Amateur Photographer - UK (2020-05-16)

16 16 May 2020 I http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk I subscribe 0330 333 1113

TIM’S TIPS FOR SHOOTING LOCALLY

Light knowledge
Once you know the area directly around you,
you’ll learn roughly what position the sun will
be at any given time of day and year. With this
crucial understanding, you’ll know where is
best to go (or not go) and when for the desired
lighting effects, be it a sunrise, backlighting or
shafts of light between buildings and so on.

Weather

Increased familiarity brings about an acute

awareness of weather conditions and the

seasons. One area, no more than a few

hundred metres from another, could have a

different atmosphere, especially on misty days.

I know a small heathland that gets a second

wave of ground mist mid winter morning.

Wildlife behaviour

Knowing a rural area well brings increased

knowledge of local wildlife behaviour. At some

point in the year I’ll see foxes, deer, horses,

sheep and various birds, some more regularly

than others. Wild fox and deer are extremely

cautious, so I try to be discreet to get anywhere

close for photos.

Technique LOCAL PHOTO WALKS

Yet there are absolutely no

guarantees of the weather conditions

for pre-planned photo trips. Sure the view

might be better, but I’d take the local

forest with sun and mist over Corfe Castle

on a white overcast day every time.

Originality

I typically see a few walkers, mainly with

dogs for company, cyclists, horses and

sheep but mostly empty fields bordered by

trees and a small woodland. In all my

My local woodlands provide an array of photo opportunities Nikon D800, 70-200mm, 0.6 sec at f/14, ISO 100

Capturing a location at different times of

year makes a great long-term project

Nikon D800, 70-200mm, 1/320sec at f/11, ISO 6400

By shooting locally on a

frequent basis, you’ll soon

learn what conditions

make for epic scenes

Panasonic Lumix GH5, 12-60mm,

C4K 24fps video still, ISO 400