Getting

APRIL 2021

Back to It
INSIDE
Discover photography tips, tricks,
and helpful advice for getting you
back in-the-field with your camera

A
Photographer's
Guide
Getting Back to It

Look to the Clouds When in Rain

LIGHT IS
LEARN HOW TO
EVERYTHING.
CREATE IMAGES IN
LEARN ABOUT
RAINY WEATHER
USING NATURE’S
WITH HELPFUL
DIFFUSERS TO
TIPS AND TRICKS.
HELP TAME IT.

PAGE 8 PAGE 14

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Comparing Light Night Photography

SOFT OR HARD
DISCOVER WAYS
LIGHT? OVERCAST
TO CREATE
OR SUNNY? LEARN
COMPELLING
HOW TO CAPTURE
PHOTOGRAPHY AT
GREAT IMAGES
NIGHT.
WITH THEM ALL!

PAGE 16 PAGE 18

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Getting Back to It

LET’S GET
YOU
back to it

The world is starting to open up again. People are journeying out into nature parks and city
landmarks, photographs are being taken outside of backyards and kitchens, and there is a feeling
of normalcy in the air. If your photography was stuck inside for months, this is the perfect guide to
getting it back into the real world.

Like anything that we do and stop doing for a while, take Golf, for example; we need to dust off the
cobwebs and ensure we’re ready to tee off with all of the necessary tools and equipment. When
preparing for a tee time, Golfers usually consider the essential things; tools (clubs and bags), attire
(shoes and jacket), and weather. How will the weather affect the tools and clothing I’ve brought with
me? Is it even possible to execute in this weather? With photography, it’s not much different. We
need to make sure our tools and equipment match the situation and weather.

Start with considering the weather and environment that you’ll be shooting in. Checking weather
forecasts is a simple search online and can play a significant role in how successful your shoot is.
As far as gear goes, make sure your equipment is clean and capable. Cleaning your sensor or lens
after it’s been sitting for an extended time can make sure your images don’t have any dust spots or
distractions. Capability is dependent on you and the weather. Make sure your camera batteries are
charged and that the tripod you packed has the mount attached. If you’re traveling to an area with
a high chance of rain, make sure your umbrella works correctly and that your camera bag has a rain
cover.

Taking your camera out for a quick test shoot can help refresh your memory with the camera
settings and menus. In doing this, you may also find that you need to format memory cards or
update the firmware. All of these things help execute a successful photoshoot, especially one that
has been postponed for months and months.

Nature and landscape photography sometimes requires a bit more planning, but I assure you that
it always pays off in the end. After you’ve gathered the gear you need to test and have checked
the weather, it’s time to get creative. You’ll find tips, tricks, and workflows for capturing images
in any weather in the following guide. We’re happy to see you getting back to your photography.
Remember the most important thing - have fun.

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Table of
contents
EXPLORE, CREATE, HAVE FUN

06
In-The-Field Photo Tips
PHOTO TIPS FOR ALL SITUATIONS

08
The Beauty of Overcast Light
THE SOFT AND EVEN LIGHT WE ALL LOVE

10
Bright, Sunny Light
GREAT PLACES TO CAPTURE IMAGES ON BRIGHT DAYS

12
Taking Advantage of Location
WAYS TO MAXIMIZE YOUR POTENTIAL AT NEW PHOTO SPOTS

14
Call for Rain
RAIN CAN MAKE FOR GREAT IMAGES, HERE’S HOW

16
Comparing Light
COMPARING OVERCAST AND BRIGHT LIGHT

18
Night Photography
TIPS FOR AWESOME NIGHT IMAGERY

20
Great Places for a Photo
PERFECT PLACES FOR PHOTOGRAPHY

22
The Photographer’s Checklist
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE EVERYTHING WITH THIS CHECKLIST

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Getting Back to It

In-The-Field
Photography Tips

START TODAY

When it comes to creative hobbies or

professions, especially photography, there
is no time like the present. Dust off the
camera gear you’ve been wanting to use
for months and take a stroll to your favorite
photo spot.

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TOP 5
Know your camera’s basic settings and how to
properly take a picture in the field using them.
1 Too often, the camera’s dials and knobs get
overlooked. Many of the newer digital cameras
have lists of custom settings and creative
modifiers that you can use to make your camera
easier to work with.

2
Study the foreground. Just like a captivating
background, your photograph will benefit
immensely from an interesting and thought-out
PHOTO TIPS
foreground. Foregrounds that include textures, In the world of photography, there are a
leading lines, or colors can help a photograph countless amount of tips, tricks, and advice
sustain the viewer’s eyes.
you can use when capturing images.
The best advice that you can use when
Slow down your shutter speed when getting back in-the-field is to “make sure
photographing flowing water. When exposed you’re having fun.” Photography should
correctly, flowing water can be softened and
3 blurred to create silky textures and light. Unless
be an enjoyable experience, it allows us
you intend to freeze the frame, for example, waves to capture memories forever. Sometimes
crashing into a rock formation or a splash in a still it can be tough to find the motivation
lake, slowing down the shutter speed can make or or time to dive into our cameras but
break your river or waterfall photo. Remember to
use a tripod to avoid any shaky frames.
regardless of the subject, find something
in your environment that makes you tick
as a photographer and capture it. Simply
Vary your focal length to create unique pressing the shutter down and creating a
perspectives and compositions. Using different
moment is a step towards improvement.
4 focal lengths in-the-field can invite new and
creative compositions into your viewfinder. For
example, when photographing a landscape, use
a longer lens to compress your environment and
create depth. If you don’t have many lenses to try,
explore angles that bring your subject closer to the
camera. Also, try distant angles that minimize your
subject or scene. Blue sky landsacpes are great
for minimal photography because the sky can be
used as a large tonal section of the photograph.

The Sunny f16 Rule is an easy way to capture

correct exposures on a bright, sunny day without
5 having to constantly look at your camera’s
meter. The rule works like this: If you’re capturing
photographs using bright, sunny light; set your
camera’s aperture to f16 and match your shutter
speed to your ISO. For example, if you’re using an LEADING LINES
ISO of 100; set your shutter speed to 1/100. With Leading lines are excellent for drawing
an ISO of 200, use a shutter speed of 1/200. Note:
Lighting conditions and cameras vary, play with attention to specific subjects in your
the shutter speed to find what works for you. scene. Study the foreground to find
camera and lighting situation. lines and textures that will enhance your
photograph.

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Getting Back to It

THE BEAUTY OF OVERCAST LIGHT

IN MANY ASPECTS, OVERCAST WEATHER IS A GIFT TO

PHOTOGRAPHERS IN NATURAL LIGHT SITUATIONS. WHEN
USING NATURAL LIGHT, OVERCAST WEATHER PROVIDES
US WITH A VAST AMOUNT OF SOFT LIGHT FOR OUR
PHOTOGRAPHY. OVERCAST LIGHTING HELPS ALLEVIATE
SHADOWS IN OUR ENVIRONMENT, GIVING US MORE
CREATIVE HEADSPACE IN OUR PHOTOGRAPHY AND THE
EDITING ROOM.

CHASING CLOUDS

Clouds act as giant diffusers for

photographers, lighting landscapes and
subjects evenly with far fewer shadows
than direct sunlight.

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 A PHOTOGRAPHER'S GUIDE

HERE ARE SOME TIPS FOR CREATING IMAGERY IN OVERCAST

WEATHER.

OVERCAST LIGHTING CAN MAKE

PHOTOGRAPH THE SKY. OVERCAST FIND WATER. FLOWING WATER
YOUR PHOTO APPEAR FLAT
CLOUD FORMATIONS ARE MORE BENEFITS GREATLY FROM THE
BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS EVENLY
INTERESTING THAN A LARGE SOFT LIGHT THAT IS CREATED
LIT. USE A UNIQUE BACKDROP
BLUE SKY WITH NOTHING IN IT, FROM CLOUD COVER. SLOWER
TO PROVIDE SEPARATION
ESPECIALLY DURING SUNSET OR YOUR SHUTTER SPEED TO SOFTEN
BETWEEN YOUR SUBJECT AND THE
SUNRISE. AND BLUR THE WATER.
ENVIRONMENT.

PLAY WITH MOTION BLUR. FIND POOLS OF LIGHT THAT ARE

TYPICALLY, OVERCAST WEATHER SCATTERED ACROSS LANDSCAPES
IS MUCH DARKER THAN BRIGHT USE LONG EXPOSURE TO BLUR ON OVERCAST AND PARTLY
SUNLIT WEATHER. THE LACK THE CLOUDS. SOFTENING THE CLOUDY DAYS. THE EXTREME
OF SUNLIGHT IS EXCLLENT FOR BACKGROUND CAN ACCENTUATE CONTRAST BETWEEN PATCHES OF
EXPERIMENTING WITH YOUR THE DETAIL IN THE FOREGROUND. EVEN LIGHT AND SUNLIGHT ON A
CAMERA’S SETTINGS AND MOTION GRAND SCALE CAN CREATE VERY
BLUR. INTERESTING PHOTOGRAPHS.

WHEN SHOOTING LANDSCAPES

IN OVERCAST WEATHER, TRY
USE BLACK AND WHITE TO FOCUS LOOK FOR COLOR. COLORS, LIKE
PLACING THE SKY PROMINENTLY IN
THE VIEWER’S ATTENTION INTO DETAILS AND TEXTURES, COME TO
YOUR COMPOSITION. INCLUDING
THE DETAILS AND TEXTURES OF LIFE AGAINST THE GREY AND EVEN
THE SKY INTO YOUR LANDSCAPE
YOUR ENVIRONMENT. LIGHT IN YOUR SCENE.
PHOTO CAN CONVEY LOCATION,
WEATHER, AND EMOTION.
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Getting Back to It

BRIGHT,
SUNNY
LIGHT

USE A POLARIZER
WHEN SHOOTING
ON BRIGHT, SUNLIT
DAYS. POLARIZERS
WILL ENSURE THERE’S
DETAIL AND COLOR IN
YOUR SKY.

Shadows don’t have to be

unappealing. Letting shadows
flourish in your image can
make for a compelling
photograph.

Creative ways to make your

shadows a focal point:

Shoot low to the ground and

use shadows as leading lines.

Look for complex objects that

are creating patterns or shapes.

People also often create unique

shadows on backgrounds
or foregrounds. (walls, roads,
vehicles, etc.)

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WHAT TO SHOOT
1. BUILDINGS & STRUCTURES
Structures such as buildings, bridges, roads,
large art sculptures, etc, are excellent, bright light
subjects. Try composing the image so that the
building is illumniated by the sun or so the building
is used as a silhouette, with the light coming from
behind it.

2. WILDLIFE
Wildlife can look great in bright, sunny light. Birds,
hoofed animals, squirrels, among many other of our
animal friends on this shared planet all awesome
choices for bright light photography.

3. BLACK & WHITE

Desaturating colors in bright, sunny light
photography forces the viewer to pay attention to
the image’s detail and textures. Street photography
is a prime example of utilizing bright light in
creative ways.

4. SPORTS
Sports are often played in bright, sunny weather.
Bright light helps sports photographers keep their
shutter speed high to freeze the frame without
increasing ISO.

5. NATURE
Nature and landscape photographs can benefit
immensely from bright, sunny light. Try using the
intense sunlight creatively, shooting directly at the
sun to capture a “sun star” or creating a silhouette
with a tree.

6. FLOWERS
Flowers are beautiful in any weather. When using
bright light, try capturing lower angles that reveal
more of the flower’s profile and avoid some of the
harsh shadows created from the sunlight.

7. PETS
Pets, like flowers, are exceptional subjects to
photograph in any weather. Remember to capture
an image at the animal’s eye level; this creates the
sense that the viewer has entered their world.

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Getting Back to It

TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE

Location

LIGHT & LOCATION

The chances of “being in the right place at

the right time” are dramatically increased
with proper planning and patience.

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TIDES & LOCATION

Some photography locations require more planning than others.

When photographing oceans or land formations near the beach,
monitor the tide. Tide charts can be found at numerous sites
online. Tide charts are not only a safety precaution, ocean waves
and tides should not be taken lightly, but are helpful in finding
large splashes into rocks or water flow closer to land.

Helpful tips
PLANNING PAYS • If you’re planning on photographing a new
location or subject, check the local weather
ALWAYS CHECK THE report to ensure you’ll get the lighting
WEATHER FORECAST conditions you are looking for.
WHEN PHOTOGRAHPING
• Photography is much more enjoyable
A NEW LOCATION OR
when you are comfortable doing it. Always
SUBJECT.
consider the environment that you’re going
to be photographing in. One location may
call for rugged hiking boots and a tank top,
while another may require gloves and a
sturdy jacket with casual footwear.

• If you’re planning to photograph a

particular subject, such as birds, beaches,
etc., make sure to consider how light will
affect the subject’s camera appeal. For
example, flowers often look better with soft,
overcast, or partially cloudy light.

• Much like the light that is illuminating

your subject or scene, your lens can also
play a powerful role in how effective the
photograph is. Consider how your focal
length will affect the image. For example,
birds may require a longer lens such as a
200mm or more while landscapes might
require a wide angle lens such as a 16-
35mm.

• Once you’ve decided on lenses and timing,

focus your attention into online scouting.
Discover what your photo spot has to offer
through travel guides and blogs. Just
knowing where to park can be extremely
helpful.

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CALL FOR RAIN

RAIN, TO SOME, IS A PERFECT ATMOSPHERE FOR PHOTOGRAPHY.

IMAGE CLUES

When it comes to rain, the viewer needs

a visual clue. Using raindrops on windows
and umbrellas works well. Puddles and
reflections can also convey rainy weather.

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WHEN PHOTOGRAPHING IN THE RAIN:

Carry a cover for your camera to protect it from
the rain. A trash bag (use a plastic alternative,
if possible) works well to sheild your camera
from water. Place your camera inside the bag
and poke little holes where you need to see and
shoot. You can also lay trash bags on the ground
to block water and mud from getting on your
clothes when you’re crouching for low angles.

If you live in a rainy climate, equip yourself with

a camera bag that has a weather cover. Weather
covers help immensely to keep your bag and it’s
contents dry.

Bring an umbrella. Umbrellas, as awkard as they

are to hold while managing a camera, are quite
handy when it’s raining.

Photograph from inside of your car.

Use water to give the viewer a clue that it’s

raining outside. Water droplets, umbrellas, and
splashes in puddles are all great indicators that
it’s raining.

Find coverings that block your equipment from

the rain such as an awning or dense tree.

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Getting Back to It

COMPARING
LIGHT
Light is the most essential part of photography.
As photographers, we’re constantly exploring
new ways to find and capture light. We’re
taking advantage of natural light in this
guide so let’s discuss two very common
natural lighting situations; direct sunlight and
overcast lighting. Direct sunlight (bright, direct
light from any source; in this instance, we’re
using the sun) creates harsh shadows and
stark contrast on subjects and objects you’re
photographing. Overcast weather provides
softer light that gently illuminates subjects
and objects, creating even lighting across the
photograph’s scene and focal points.

Use the direct sunlight for dramatic lighting,

forcing the viewer to appreciate the light’s
harshness and what it’s doing to the
photograph’s environment. An example of this
could be a silhouette. The intensity of the light
behind in the background can completely
darken the entire subject.

Use overcast lighting when the subject calls

for light that is delicate and soft. Flowers, for
example, appear rich and colorful in a softer
light. The same can be said for a lot of subjects,
especially ones with vibrant colors and textures.

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DIRECT BACKLIT BY
SUNLIGHT SUNLIGHT
Using direct light as your single source When your subject is in front of sunlight
of light is going to create harsh shadows (the sun is lighting the subject from the
and contrast on your subject. With most back, regardless of height in the sky), the
subjects it’s not a big deal. However, front of the subject will become darkened.
portraits and other genres of photography Try exposing for the shadows in-camera
benefirt greatly from softer light. and recovering them in post-processing.

OVERCAST BACKLIT BY
LIGHT OVERCAST
Overcast light provides a much softer light
LIGHT
for your subjects to thrive in. There are far
Even when the sun is diffused by cloud
fewer shadows on the car and much less
cover, the light is coming from a single
contrast in the scene. Overcast light works
source and can affect how the subject is
excellent for a large variety of photography
exposed.
genres.

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Getting Back to It

NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY: A
PHOTOGRAPHER’S GUIDE

Taking photographs at night can be tricky but is a gratifying, creative

experience. The absence of sunlight allows for other natural and unnatural
wonders to come to life. There are a variety of subjects that you can
photograph at night, including buildings (with and without lights),
landscapes, light trails, astrophotography, reflections, streetlights, among
many others. Once you’ve decided on a subject or location to photograph,
it’s all about planning.

Weather can play a crucial role in your night-time imagery. With milky
way photography or astrophotography, the night sky must be as clear as
possible; this ensures that the atmosphere’s stars and lights are visible
to the camera. Cloud cover will block the night sky and your chances
at a compelling milky way shot. However, with nighttime cityscape
photography, cloud cover can create an interest in your background that
clear skies wouldn’t be able to. Equipment can also significantly affect your
nighttime photography shoot.

At night, try a wider angled lens that has a low aperture. You can, of course,
use longer lenses at night, but most of the time, they use higher apertures
such as f4 or f5.6. Wide angle lenses are known for possessing smaller
apertures. Smaller apertures will let more light in. With more light we don’t
need as much ISO and with lower ISO, we have a much smaller chance of
getting annoying noise and grain in our nighttime photos. Try using a low-
apertured lens, such as f1.4 or f1.8.

During your nighttime shoot, play around with shutter speeds and aperture
to find what creative look suits you. When modifying the shutter speed,
you can create artistic elements in your scene, such as light trails or motion
blur. Light trails are an easy and fun way to get acquainted with nighttime
photography. All you need is a road where cars drive and your camera.
(Don’t even need a tripod if you can find a flat surface for your camera to
rest on!)

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TAKING PHOTOS AT NIGHT

USE A TRIPOD
Tripods may be the the most essential tool for night
time photography. A tripod will stabilize the frame
and ensure there is no frame shake or blur. Make sure
the tripod is sturdy enough to hold your camera as
some tripods are only certified up to a certain weight.
With tripods, use a timer on your camera to avoid
movement with the shutter button.

USE MANUAL MODE

When photographing at night, use the Manual
Mode on your camera. Dialing in your own exposure
will eliminate the chances for your camera to make
mistakes with exposure and white balance. Exposing
the scene manually will also teach you a lot about how
the exposure triangle works at night.

PHOTOGRAPH IN RAW
RAW files contain much more image data than
processed files such as JPEGs. The more data you have,
the more you can do with them in regard to editing;
for example, recovering highlights and shadow tones is
much easier to do with RAW files.

SCOUT YOUR LOCATION IN ADVANCE

Learn about your location before going out to shoot
there. Weather and terrain can make or break your
night photography.

EXPOSE FOR THE HIGHLIGHTS

The night sky is incredibly bright. Expose for the

“
highlights in your scene to ensure the lights and stars
aren’t clipping or blown out.

“How did it get so late

so soon?”
― Dr. Seuss

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Getting Back to It

GREAT PLACES
TO TAKE A
NATURE PARKS
PHOTOGRAPH
Nature parks are a gift to
photographers. Nature parks
and wildlife refuges are home
to all sorts of incredible photo
opportunities. Some nature parks
THERE ARE SO MANY PLACES IN
speicialize in wildlife, allowing
THE WORLD TO TAKE A GREAT
you to take your camera into
PHOTOGRAPH. HERE ARE SOME
OPTIONS TO CONSIDER IF YOU’RE their world and capture photos
STUCK ON WHERE TO GO OR WHAT of them in some of their natural
TO SHOOT. habitat. Other parks have miles
and miles of flora, fauna, and
vegatation to gaze upon and take
photos of.

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NEAR WATER STRUCTURES

Water is a perfect subject for Structures create excellent

photography. Water can reflect subjects for photographers.
your background or foreground, Bridges, roadways, buildings,
it can flow into a silky smooth large signs, and art pieces can
long exposure, or it can splash for be found nearly anywhere and
drama. are relatively easy to capture
When at a beach - use a polarizer correctly. Experiment with
and find depth. angles - straight up toward the
When at a lake - reflections are sky, down towards the ground,
great but don’t forget about etc., but always pay attention to
framing. how your image is leveled and
When at a river - slow the shutter straightened. Crooked structures
speed to smooth the water. can appear wonky.

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NEVER FORGET
AGAIN: A
PHOTOGRAPHER'S
CHECKLIST
Sometimes, as photographers, we get so immersed in the creative and technical planning of a photograph or a photography session
that we forget about the little things. The little things such as making sure your batteries are charged or that your tripod is in your trunk.
Here is a reminder checklist to make sure you always have the tools you need to capture a great photograph. Accompanied by some
photography stories of true forgetfulness.

“As I pulled into the parking lot where I was meeting view that no photographer wants to see - no tripod. I
a couple for an engagement shoot, I immediately tried to salvage the situation by being still and using my
remembered that I had forgotten my portrait lenses. camera’s level. However, in dark rooms, I was battling
In my camera bag was one wide-angle lens. Wide- the camera’s shutter speed, and that’s not a battle
angles are not the prime choice when photographing easily won. If I were to have this checklist nowadays, I
engagement photography but asking for a reschedule wouldn’t need to return and reshoot the house. Which,
20 minutes before he gets on one knee with a diamond as a photographer, is a very embarrassing combination
in his hand isn’t an option. As you can imagine, I had of actions if you’re the one to blame.”
to get quite close to my subjects for the entirety of the
shoot and, to this day, wish I would have remembered “My camera batteries should have been the obvious
my portrait lenses.” guests I bring along for a photography trip to the coast,
but for some reason, I put them in a different bag that
“If there is one thing that you need when day. Being the scatterbrained creative I am, I put both
photographing real estate, it’s a tripod. I learned my drone and DSLR camera batteries in a separate case
this the hard way. I showed up at the house I was and set that case on my kitchen table, thinking I would
photographing that day and popped my trunk to a remember to grab it. I avoid the case entirely when
leaving and secure my camera bag, which I place in the
trunk, thinking we’re good to go. We start the journey
in Portland and drive to Pacific City, which is about
two hours away. The whole drive there, we’re talking
about where to shoot and how beautiful the weather is
looking. I’m envisioning photographs I’m going to take
and looking up areas that I can safely fly my drone. We
pull into Pacific City and start gathering up gear for our
trip down the beach. We planned on shooting a rock
formation that required a bit of hiking to reach; because
of this, I didn’t check to see if I had batteries in either
my drone or my DSLR. After walking what seemed like
forever to the rock formation, we pulled off our camera
bags and started putting our cameras together. At this
moment, I knew I had made a terrible mistake. Not
being able to drive back or run to my car for a camera
battery, I couldn’t use my DSLR or drone. Luckily, I had
friends with me to share the “doh” moment.”

A tripod might not be a go-to item for a

street photographer. A wide-angle lens
probably isn’t a portrait photographer’s first
choice. Figure out which gear is important
to you as a photographer and keep it in your
bag as often as possible.

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A
Photographer's
Guide

VISIT OUR WEB SITE

www.on1.com

Credits:
water water by Manohara from the Noun Project
bridge by Srinivas Agra from the Noun Project
nature by Adrien Coquet from the Noun Project