Capturing Spring

20210424__RKR3783.jpg

PHOTO CHALLENGE | Light, color, movement, seasonal interest, and weather are all around us, find ways to highlight the Spring season, to tell its story, and be creatively inspired. TIP: The closer to your subject the narrower your focal plane is, lower your aperture (widen focal plane) to get the details in focus and soften the background.

SPRING DETAILS

  • Light

  • Water/Reflection

  • Food/Flowers

  • Rain

When the winter cold finally subsides just enough to ditch our heavy winter coats and the rain lets up enough to enjoy being outdoors again, nothing feels better than grabbing your camera and going outside on what I like to call a “photo walk”.

Sunlight | Blue Hour, Golden Hour - We’re given more sunlight in spring and that means we can take advantage of the delicious golden hour light or blue hour mood.

  • During golden hour, place your subject near open shade: in the shade of a tree line or building, filter the light to produce that rich, creamy light.

  • During blue hour, prepare to capture more of a low light mood: look for areas to capture color and show its vibrancy. Near water, in wide landscapes, wildlife, or with an abstract subject.

Water, Movement, Reflection - Whether actually at the water’s edge in a puddle, or in a window reflection, find areas where you can capture light and color in an interesting way.

  • If you want until closer to sunset, you can capture interesting color and movement, and the light will be easier and softer to work with. TIP: Underexpose so you don’t blow those highlights!

Food, Flora, Fauna - The whole world slowly wakes from its winter slumber in spring. From fresh produce from the Farmer’s Market, new flowers in our gardens, and wildlife emerging all around us. Now’s the time to get some color in your frame.

  • Use directional light and compose scenes that represent the season. TIP: Place your subject near a static structure to cast a light shade from behind while the sun comes in from the side.

  • If you have an area of flowers in bloom or tall grass even, look for ways to creatively compose your images. Get low on the ground to shoot at flower level or looking up. TIP: You can also use the flowers in the foreground to frame your subject.

Don’t Be Afraid of a Rainy Day - While there’s great sunshine starting to emerge, rain is still largely on the forecast! Don’t be shy! You can find protection outdoors, use a plastic bag/cover wrapped around your camera, or an actual camera rain cover (use a rubberband or hair tie to secure them around your lens tightly). You can also wait until the rain stops and get those glistening, moody raindrops on your surroundings.

  • To capture motion of the rain, shoot at a faster, higher shutter speed, around 1/500 or higher.