Spring is a favorite season among everyone who shoots outdoors, and many of the best opportunities can be pursued close to home. The trick is knowing what subjects to shoot and how to achieve optimum results in the camera, and that’s the topic of the how-to video below from the PHLOG Photography YouTube channel.
Instructor Christian Mohrle is a highly acclaimed German landscape photographer whose straightforward post-processing tutorials are among the most popular we share. In this episode he explores this beautiful season with three captivating photo ideas and the proper settings to use, along with in-camera shooting techniques for photographers of all skill levels.
His practical tips also involve lens choice, the use of interesting camera angles and effective composition to help you nail each shot with confidence. His first topic may the most obvious; namely spring flowers, buds, and blossoms. We’ve all tried this before at one time or another, but Mohrle’s advice can make the difference between good images and great ones.
His first suggestion for creating a more immersive and intimate perspective is getting closer to the subject and lower to the ground. He recommends placing your camera atop a beanbag or other small support to capture a captivating view of a flower from the side. His goal for composing the shot is to accentuate the small subject by separating it from a soft background.
Mohrle demonstrates two simple tricks for enhancing this effect, the first being a wide aperture to create shallow depth of field “so your subject stays sharp while the background blurs into a soft wash of color.” The second less-familiar option is to take advantage of backlight while shooting at Golden Hour, “letting the sun hit your subject from behind to introduce more depth and a beautiful glow.”
Just as with flower photography Mohrle’s other two recommended subjects each require a unique method of configuring the camera and their own approach to focusing, composition, lighting, and other essential variables. Next on the agenda is photographing forest scenes, taking advantage of fresh green foliage.
One tip here is to shoot after an early morning rain when the low angle of the sun imbues a scene with soft, moody light passing through the trees. You’ll also learn a variety of helpful ways to compose such scenes using leading lines, tall tree trunks, long shadows, and other eye-catching elements.
Last on the list is harnessing the beauty of gentle, rolling hills that paint a scene with lush green tones and soft textures, capped by dramatic skies. One again, Mohrle walks you through the process with some very helpful tips and techniques with which you may not be familiar
The PHLOG Photography YouTube channel is full of how-to videos for shooting and editing outdoor photos to perfection, so be sure to pay a visit and explore.
And don’t miss the tutorial we featured with another adept outdoor photographer who demonstrates how easy it is to avoid mistakes when shooting panorama landscapes with an iPhone, with all the camera settings and techniques you need for doing it right.
