The ultimate Summer PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE
Mark Bauer explores ways to capture great images, even as the days get brighter and longer...
WITH SUMMER JUST around the corner, most normal people are getting excited and looking forward to long, warm evenings in the Sun, sitting in the backyard with a glass of wine, eating ice cream and spending weekends at the beach with the family. Landscape photographers, however, are different. They seem to have reached a consensus of opinion that the summer months are a waste of time, when there are few opportunities to get your camera out and create decent photographs in the harsh summer sun. As a result, instead of relaxing and enjoying the summer months like the rest of the population, they can get a little grumpy as they go into a kind of reverse hibernation: hiding away for the summer and not resurfacing until the autumn, which brings with it much more photogenic light.
The usual advice given is to pack away the camera and catch up on any editing backlogs you may have, or to devote the time to research and scouting for locations that will look good at other times of year. There is some sense in this: you do need to make time for these activities and you might as well do them at times when the light is less photogenic. But it would be a mistake to ignore the summer completely, as it is a season which brings with it some unique photographic opportunities.
A critical component in a successful photoshoot is planning. Whether this comprises physically visiting a location to seek out potential images, or simply making contacts and speaking to relevant experts in a certain field before committing to a trip, planning can be seen as the foundation of a stress-free, highly efficient and enjoyable photography session.
Location scouting is an aspect that most commonly applies to landscape, travel and possibly event photographers, since those focussed on such genres are aiming to capture extremely context-specific images. For these photographers location is not merely a backdrop for their subject, it is often the subject itself, so it is of great importance to understand the environment and be able to predict conditions to enable the capture of the best possible perspectives.
When we first arrive on location, especially one that is unfamiliar, we are presented with a mass of visual information, which we must sort to find the ideal image. Without a grasp of the common lighting, terrain and weather, we are unable to rapidly arrange a frame from the best perspectives, making best use of colour, texture and tone. This can often result in stress in changeable lighting and a final image that fails to convey the best elements of the location.
Here we will explore the key considerations when scouting for new locations, examining in detail how to read the light, make the most of unpredictable weather and how to exploit location-specific characteristics. Learn good planning strategy, understand the challenges of scouting ahead, know what to look for in a location and recognise the benefits and pitfalls of scouting resources.