When the sun is high in the sky, most photographers advise you to put the camera aside. This is unfortunate because spectacular images can be taken in the middle of the afternoon using a few clever techniques. Yes, the sunrise and sunset light is lovely, but why only take pictures for two hours every day? Many wonderful places to visit aren’t even reachable during those magical hours. On your next outing, use these strategies to avoid returning home empty-handed.
Shoot Into The Sun
Put the lens cover away and aim straight at the sun. An otherwise flat shot may gain dynamic flare from the ensuing sunbeams. Start with an extremely narrow aperture opening of f/22 to get the most effect. Then, carefully compose with a wide-angle lens so that an item just barely blocks the sun. The light will be brilliantly scattered by this partial obstacle.
Polarizers
Using a polarizing filter is crucial when photographing landscapes during the day. Put on a circular polarizer and turn the front element slowly. You will notice that the sky gets richer with every turn. As an extra advantage, the filter removes sun glare, exposing a texture with more depth.
Get Low
How often do you spot a stunning scene, frantically grab your camera, capture it from that initial angle, and then walk on? I’m certain I’ve done it. The end product is typically a disposable image that doesn’t adequately convey the scene’s actual personality. Get down low, where the viewpoint can frequently be more dramatic, to surpass a postcard reproduction. Because of the unusual angle, you might not be able to look through the viewfinder while lying flat on the ground. If your camera has a swivel screen or Live View mode, now is the perfect opportunity to use it.
Lose The Sky
Even with a circular polarizer, we can’t save those dull, cloudy skies that we’ve all seen. In these situations, using a wide-angle lens will highlight the undesirable regions excessively. Rather, use a telephoto lens, such as a 70-200mm. Stronger photos can be produced by cropping in the camera by zooming in on the key landscape features. Make sure to examine the viewfinder for any distracting items in all four corners before pushing the shutter.
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