While boondocking near Yuma, Arizona, I had the pleasure of sharing one of my favourite photo locations with a photographer friend of mine. It’s always fun to share a great photo spot with like minded people! The spot is called North Algodones Sand Dunes and it’s actually in California. You may have heard of Imperial Sand Dunes where ATVers go for some serious dune buggy … [Read more...] about 5 Tips for Sand Dune Photography
Landscape Photography
Natural Light in Landscape Photography: Reflected Light
Reflected light is a soft non-direct light that bounces from one surface to another. Unlike direct light, it tends to take on the colour of the surface it has reflected off of. An example of how this works can be seen in the slot canyons in Arizona. When the sun is high in the sky, shafts of light stream through the small openings at the top of the canyons. That direct light … [Read more...] about Natural Light in Landscape Photography: Reflected Light
Natural Light in Landscape Photography: Frontlight
When most people start out in photography, someone usually tells them they should have the sun at their back. Generally speaking, I would call that bad advice. When the sun is behind you, hitting the front of your subject directly, it is called “frontlight”. Frontlight can be intense and unforgiving causing an overall dull look and lack of texture and depth. And if you take … [Read more...] about Natural Light in Landscape Photography: Frontlight
Natural Light in Landscape Photography: Sidelight
Determining what you want to say about your subject will help inform the type of light that will best portray it. If the main element that draws you to a subject is texture or shape, then “sidelight” may be the best option. Sidelight occurs when light hits your subject on one side casting a shadow on the other. It is often thought to be the most pleasing type of light for … [Read more...] about Natural Light in Landscape Photography: Sidelight
Natural Light in Landscape Photography: Backlight
When the light is directly in front of you, lighting your subject from behind, it is called “backlight”. This is my favourite type of light because I am drawn to the deep contrast between the highlights and shadows. Backlight can create dramatic silhouettes and can also catch particles in the air creating beautiful rays of light. If your subject is translucent, like flowers, … [Read more...] about Natural Light in Landscape Photography: Backlight