It's summertime and that means it is time to get out there and take some photos! Whether you are going on holiday or just staying local, this article will give you tips for taking fantastic summer photographs.
Summer is one of the best times of year to capture memories as well as share them with friends and family. Follow these simple steps to make sure your pictures turn out great!
The first thing to keep in mind is the difficult summer light. The sun hangs high and bright at midday, so make sure you are shooting towards it for better lighting on your subject.
Locations with light streaming through windows, archways or doorways will provide the perfect natural lighting on your subject. Some examples of great locations are parks and beaches during daytime hours (but be mindful that certain features like buildings may not show up well) as well as churches which often have amazing natural light coming in from stained glass windows.
A location near a window is also an excellent choice to use for portraits, some objects can cast a shadow which makes a really interesting effect. If the light isn't quite right, try to include diffused artificial lights to create photographs that will leave a really lasting impression.
One thing to remember is artificial lights work best for night-time shots because they won’t cause unwanted flares onto your photo's lens causing the photo to be overexposed.
The golden hour is when the sun hangs low and creates a beautiful warm light on your subjects. During this time, you will get amazing lighting that catches all of those details in clothing or skin tones.
Late afternoon/early evening hours also offer some great opportunities for capturing refreshing summertime photographs, but they often involve low light levels which may require using one of those aforementioned artificial lights such as a "ring light" which can help balance tones if you are photographing someone’s face for example.
This is something that can really make or break your shot. The right shutter speed and aperture will depend on the type of photo you want to take as well as what kind of camera you are using, for example, a "smartphone" has different settings than say an SLR Camera.
For Portraits, try setting up at dusk or dawn when there's plenty of light but not too much so it doesn't overwhelm your subject. You might also need to use a flash in order to get enough light onto their face if they're outside in daylight hours without shade.
For Landscapes, with lots going on like trees and buildings, consider shooting during sunrise/sunset because these periods offer great lighting opportunities which produce picturesque images.
For Still-life shots, you might want to use a lower aperture and slower shutter speed, so the shot is smooth and seamless.
For action shots, you'll need a faster shutter speed and wider aperture to create sharp images of subjects in motion.
If your camera has the capability for setting these details on its own (for example, "auto mode" or "P") then it will be easier as well as more convenient. Just remember that every shot is different and will require a different shutter speed depending on the lighting or colour of your subject.
Adding some props to your photo will give it that extra "something" and make the picture a true representation of summertime. For example, you might want to include flowers in a bouquet or food like ice cream as well as toys such as water guns for those iconic childhood beach photos.
Using your own pets such as your dog is another brilliant idea because they are a part of your family and will create fantastic memories to look back on. When taking photographs of your pets, try to include some of their favourite things like a toy or ball so they'll pay attention and pose for the photo.
It's not just the subject of your photo, but also what you do with them that can determine how well the photo comes out. For example, place someone in front of a fence and they'll be framed by it which makes for an interesting effect. You might also want to include some kind of background such as trees behind people to create depth in the image so there is something more than simply white space on one side.
You could even frame your own shadow if you're taking a self-portrait; this will create a sense of uniqueness because everyone knows who took the picture! It may sound silly but try it out and see how much better it looks over another plain old selfie without anything else going on around you.
If you're photographing an individual flower or a patch of grass, for example, then all your shot will have been the subject and nothing else. To make it more interesting to look at from a viewer's perspective, try finding patterns within that object such as brick wall tiles in front of flowers which can provide an interesting contrast between man-made and nature.
This would also apply to landscape shots where you might want to include trees, so they frame the scene. There may even be other buildings with windows or people walking by which could create some interest in what otherwise might seem like another bland photograph of a building.
We hope you find these 6 tips helpful in capturing some fantastic summer photos! Photography can take a great deal of time and patience so don't be discouraged if you don't get it right the first time. Keep shooting and be open to learning new techniques, stick with it and we are sure your photos will come out great!
At Easyframe we are in the business of framing the mood you capture and presenting them in a way that can be enjoyed.
You can contact EasyFrame on 01234 856 501 and / or sales@EasyFrame.co.uk and they'll always chat even if you don't want to buy!
Article Posted: 04/08/2021 10:25:46