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.

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.

Time Your Ocean Images for Maximum Impact

When it comes to vacation destinations, the beach often reigns supreme.  Nothing says summer like moments with our kids creating sandcastles, sandpipers strolling along the shores and the crash of waves against rock walls. The time of day is extremely important when shooting along the shores.  Natural light plays a prominent role with this kind of photography and patience is crucial in capturing the image you envision. 

The intensity of the light will play a role so being prepared before sunrise and well before sunset will serve you well.  Small passages of time can make a substantial impact in your final result. 

Capturing the mood of the ocean can be a challenging and rewarding experience and is one that takes experimentation.  For example, if you wish to convey the gently rolling seas and slow movement consider shooting with a slow shutter speed and use a tripod for added stability to minimize camera shake.  Don’t have a tripod? Consider one of our fantastic options.

Sports Shot Tip:

When we think of shooting sports, one of the most important skills is the ability to capture the action in a variety of situations and conditions. A tripod is a great partner in helping keep your gear steady so that sharp images are the end result. However, there isn’t always room for a tripod, especially when the prime picture-taking territory is crammed with other shutterbugs vying for the same space. However, a monopod is a great alternative for providing stability in tight situations: http://www.fortworthcamera.com/monopod

Also, try bumping up your ISO to freeze sports action. This technique often works in low-light conditions but some pros also shoot at a high ISO even when they have favorable light available. Today’s digital cameras are far more powerful than previous generations, so experiment with ratcheting up your ISO higher than normal and evaluate the results. You may end up with the best action shots of the season!

Migrating Birds: Photo Tips

Spring marks the time when many birds migrate to their summer homes, and this annual event is an opportunity for bird lovers to witness-and capture--this intriguing behavior. You’ll want the steady support of a quality tripod (we have several options here: www.FortWorthCamera.com/tripods) When photographing birds in motion. You’ll also want to choose the longest lens you have and shoot in continuous AF mode when the birds are in flight.

Photographing migrating birds is a skill that does require practice and patience; don’t get discouraged if you don’t get a stellar shot on your first attempt. Consider this experience another step in expanding your skills and becoming a more versatile photographer.

Holiday Photo Tip: The Traveling Tripod:

The Traveling Tripod: The holidays usually mean large family gatherings, and when it comes to photographing groups of people, few photo accessories are more useful than a tripod. Today’s travel restrictions can make bringing a tripod tricky, but we have some options designed to help you travel light and assist you in creating those memorable family photographs.

We have models that are small, light and demand almost no space in your suitcase. We even have miniature tripods that can fit in your pocket or purse!

Here are a few of our compact favorites: www.fortworthcamera.com/minitripods

We also have our new Clamper model, which is often called the Swiss Army knife of tripods. Use it as a table top tripod or clamp it on virtually anything. “The Clamper” has two extremely versatile clamp legs and works on flat surfaces, thin surfaces and round surfaces. It’s the perfect “problem solver” to have in your camera bag.