STACK #204 Oct 2021

THE GREAT OUTDOORS

LIFE TECH FEATURE

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OK, we might not be able to travel at the moment – but Christmas holidays and domestic travel are around the corner, and being the lucky country that we are, we have some of the most beautiful places in the world right in our own backyard. Whether you are heading to Far North Queensland’s LakeTribulation, NSW's Blue Mountains, Hobart's picturesque OldTown, West Coast jewel Margaret River, or anywhere in between, you’re going to want to capture your trip in all its glory. Let’s not waste our time in the great outdoors. TIME TO TACKLE SOME NEW ADVENTURES

A re you new to outdoor and adventure photography, or a budding professional photographer? I believe there are certain things you can’t teach photographers, like picking moments and intuition – you know when a moment is coming, and the sense of occasion should always drive that gut feeling – but there is a lot to be learned from the following tips, which will get you capturing breathtaking images on your next holiday.

you to compose your image when scouting shooting locations. This is anything that will help guide the viewer's eye. A cliff line, lake, fence, or a trail can be used to lead the eye through the image, and on toward the main focal point. Focal Points A focal point or subject is important to build a more powerful composition in your image. It could be anything; a tree, mountain, rock, lizard, leaf, fire, barn – you get the point! Having a strong focal point will anchor your image to tell a story. You Do You Most importantly: these are your pictures. Don’t take them for other people, take them for you. Frame, compose, snap and edit the way you want – there are no wrong answers. Don’t be afraid to experiment and try new things; you might just find your niche where you weren’t expecting it.

improved any image you take exponentially, giving yourself more control over editing and post production. Lens Selection One of the most important decisions you’ll make is what lens you will use on your camera. For most outdoor adventures, a wide-angle lens is recommended; it’s said that the human eye sees at roughly 35mm, so anything under that is ideal. Wildlife photography is the main exception to this rule – pop on a tele-zoom lens for these projects. Leading Lines Be on the lookout for leading lines that will help

Use the Sun The sun, ah, the sun. The sun can be a harsh judge on your image. Shooting into the sun is usually a bad idea, resulting in deep, dark shadows or a washed-out image. Working with the sun's direction of light to illuminate your subject or focal point is ideal, but it’s a delicate balance. If possible, shooting during Golden Hour (see below) is always best for optimal lighting. Shoot in RAW The first thing you should do on your new camera or drone is change the file format from JPEG to RAW. Just by doing this, you have

GOLDEN HOUR

Y ou might have seen this phrase thrown around a lot, but what is Golden Hour? And more importantly, when is it? A common theme in any photography or videography guide is the ideal time to shoot. When tackling the great outdoors, the harsh sun can have a huge effect on the images you take; Golden Hour is when you will get the best results. The term refers to the windows of time when the sun is at its lowest points, generally an hour after sunrise, and the hour before sunset. The sun is soft and warm, with a horizontal directional light, meaning it is a perfect back drop for your adventures. Shooting during the golden hours of the day has a lot of advantages, emphasising texture and long shadows, with warm, lovely colours. Mother Nature is really doing the heavy lifting here – you just need to bring your camera.

Photo Credit: Reddit

50 OCTOBER 2021

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