Tips and Tricks

These few composition tips are easy to conceptualize and implemement, and can transform an "okay" image into a great one. You might notice that I do not call them "rules". I adjust and tweak these approaches often, sometimes with great results. There is so much more to all of these topics. This is menat as a quick reference guide for you to try and mix up your photography approach.

Tip #1

I always try to keep in mind what I call the three pillars of a quality subject - The subject, the background and the light.

Obvious subject in good diffused light with a clean foreground/background

When we think of snow, we think of white, fluffy, snowflakes blanketing the landscape or of it burying our passenger car. The thing I want to focus on is the “white” characteristic of snow. Even if you live in Fiji and have never seen snow in person, you might still know that it is white. When we close our eyes, we don’t envision grey snow. Here you will learn how to better approach snow photography in order to create images that dazzle with detail-rich white snow. This can work for ice, as well.

Modern digital cameras are amazing. Through computer algorithms and high-tech hardware, the range of light most cameras can work with is remarkable. Lets start there: What is meant by “range of light”? The range of light, or exposure latitude, simply put is the tonal difference between the brightest area in your scene, and the darkest…

Columbia River Gorge during an early-winter freeze

Tips for Staying Warm and Safe This Winter

While we might find ourselves hiking or snowshoeing to find winter subjects and scenes, when we find them we often stand still for quite some time while we create images. This can lead to being cold and not fully enjoying our time outside, or worse, expose us to the dangers of cold exposure.

Clothing Layers: It is important to wear a mix-and-match layering system when outside in cold and/or wet conditions. Layers allow you to adjust what you wear which helps you adjust to the activity of the moment. Check out REI for further advice and options.

• Be Bold, Start Cold - You might need to hike to your destination. If so, it is a good idea to not wear all of your layers of clothing when starting out from the trailhead. You might consid…

This year (2022) in the Pacific Northwest, we had summer temperatures and clear skies up until, well, last night, late October. This type of irregular climate does not allow for trees to change their leaves from summer greens to autumn red, oranges and yellows, as they typically might. Our color display in the region is not as vibrant as you might find in New England (U.S.), nor does it last as long. But there are colorful scenes to be found. Here are some tips to help you be ready.

Be mindful that colorful leaves do not make compelling images JUST because they are colorful - creative compositions still need to be considered. Remember the three pillars of good composition basics: good subject, good light and good background.

Framing and White Balance

Here, the leaves are fully in the frame which is good. I used the stick to give the leave…