in tip top condition.  We know you want to use your shirt to clean your lens but don’t risk scratching your glass.  Use a microfiber cloth designed for lens cleaning.  Our compact cleaning kit takes up minimal space and will come in handy – trust us!

Take Your Tripod!   There’s a reason that we regularly promote the use of a tripod.  A quality tripod can greatly affect not only the quality of your images, such as eliminating camera shake by providing stability, but a tripod can also expand the kinds of images you are able to shoot.  It can help you shoot locales and people with a kind of flexibility that you may not enjoy with strictly handheld shooting.  We have a variety of styles, designed for every trip and budget.  Check out our impressive array of choices here.

Storage Solutions:  Camera image files continue to grow, demanding more and more space on our camera cards.  Make sure that you’ve tucked away an extra media card (or three) so that you’re free to shoot away without worrying about running out of space.  Our ProMaster media cards are known for their lightning fast read/write speeds and quality construction.  Pick up a couple before you hit the road.

Don’t Leave Home Without It:

Being prepared doesn’t always mean having everything perfectly in order before leaving – it can also mean having the tools you need when challenges arrive. That’s why our top two recommendations for what to keep in your camera bag this month are items sure to help you out in a pinch when things are less than perfect. 

Many photographers assume that tripods are only necessary with DSLR or hybrid cameras, but in reality, today’s compact cameras benefit greatly from the stability and variety that a tripod offers.  Compact cameras are perfect to take anywhere and use in any situation and we have tripods that are an ideal partner for your point and shoot models.  For example, have you seen our wildly popular Flexible Gripper Tripod?  It’s perfectly packable and can help you in a variety of tight situations.  Pick one up before your next trip.

Keeping your camera charged is imperative if you’ll be doing lots of shooting this summer.  In the hustle and bustle of our crazy schedules, we sometimes forget to charge our cameras before we head out.  For those situations, keep one of our Xtra Power Traveler Kits handy.  Your battery charger and accessories will be all in place and ready to go.  Just keep this kit in your camera bag and you’ll be ready to shoot anywhere, anytime.