Guest Post by Isabelle Marinier
Adventure photography focuses on outdoor shots such as stunning landscapes and heart-pounding situations. This photography also includes capturing extreme sports, including skiing, mountain climbing, and kayaking photography, hence a fun way to mix adventure with your passion for photography. Anyone can venture into adventure photography as long as they are prepared for challenging shoots and adventure. The experience is worthwhile for the memories and remarkable shots.
Here’s all you need to know about capturing action and excitement in the great outdoors.
Essential Equipment For Adventure Photography
Having the right equipment for adventure photography is ideal for crafting your vision. This equipment includes:
High-Quality Camera And Lenses
Given the dynamic nature of adventure photography, it is advisable to select the right camera. The right camera will vary depending on your destination, duration, and preferences. For professional photography, consider the digital single-lens reflex cameras (DSLRs). These cameras are bulky but will offer great megapixels, manual controls for customization and image enhancement, and powerful sensors. DSLRs also feature interchangeable lenses enabling you to adjust depending on your preferences. These cameras are also fast action hence ideal for adventure.
Another camera option is the mirrorless camera for its lightweight. However, these cameras feature fewer lens options than DSLRs. If you want a backup for your DSLRs or mirrorless cameras, consider your smartphone camera. Smartphone cameras are also a quick option for fast shoots. On the flip side, these cameras lack the creative capacity available in cameras with interchangeable lenses and full control of settings, which is why they are best as backups.
After selecting the right camera, the next choice is your lens. To choose the right lens, consider the weight and size, frequency of use, and focal lengths that matter the most. If going on a long hiking trip, consider the packability of your lens and if it will slow you down. Carrying many lenses will slow you down.
The frequency of lens use will also dictate whether or not to carry the lens. Therefore, consider the purpose of the lens and the images before packing. Lastly, depending on the person, place, and weather, you will need different focal lengths when capturing photos. For instance, if capturing images close to your subject, you will need a wide-angle lens.
Sturdy Tripod And Other Supporting Gear
If you want sharper images, especially in low-light environments or slower shutter speeds, consider a sturdy tripod for stability. A tripod is also ideal if doing long exposure photo sessions. With three-leg support, you can set your camera and not worry about the wind moving it.
There are two types of tripods useful for adventure photography, travel, and bendy tripods. The travel tripod is ideal if using a heavy camera and wanting to navigate height limitations as it can extend to different heights and hold more weight.
If using a lighter camera, consider the bendy tripod. These tripods are smaller and usable on all terrains. Given their bendy legs, you can set these tripods on rock edges and trees.
Carrying a power source is also avoidable if out for long hours. You can invest in a solar charger or carry extra fully charged camera batteries to avoid shortening your trip due to low battery.
Waterproof And Protective Gear For The Camera
Your backpack is the best protective gear for your camera when out on adventure photography. Ensure your backpack has enough room for your camera, including the lenses, memory cards, tripod, and batteries. The camera backpack should be comfortable to wear with wide padded straps, a hip belt, and a chest wrap. Your bag should also be waterproof with a rain fly or material coating above it, especially for water adventures like kayaking and rafting.
Keeping your memory card safe is also advisable, lest your trip becomes a waste. You can store your cards in a waterproof card case and be at ease that your cards are safe even if your backpack soaks in water.
Mastering The Technical Aspects
Generally, great images have good use of color, light, the composition of the situation, and distance to the subject. The process of coming up with great adventure photographs requires understanding the light, shutter speed, and exposure speed. Understanding these elements will enable a photographer to take charge of the situation through manual control of the camera.
Light is key in photography as it illuminates the subject or scene. You will have harsh light during the middle of the day, golden light post-sunrise and pre-sunset, and backlight where the source is behind your subject. Golden lighting often causes deep shadows and soft textures on your subject.
You will likely have the best photos in the early morning and late afternoon under golden lighting rather than harsh and backlighting. Backlighting adds drama to your photos by making your subject appear darker than the background.
Exposure is the light that reaches your camera film or sensor. It dictates how light or dark your pictures will appear. The shutter speed, aperture, and camera ISO will also affect your photo brightness. Getting proper exposure is, therefore, about balancing these settings to ensure a quality photo from the depth of field to sharpness.
The shutter speed is the duration it takes your camera to capture a picture. This includes 1/100, 1/10 of a second, three seconds, or thirty seconds. The shutter speed matters for two reasons. First, a longer shutter speed will allow a lot of light, and using such settings in the daytime will make your images white. On the other hand, a quick shutter speed will allow less light into your camera, and taking photos with such settings at night will make your photo completely black.
The other reason to pay attention to shutter speed is their effect on motion. Quicker shutter speeds are ideal for freezing motion. Therefore, when capturing adventure photos, especially of moving subjects, ensure the shutter speed is fast enough to stop an action. Capturing a moving object or person using a longer shutter speed will cause motion blur as they are not in one place long enough to capture them sharply.
You should also pay attention to the focus settings to ensure attention to what you want to highlight in your frame. The aperture blades function like your eye pupil. At night, open the aperture blades and allow more light in. The aperture is a fraction, and the largest will be f/1.4, f/1.8, and so on, while the smallest will be f/16, f/22, or f/32. A larger aperture will allow more light in, hence a brighter photo, while a small aperture will let in less light, hence a darker image. Changing the shutter speed and aperture will allow the light you want during the adventure for a photo with the proper exposure.
The depth of field is the part of your scene that appears sharp. The depth is usually huge in a landscape photo and thin in a portrait photo. Adjustments in the aperture settings will improve the depth of field, with smaller apertures giving larger fields and larger apertures giving thinner depth of field. Therefore, a large aperture is ideal when you want to isolate a small part of your object and blur everything else.
The Most Common Types Of Adventure Photography
Adventure photography includes various activities, each with challenges and rewards. These activities include the following.
Outdoor Sports Photography
Outdoor sports photography covers outdoor sports to promote the brands, players, or the sport. These include volleyball tournaments, BMX biking, basketball, and football. The greatest downfall to outdoor photography is the weather, but good weather and timing will amount to great pictures in great scenes. For better outdoor sports photography, consider the following tips:
● Use a low ISO on a sunny day
● Use a high-quality zoom lens for photo clarity
● Set a high shutter speed to capture moments without blur
● Be ready for perfect timings by keeping an eye on the game.
Adventure Portraiture and Storytelling Photography
Adventure photography captures the personality, identity, and essence of the subject through photo techniques like posing, lighting, and composition. Common portraits include traditional, lifestyle, and glamor. The right location and subject with the right accessories will reflect the personalities you want to bring out.
Advanced photographers prefer storytelling to make an album with a consistent message. Good photos will capture your audience's attention and imagination and engage their emotions in the scenes you are portraying. Therefore, adventure portraiture and storytelling photography calls for good photography skills to capture the spirit and personalities of the individuals engaged in adventurous activities, showcasing their determination, passion, and unique style. Besides of using photography techniques like lighting, and composition, showcasing accessories and other elements can be crucial in conveying the personality and creating a more comprehensive visual narrative.
Photographers often can consider photographing accessories as an important aspect of the photo session. These accessories can range from items that reflect the person’s interests, hobbies, or profession to personal items that hold sentimental value. By incorporating these elements into the composition, photographers can provide viewers with valuable insights into the character and background.
When conducting a photo session, whether it's on the beach or during a hike on a sunny trail, incorporating sunglasses into the composition can serve multiple purposes for completing a story about a person. Firstly, wearing sunglasses to complete the look is a great idea. Sunglasses can add personality to the portrayed protagonist and also be a fashionable accessory that adds a sense of style and completes the overall look of the person. The person can be shown in particular attitude, depending on the context and the message the photographer wants to convey. So that little accessory helps tell the story and create a deeper connection between the viewer and the image.
Secondly, wearing sunglasses during a photo session serves a practical purpose as well. They protect eyes against harmful UV rays, particularly when shooting outdoors under bright sunlight.
Travel And Landscape Photography
Unlike the above categories, travel photography tests the photographer’s skills given the challenges faced. You will see a wide range of images from the combination of culture, landscapes, food, streets, and underwater scenes. Travel photography also tells stories, inspires, and educates. Whether a proactive or reactive travel and landscape photographer, having the right gear will help you develop good photos to showcase.
Image by tawatchai07 on Freepik
Wildlife Photography
Wildlife photography documents animal lives in natural settings, including underwater and in forests. This photograph captures the animals in action or movement, such as fighting, flight, and eating. It will also cover different classes of organisms and in-depth details of their appearance. Therefore, as an aspiring wildlife photographer, have sound knowledge of animal habitats, behavior, and features. Your photographic techniques and understanding of the settings should also be advanced for high-quality photos. For instance, most mammals stay in the woods and will show up at dusk or dawn when lighting is challenging, hence the need for lighting skills.
Climbing And Mountaineering Photography
Climbing includes rock and alpine climbing. Alpine climbing involves navigating steep slopes, including mountain ranges. Alpine and mountaineering require technical skills for the climber and photographer. As a photographer, ensure you are physically and mentally comfortable, as tension will affect your photo quality. If photographing in cold areas, wear warm clothes and gloves for warmth. Carrying an easy-to-use camera with a zoom lens is also advisable in case of inaccessible sports due to too much cold or steepness.
Conveying Emotion And Excitement
Capturing emotions adds a layer of meaning and interest to the photo. Whether a look of happiness or frustration, capturing the expressions will give your photos depth. To convey emotions and excitement in photography, do the following:
● Consider the timing - Shoot continuously to capture all movements for a chance of getting the right photo at the right time.
● Consider natural light and shadows to enhance the mood.
● Isolate your subject through directional light to pull feelings of loneliness.
● Capture the expressions and body language - For instance, by focusing on your subject's face, you will capture emotions through wrinkles, tears, or puffy eyes.
Tips For Travel Safe With Your Camera
As a photography enthusiast, chances are that you love exploring nature monthly or seasonally, calling for travels to different destinations.
Photography equipment is expensive, with constant threats of theft, loss, or damage. While this stands, it should not discourage you from carrying your camera when traveling, as cameras offer the best way to keep memories. Instead, consider taking necessary precautions to keep your camera and accessories safe when traveling. The following comprise the tips for safe travel with your camera:
● Invest in high-quality camera cases - The material of your bag should be of high quality, waterproof, and with inside cushioning.
● Carry your camera in your hand luggage - When at the airline, avoid checking your camera bag as luggage, as it may be damaged during unloading.
● Consider a wire camera strap for theft resistance.
● Insure your camera.
● Carry multiple memory cards to spread out your photos, as memory cards can break and cause you to lose your memories.
● Clean your camera, especially if touring a dusty area, to avoid the accumulation of dirt on your lenses. If not using your camera, cover the lenses.
● Cover your camera branding - Removing or covering your camera branding is an effective way to draw away the attention of thieves. You can put black duct tape over the branding or remove the manufacturer’s strap.
Conclusion
Outdoor photography is an exciting and highly addictive style of photography. You will visit destinations and create stories you will remember for years. By improving your photography techniques, you will share the moments better with your audience. With many people in the adventure industry, chasing adventures that excite you is advisable, as the results and passion will reflect through your images.
If you’d like to order a framed print of one of my wildlife photographs, please visit the Prints page.
If you’d like to book a lesson or order an online photography course, please visit my Lessons and Courses pages.