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Filter Effects
When taking outdoor shots, try using a circular polarizing filter for richer color.
Tips when using a filter
- Choose a high-quality filter for best results (talk to your local camera dealer), as anything other than a high-quality filter may reduce sharpness and image quality.
- When you using a filter, the amount of light hitting the camera sensor will be decreased. As a result, the camera may set slower shutter speeds which can lead to camera blur. Try using a tripod or take other measures to avoid this.
The great outdoors provide a wealth of photo opportunities, but you’ll want to keep a few things in mind when attempting to capture the beauty of a mountain landscape or a rushing waterfall. Here is a short list of tips to help improve your outdoor photography results.
Use Scene Modes
Most Olympus digital cameras have Scene Modes, which are ideal for many types of outdoor shots. “Landscape mode” is best for typical landscape shots as it optimizes the camera to capture vivid blues and greens. If you’re after close-in outdoor shots rather than landscapes, try your camera’s macro mode. Other popular outdoor shooting modes include Sunset, Beach and Snow, and Sport.
Photo taken in Landscape Mode by Louise from Nelson, BC.
Think Wide
Want to capture a mountain landscape? Zoom all the way out for the best results. This will allow your camera to capture most of your view in the shot. Try using wide-angle lens adaptors (C and SP-Series), interchangeable lenses (E-System) or shoot with a panoramic photo in mind to capture even wider vistas.
Photo taken in Landscape mode with Wide Angle Adaptor by Valerie from Stamford, CT.
Outdoor Portraits
If your camera has the “Landscape + Portrait” scene mode, try using it for shots where you want to capture your subject standing atop a rocky cliff in front of a scenic river canyon. Use this mode with flash to remove shadows from your subject’s face, while still capturing the enormity of the natural vista.
Don’t have “Landscape + Portrait” scene mode? Shoot at your camera’s extreme wide angle (zoom all the way out) and use your camera’s “fill-flash” to help reduce harsh shadows. If you have a camera Aperture Priority mode and choose the smallest aperture (like f16 or f22) in order to ensure the broadest depth of field. Note: small apertures correspond to larger f-stop numbers, while large aperture settings correspond to smaller f-stop numbers, like f2, for example.
Zoom Closer
When you can’t move closer to your subject, don’t forget about your camera’s zoom. Zooming uses the camera’s optics to bring your subject closer to the camera, rather than the other way around.
If your camera has a digital zoom feature, you can get even closer, but keep in mind that digital zoom halves the resolution of your image for each multiple of magnification. That means you’ll capture less detail, which isn’t going to work in your favor if you plan to print enlargements. You’re best bet is to shoot at your maximum optical zoom using the highest-quality recording format available.
Bonus Tips for E-System, SP, and C-Series Owners:
Shutter Speed and Moving Water
If you want more manual control, use a high-sensitivity mode with a fast shutter speed. You can control the shutter speed in Shutter Priority and Manual shooting modes. Use slower shutter speeds to create longer exposures. Slow shutter speeds help display movement in a waterfall, for example. You may need a tripod, to help prevent blur, when shooting with a slow shutter speed. Setting a fast shutter speed helps prevent blurriness – even when you don’t have a tripod. Good for capturing crashing waves or other fast moving subjects.
A fast shutter speed also means that less light will reach the sensor. To avoid underexposing a shot, use a high-sensitivity shooting mode when you set fast shutter speeds. This lets the sensor absorb more light energy in a shorter amount of time. The setting that controls this is called ISO. The higher the ISO value, the more sensitive the sensor becomes. Because high ISO settings absorb so much light, use them with care. On a sunny day, shooting with high ISO may cause highlights to be blown out or the entire image will be overexposed. These modes are best used in dim light.
Interested in additional advanced tips for outdoor photography? Check out this article on taking outdoor portraits.
When taking outdoor shots, try using a circular polarizing filter for richer color.
Tips when using a filter
- Choose a high-quality filter for best results (talk to your local camera dealer), as anything other than a high-quality filter may reduce sharpness and image quality.
- When you using a filter, the amount of light hitting the camera sensor will be decreased. As a result, the camera may set slower shutter speeds which can lead to camera blur. Try using a tripod or take other measures to avoid this.
