Technical Tips for Landscapes

Let's Get Technical | Landscape tips from Chris Burkard

+ dSLR: A digital single-lens reflex camera. A dSLR uses mirrors to direct light from the lens straight to where your eye is in the viewfinder. Popular landscape lens options: Canon, Nikon 16-35mm f/4 | Canon, Nikon 24-70mm f/4 |  Nikon 16-50mm.

+ Shutter Speed: The amount of time your camera shutter is open. Measured in seconds, your image changes based on the length of time that light is exposed to the camera sensor. Lower shutter speeds paired with a tripod will allow you to capture motion and dimly lit situations or starscapes. (5 - 30 seconds)

+ F-stop: Also referred to as aperture, the f-stop is the length in diameter that your lens is open. Lower f-stops (1.4 - 3.5 etc) create less depth of field and a blurrier background – allowing your camera to focus on a single object. Higher f-stops (5.6 – 22 etc) leave more in focus, providing a greater depth of field and sharper backgrounds.

+ ISO: Your camera's direct relationship with sensitivity to light. As a rule of thumb, use a lower ISO (100 - 250 etc) in lighter conditions and a higher ISO (1600 - 3200 etc) in darker settings.

+ Polarizer: A polarized filter helps to remove reflection & glare and boosts color. Kit option here, check lens compatibility.