Photographing the moon at night can certainly be challenging. The blurry white blob in our photo often pales in comparison to what we see by the naked eye. As magical as night photography appears, it can be equally as tricky to accomplish well. Master a handful of night photography tips and watch your skill level improve. Use the summer months to learn. You’ll have favorable weather, extra hours of daylight, and plenty of opportunities to practice. By the end of the season, there’s no doubt you’ll have a stunning shot of the moon, the sky, or other night moments.

5 Key Night Photography Tips

First, tackle the technical hurdles that come with taking dark night summer pictures. The tallest obstacle is the lack of lighting. It creates a cascade of other potential issues. Without adequate lighting, you’ll struggle with noise, proper focus, harsh shadows, and white balance. Experienced professionals have figured out all the solutions – and you can, too. Simply follow these five-night photography tips:

1.   Switch to manual mode.

Many first-time photographers are tempted to shoot in automatic mode. But night photography is a different beast. Automatic mode at night can confuse a DSLR. The lack of light will have it choosing all the wrong settings. Make the switch to manual mode. This gives you full control over the ISO, aperture, and shutter speed. Manual mode might seem like more work, but is well worth the effort.

2.   Increase the ISO.

If you don’t remember what ISO means, refresh your memory with our basic photography dictionary. ISO determines your camera’s sensitivity to light. When the setting is dark, your camera is very sensitive to light. It’s why most night photography calls for a high ISO. A good starting point is 800. Be careful of noise or color variations. This is one of the trickier night photography tips, because it largely depends on your camera. Professional DSLR cameras can produce clear night photos at a high ISO. Others may take better shots with ISO set lower – around 100 or 200.

3.   Set a wide aperture.

Aperture size dictates how much light enters the lens. Since you’re working in the dark, use a wide opening to gather as much light as possible. Use a lens handle at least f/2.8 or f/4. Certain types of night photos call for a narrower aperture. Be prepared to adjust as needed.

4.   Choose a high-slow shutter speed.

Another night photography variable is shutter speed. Shooting summer landscapes at night requires long, slow shutter speeds. Set it to 10 seconds or higher. If the photo is too dark, increase it to 30 seconds. An exception is photographing urban areas with more available light. In city settings, select a faster shutter speed between two and 10 seconds.

5.   Use a tripod.

No matter how strong your hands are, they can’t keep a camera steady for 10 seconds or longer. You need a tripod. If you don’t have a tripod, find another flat, sturdy surface. Use whatever you can to keep the camera perfectly still.  

Enchanting Summer Night Picture Ideas

Summer is the season for barbecuing on the back deck, sinking your toes into the sand, camping under the stars, and letting all your stress just melt away. So when it comes to capturing the moments of summer, you want the images to look exactly as you feel. Not sure where to start? Here are some unique night picture ideas that elicit those enchanting summer vibes.

Star trails: These are the light streaks that follow stars when you take long-exposure photos. Star trails create acontinuous circle, which illustrates the Earth’s rotation on its axis. To get that full, beautiful arc of light, a clear evening sky is key. Urban lights ruin this effect. Use a wide angle lens and a reliable camera timer or intervalometer. The idea is to stack exposures that were captured over a period of time. Set your camera timer for three to four hours and the exposure between 30 and 60 seconds. This should give you enough single exposures to create mesmerizing star trails.

Light painting: Similar to star trails, light painting captures light in motion. The difference is you can “paint” the light virtually anywhere. Consider wrapping light around a tree or drawing a heart around your subject’s face. Get creative. Once you have an idea, adjust your camera settings. For this technique, a small aperture is more appropriate. Choose f/11 or higher with a shutter speed between 10 and 30 seconds. LED lighting is sufficiently strong as a light source.

City lights: There’s a lot of activity to capture in a bustling city. Between the buildings, cars, street lanterns, and traffic signals, you’re working with an abundance of light. That means forgoing some of the traditional night photography tips. Consider a narrow aperture and lower ISO. What exactly should you photograph? Well-lit monuments and cool marquee signs are excellent beginner photographs. If you really want to capture the “wow-factor”, catch streaking lights from car headlights driving by.

Lightning: You don’t need luck to photograph lightning. You just need to be persistent. Set your camera to around ISO 600 and aperture to f/4. Stand in one spot and take as many 30-second exposures as you can. Start shooting before the lightning strikes to increase your chances of the perfect picture.  

Fireworks: Summer is prime time to practice your fireworks photography. First, find your location. Set up in an open area where you can create a 45-degree angle between your tripod and the fireworks. Then, select ISO 100 and a fast shutter speed. A quick turnover will help capture those rapid starbursts. Better yet, use “Bulb” in manual mode. This allows you to control the shutter. When the fireworks begin, press the shutter release button and hold it down until the sequence ends.

Summer solstice: The summer solstice marks the longest day of the year. It occurs around the 20^th of June when Earth tilts toward the sun. This maximum tilt provides some of the best natural lighting for photography. Take advantage of the day and capture a collection of summer solstice pictures. These can be golden-hour selfies or landscape photos with a burst of light on the horizon.

Moon phases: You can photograph the moon any time of year. But clear summer skies give you an advantage. Take advantage of it, and don’t wait for a full moon. Each moon phase is unique. Keep in mind, the moon is a bright subject. Set your camera to ISO 100 or 200 and aperture between f/5.6 and f/11. Keep the shutter speed fast and use a wide-angle lens. The goal is to not overexpose the moon. Challenge yourself by creating moonstacks. This requires taking several photos of the moon as it moves through the sky (like star trails). Then, use your photo editing skills to layer them into one time-lapse image.

Campfire Nights: When taking pictures with fire as a light source, slow your shutter speed way down to allow time for the light to get recorded on the camera. Do that, and you’ll be taking fireside photos with friends like a pro!

Show Off Your New Skills

Practicing these night photography tips makes it easier to use them. More practice means more photos. The light-and-dark contrast in night photos is nothing short of miraculous. For that reason alone, they deserve to be prominently displayed in a custom-designed photo book. Using the Motif photo book app is easy. It works seamlessly as a native extension of Apple Photos. No exporting, transferring, or uploading necessary. Feature the progression of your night photography skills, or highlight the best of the best. Whatever you choose for your photo book, it will surely be a showstopper!

The post 7 Enlightening Night Photography Tips to Master During Summer appeared first on The Motif Blog.

Are you wild for wildlife? Animals in their natural habitat are some photographer’s dreams. Whether it’s a lion hunting prey or an inchworm crawling on a curb, the imagery can be mesmerizing. Newcomers to wildlife photography often have many questions about the best ways to capture such powerful wildlife photos. What lens should I use? What time of day should I shoot? Do I need a hideout spot? Answers to these common questions – and more – can be found below. You’ll also find a few fail-proof wildlife photography ideas. Follow along and you’ll be a natural in no time.

Animal Photography Tips & Tricks

Stunning nature picture ideas require a well-thought-out plan. This is especially true when you’re shooting wildlife. Wild animals are unpredictable. Before heading outside, review the following animal photography tips. These basic do’s and don’ts will make you a much better sharpshooter.

The DO’s:

DO keep your distance.

Anything can happen in the wild. Out of an abundance of caution, keep your distance.  Maintaining a safe distance between you and your subject is paramount. You’re intruding on their home. Be respectful by minimizing your presence. Some photographers opt to wear camouflage. At the very least, cover your camera to help quiet clicking sounds.

DO wait patiently.

Wildlife photographers have a knack for sitting quietly for long periods of time. Harness that inner Zen and hold onto it. The perfect shot rarely happens within a few minutes of setting up.

DO shoot at eye level.

Some of the most impactful wildlife photos are the ones where the animal is looking directly into the camera. To achieve this, try shooting at eye level. Peer through your viewfinder and adjust the camera’s height and angle until you’re as close to eye level as possible.

DO play around with lenses and camera settings.

Using the camera’s settings and accessories increases the chances of getting the best wildlife photos. Zoom lenses are great when maintaining distance – as you would photographing bears. A macro lens is a better choice for capturing small creatures, like insects, reptiles, and butterflies. Other features to consider include your camera’s burst mode and shutter speed. These settings help guarantee sharp images and fewer blurry ones.

DO keep the background simple.

Busy backdrops are distracting. They can be difficult to avoid when you’re working with unpredictable Mother Nature. Minimize visual noise and enhance the contrast. Your subjects will stand out. How and where you set up determines what’s in the background. Be mindful of this. Check the scene through your camera often. Relocate or adjust as needed.

The DO NOTs:

DON’T shoot midday.

Avoid the harsh midday sun. Fierce, direct lighting can create unwanted harsh shadows. Also, many creatures rest during the day making action shots less likely. Plan to be up well before sunrise to catch the golden hour. Not an early bird? Heading out around dinner is an equally opportune time.  

DON’T use flash.

The sudden burst of light that makes you hide your eyes and blink has the same effect on animals. There’s a strong probability they will scamper and you’ll miss the shot entirely. No eyes, just blurry feet and backsides. Using the flash also produces poor image quality. The lighting is too sudden and harsh. It interrupts the beauty of natural sunlight and diminishes the authenticity of your wildlife photos.

DON’T follow animals.

Fight the urge to walk behind or beside your subject. You’ll either scare it away or possibly make the animal feel threatened and have it attack. It’s best to get ahead of the animal and at a safe distance. Try to predict where the animal is going and smoothly walk in that direction. You’ll be able to snap photos of them looking your way.

DON’T stare at animals.

Play hard to get with the animals you want to photograph. Act like you aren’t at all interested in them. Look down at the ground or up at treetops. Meanwhile, keep the subject in your peripheral. You’ll know where it is without having to make direct eye contact.

4 Wildlife Photography Ideas to Inspire You

1.   Take a portrait.

Portraits of children never go out of style – and for good reason. They’re playful and a great way to show off a child’s unique personality. The same is true for wildlife portraits. When captured well, this type of photo tells a short story about the animal in focus.

How to do it:

Wildlife portraits can be done one of two ways: with or without a background. With a background means including the animal and its surrounding environment. It gives a sense of scale, while also emphasizing how that animal interacts with its environment. For this option, select a mid-range aperture to increase the depth of field.

For portraits without a background, you need a slightly larger aperture to let in more light. A short lens is appropriate, if available. The idea is to tighten the composition, so you get more detail of the actual animal. Consider filling the entire frame with the animals’ faces. The close-up shot captures a lot of cute details, like cool blue eyes or an upturned mouth.

2.   Shoot silhouettes.

The “Lion King” movie poster features a profile of Mufasa standing on the edge of a cliff with a big round sun blazing in the background. This is the truest example of how an animal’s silhouette creates a dramatic effect. The technique works with more than just lions. Try it with giraffes, pelicans, elephants, horses, and other distinctively shaped animals.

How to do it:

Golden hour photography is your best bet. The golden hour is 10 to 20 minutes after sunset. That soft reddish sky provides the perfect low lighting. Position your camera so the subject is between your lens and the sun. Set your exposure based on the brightest part of the photo (most likely the sun). Your subject becomes under-exposed, resulting in a sleek black silhouette.

3.   Focus on behavior.

By researching and observing a specific animal over time, certain behavior patterns emerge. You learn things like when they hunt and feed, how they mate, where they sleep, and much more. Not only will you capture something unique to that species, but you get to time the shot perfectly.

How to do it:

Use a fast shutter speed or activate burst mode to keep your camera moving quickly. You don’t want to miss any shots. Play around with lenses, as well. A long lens can help you watch and capture all at once. That said, the most important factor with this one is time. The more time you can spend in their habitat, the more you’ll be familiar with how to take the best wildlife photos. Spend whatever time you can and pack a lot of patience.

4.   Catch a cute gesture.

A “cute gesture” is defined by any activity that elicits emotion. This could be a mama bear protecting her cubs or a giraffe sticking its tongue toward the camera. In any case, these types of photos show depth and authenticity. Gestures help personify animals, which is always an eye-catching subject.

How to do it:

Oftentimes, capturing a cute gesture is pure luck. To increase your chances, it helps to have a fast shutter speed and an even faster trigger finger. When working with non-threatening animals, try to instigate a gesture. Whistle, wave, or mimic their calls. They might give you an inquisitive head tilt or goofy grin. Again, be patient for that extra-special moment.  

The post Take Nature Home With These Wildlife Photography Ideas appeared first on The Motif Blog.

There are many benefits to being outside. It can boost your energy, spark creativity, and relieve anxiety. If you needed one more reason to get outdoors, here it is: National Nature Photography Day is June 15. Let this be your excuse to enjoy fresh air, while honing your photography skills.

Whether you’re a novice or natural, master nature photography with our 10 tips for success.

What is National Nature Photography Day?

The North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA) has designated June 15 as Nature Photography Day. Beginning in 2006 as a way to celebrate the art form, it evolved into an opportunity to advance wildlife conservation around the globe. Anyone can enjoy Nature Photography Day. You do not need to be a professional photographer. Here are some simple ways to celebrate the holiday, as suggested by NANPA:

• Learn about your local plants and wildlife. Research those you don’t already know. Or, dive deeper into some of your favorites.
• Get inspired by reading about famous naturalists and nature photographers.
• Create a scavenger hunt for specific animals, plants and other natural sights in your neighborhood. This is fun for the whole family!
• Take many photos! Visit a nearby park, nature preserve or green space and start shooting images of the natural world around you. 

Our easy-to-follow nature photography tips below will help you begin.

10 Nature Photography Tips for Success and Safety

Outfit for the outdoors.

Believe it or not, your attire matters. When shooting outdoor photography, anything can happen. Prepare for sudden weather changes and varying landscapes. You might be hiking a paved path one moment and standing under a waterfall the next.

It’s also important to check local rules and regulations. Many parks have a dawn-to-dusk policy. Wherever you’re going, research it well beforehand. Always alert someone to where you will be. Ideally, you’d have a buddy by your side. If a sign-in sheet exists at the trailhead or entrance, use it. If something should happen, park rangers will know you’re near.   

Use what you have.

Yes, most professional photographers use an advanced DSLR camera. With today’s technology, camera phones take incredible pictures. Many smartphones even allow you to choose different apertures or use dual lenses. Get familiar with your equipment. Refer to a beginner’s photography dictionary as needed. It helps to know the different parts of a camera and settings available.

Pack props.

Wildlife and landscape photography requires a steady hand. After a couple hours of hiking, you might be too tired to keep still. Prevent shakiness (and blurry photos) by packing a tripod. If you don’t have one, that’s okay. A box, a book, or other flat items are surfaces on which you can balance your camera.

Consider other accessories like a lens hood and waterproof cover. A lens hood can help prevent glare on a sunny day. A waterproof cover is protective against rain, snow, or other precipitation.

Consult the community.

Talk to locals. They always know secluded mountaintops and hidden pathways. Locals are also cued into the wildlife. They know what flora and fauna to watch for. In some areas, you might consider employing the expertise of a local guide. Guides can often grant you access to areas not open to the general public. Nature photography is all about opportunity. Seize it where you can.

Find the right lens.

Choose a lens with a longer focal length. You need the longest reach possible. This allows you to keep a safe distance from wildlife while getting the best shot. Conversely, for a truly stunning shot, invest in a macro lens. Macro photography magnifies all the tiniest details. This is ideal for capturing the beauty of nature. You’ll see the zig-zag of a lizard’s skin, the veins in a leaf, and the texture of a bird’s feather.

Separate the subject and background.

There are plenty of outdoor photography ideas, but this is a good starting place. In nature photography, an animal or plant is often the focal point. When you want all eyes on one subject, make the subject as sharp as possible. The background should fade out. To do this, you need a lens with a wide aperture. Try f/1.8, f/2.0, or f/2.8.

Find a dramatic angle.

Birds fly high. Alligators stay low. But that doesn’t mean you have to mirror their movements. Sometimes, you want to be eye-level with your subject. Other times, a higher vantage point offers a better shot. Play around with different perspectives. Nature photography allows you to be creative. Lie on your belly. Climb a tree. Hold your camera overhead. Use wide-angle photography. Shoot a closeup. Do whatever you need to find the most interesting composition.

Use the rule of thirds.

A helpful way to think about composition is with the rule of thirds. It’s one of the golden rules of photography. And for good reason. The result is a much more dynamic image. Visualize the frame of your shot cut equally into nine sections. The sections are created by two horizontal lines and two vertical lines. Where the lines intersect is where the eye naturally goes. The goal is to position your subject on the intersecting points or centered in one of the squares.

Leverage natural light.

Natural lighting should always be your first choice. Luckily, it’s easy to access in nature photography. The key is timing. Morning and evening light produce the most dramatic images. Plan to shoot during the golden hour – just after sunrise and before sunset. This level of natural light eliminates shadows for a more even glow.

Respect Mother Nature.

Wildlife is more fragile than you think. Most animals are afraid of humans and will quickly scamper away. Remember, you’re in their habitat. Maintain an appropriate distance at all times. The same respectfulness applies to plants. Try not to trample on fragile flora. Stay on pathways whenever possible. Walk softly and carry a healthy respect for the world around you. Always carry out what you bring with and pick up litter should you find any. 

Share Your Newfound Nature Photography Skills

The world deserves to see your photos, and they help save the planet. “How you might ask?” On National Nature Photography Day, NANPA wants you to know that sharing your photos helps spread awareness. Exposing people to unfamiliar wildlife and landscapes is a form of education. It highlights the importance of preserving planet Earth. When sharing your photos online, use #NaturePhotoDay.

You can also create a tangible display with a photo book. Thanks to advanced technology, Motif works as an iPhone photo editing tool. Use the app to swap, rotate, zoom in on or crop your nature photos. Motif even filters through your photos to find the best shots. With this specially curated collection, Motif then provides optimal page layouts. This unique service makes it quick and easy to create a beautiful photo book.

All you have to do is decide on the number of copies. How many people will you inspire with your nature photography?

The post Celebrate National Nature Photography Day With These Tips appeared first on The Motif Blog.

• The Joys of Rain Photography
• Rain on Your Window
• Get Macro
• Abstract Rain Photography
• A Twist on Nature Photography
• Rainy Day Portraits
• Enjoying Your Rain Photos

When it comes to adding another dimension to your photos, rain can add a touch of unique beauty to compositions. So why not leave your umbrella at home and get a little creative?

Famed for being unpredictable and always arriving at the wrong time, rain can sometimes be seen as an undeniable downer. But why not take a moment and to give rain the recognition it deserves? 

Embrace the possibilities that come with rain photography and realize that there are amazing pictures to be had.  So when it comes to rain photoshoot ideas, dive into our creative ideas to help inspire you

The Joys of Rain Photography

There is both power and grace to be found in photographing in the rain. 

Similar to amazing snow photos, using the element of rain in your photography can create some beautiful and dynamic shots. Achieve this by using the rain as an accent, a backdrop, or as the central component of the photos you take. 

Once you discover a variety of ways to use the rain to your advantage , you’ll worry less about the weather ruining your photography plans.

Rain on Your Window

A simple way to add rain to your pictures is to photograph the rain that hits your windows while you’re inside. 

Both individual raindrops and heavier sheets of rain can make for interesting pictures. The way light refracts as it passes through water can create compelling effects. Photos can focus on the rain itself. They can also use the rain for refraction photography to change the look of something on the other side of the window. Both ways let you use the rain to your advantage, creating new photo opportunities.

Get Macro With Your Rain Photography

Ramp up your refraction photography skills by using a macroscopic lens to get up close and personal with the rain. 

By shooting rain on a macro scale, you see the reflections within an individual raindrop. Use these aspects of the water to shape what the viewer sees in your photo. Reflections within a raindrop often completely reveal your surrounding environment.

Abstract Rain Photography

Experiment with your rain photography by using it as a natural filter for more abstract photography. 

The aspects of water that make it so useful for refraction and reflection photography can also allow you to you distort your scenes into something more abstract without the need for Photoshop. Combine this with non-abstracted scenes to create a powerful end result.

A Twist on Nature Photography

It’s no secret that many photographers enjoy taking pictures in nature. 

Surprisingly, few of them consider rain photography as outdoor photography ideas. Capturing clouds and rainfall add interesting twists to shots featuring the beauty of the great outdoors. 

Including rain in your nature photography plans let you capture moments you can only get when it rains.. Raindrops on a stream or an overhang creating shelter from the storm are just a couple of examples. Familiar outdoor scenes find a new light when you add a little bit of rain to the mix.

Rainy Day Portraits

When creating unique portraits, consider these outdoor photography ideas that incorporate the rain.

Try portraits by a rain-covered window. Consider shots where a tree provides a bit of shelter. Take pictures where your subject is simply out under the full force of the rain shower. Recognize how the rain affects the portraits you take. Stage shots that will give you an interesting finish that would be all but impossible to capture any other way.

Enjoy Your Rain Photos

So when it comes to rain photoshoot ideas, sometimes you need to embrace the wild weather to get some truly unique photos.

The post Don’t Let a Few Dark Clouds Stop You with These Rain Photography Tips appeared first on The Motif Blog.

The soft beauty of snow drifting through the air. The glamor of sparkling icicles. The glee of a toddler wrapped in bunting, attempting her first snow angel. As much as we love bright autumn leaves or a blooming April peony, when it comes to photogenic seasons, nothing holds a candle to winter.

Do you want to capture this most wonderful time of the year? Bundle up, down a quick mug of hot cocoa, and then grab your camera…before it melts away! Follow these photography tips to freeze-frame the beauty of your winter wonderland.

Take Advantage of Exposure Compensation

Snow can seem blue, gray or even pink in photographs, but is usually pure white to the naked eye. Why? Our eyes always see snow as white because they’re more efficient at correctly realizing the reflections of sunlight. Cameras, meanwhile, cast snow in a pastel rainbow of colors, resulting in spectacular photo opportunities.

Because light rays are red and blue, how much or how little the object or area reflects of each will affect the color quality of your image. If you’re seeing a blue hue in a photograph, it’s because the snow is actively absorbing more red light, and reflecting back more blue light rays.

You can take advantage of exposure compensation to hone in on a mood.  Blue-infused images are considered “cold” and underexposed and have a more crisp feel, whereas the inverse is considered “warm” and overexposed to light, resulting in more rich, earthy imagery.

Strike the White Balance 

If the moody blues aren’t for you, you can capture the more natural white look of snow by adjusting the white balance. This method of exposure compensation warms or cools down the color temperature of the image. Properly calibrating your camera will yield a photograph that more closely resembles what our eyes see naturally. 

One thing you want to avoid is flash photography, although it might be tempting to use your flash to compensate for reduced light exposure. Unfortunately, this additional burst of light will likely reflect off the snow crystals and create blindingly bright sections in the image. A lens hood can also help with any of this flaring that occurs naturally. You generally don’t need to worry about overexposure when capturing snowy terrain, however. If your photos are coming out off-color, you’ll want to actively overexpose the camera lens slightly to compensate for the lack of natural light. 

A tool you do want to take advantage of is your histogram, which will indicate the level of light exposure in your shot. A graph emphasized to the right indicates overexposure; a reading too far to the left reveals underexposure. You can use this information to help dial in your light balance more accurately. 

Sky’s The Limit

There’s nothing like a colorful sky to illuminate the stark whiteness of snow. Try to grab some photos during the golden hour to photograph a snowy day in all of its glory. 

A bright sunny day is also a great day to shoot the snow; the strong contrast of the blue sky gives the ground the appearance of added illumination. When you’re out on the ski slopes with friends, or out capturing the kids sledding down their favorite hill, be sure to snap the horizon in the background to bring the subject come to life.

Make Use of Scenery and Color Where You Can Find It

Snow is best captured when framed against the beauty of nature. White flakes falling on the neighborhood pine trees or against the nearby lake can create a beautiful and striking color balance. 

You can also experiment with photographing snow in motion by adjusting your shutter speed. When photographing falling snow on the standard setting, you’ll likely receive a blurry image. By speeding things up, you’ll be able to create artistic visuals that freeze that micro-moment in time.

Melting Snow Can Also Create Beautiful Pictures

It’s joyous to capture the winter season at its peak, but photographing the melting landscape can also freeze the moments of season’s end. As another wonderful year comes full circle, these moments frozen in time can encapsulate the coming change.

As the snow melts, you’ll likely get exposure from new colors such as green grass or the warm sunlight above. Melting snow against a warm sun captures the spirit of life, the oncoming spring, and another year’s worth of memories.

Serious About Snow Photography? Shoot in the RAW

Shooting in RAW format, a technique available for some modern cameras, allows for the greatest amount of photo editing. If you’re content with your shot placement, but actively struggle to achieve optimal white balance, you can still save the photo for later processing if you shoot in the RAW. 

A quick note of caution: RAW photo file sizes are significantly larger than the typical JPEG. If you’re planning to chase a full photo session, you may want to invest in an additional memory card to swap out on the go. Memory cards are compact and easy to carry. You’ll have more opportunities to use these snow photography tips and explore your options.

Make Sure Your Camera Stays Safe

Your camera doesn’t enjoy the icy weather as much as you do. Follow these tips to make sure your camera stays safe during your photo shoot.

Keep Your Batteries Warm

In low temperatures, camera battery life can be halved almost immediately. Not only does the chilly weather affect your batteries, but it can also create excess levels of moisture that risk harm to internal components. The moisture comes from condensation created by changes in temperature when bringing it out of its warm housing into the open air.  Treat your camera the same as yourself – keep it as warm as possible. 

Invest in a Camera Bag 

Unfortunately, the arctic temperature is not the only part of winter that poses a threat to your camera. Walking through snow and ice presents the risk of falling or dropping your valuable camera. If you’re selective with our outdoor photography tips, be sure to follow this one. A waterproof bag not only offers padding to prevent damage from impact, but actively combats moisture and condensation while inside.

For an added layer of protection, place your camera and lenses in a zip bag. This will protect your device by giving the condensation a surface to form on that’s not the camera.

Your Favorite Moments, Frozen in Time

These snow photography tips are the building blocks to creating cherished memories. Keep in mind that photography is a combination of opportunity and skill. As you gain experience, your photo quality will grow, and so will you. 

Try preserving your memories and progress by creating a photo book with the Motif Photos app on iOS or macOS that illustrates your progress. Motif’s editing software is intuitive and easy to use. You can sharpen blurry images, adjust brightness, and polish and rotate to your heart’s content. 

Don’t be afraid of the snowy weather. Wondrous moments are waiting along the wintery horizon. Get outside and start capturing the beauty that hides where you’d least expect it.

The post Snow Photography Tips to Capture the Beauty of Winter appeared first on The Motif Blog.

Light is the element by which we see the world, and every photograph we find humorous, inspiring, or meditative comes courtesy of this element. So it’s no wonder we find sunrise and sunset photos pleasing. These are the moments of the day that allow us to stop and just admire light’s unique influence on our world.

While it’s easy to enjoy a breathtaking sunrise or sunset photo, capturing one is another matter. The small window of opportunity, the conditions, adjusting camera settings, finding the right angle, there’s a lot to take in for first-time heliophiles. But we’ve got five tips that will help anyone improve their chances.

1. Take advantage of the golden and blue hours

The sun is like a finicky super model: you must wait for it to be ready for its close-up or you’ll get nothing to work with. If you want the most breathtaking sunrise or sunset photos, take your photos during the golden and blue hours.

The golden hour occurs roughly an hour after sunrise and before sunset—though, that hour is figurative as some last longer, others shorter. Basically, it’s the time of day when the sun hangs low over the horizon.

Because of the sun’s position relative to Earth, its light must travel through more atmosphere than during midday. This causes the blue in the light’s spectrum to scatter into the atmosphere, painting the sky in those magnificent molten gold colors.

Conversely, the blue hour denotes the time when the sun is just below the horizon. It occurs roughly a half hour before sunrise or after sunset.

The name comes from the impressive deep blues and purples that suffuse the sky at this time, which again is produced by how the sun’s angle causes its light to scatter through the atmosphere. If you want, the blue hour is also a terrific time to try your hand at moon photography.

One more piece of advice: The early morning sky tends to be cooler—that is, colors like blue and purple will be predominant—while the evening sun tends toward the warmer side with reds and oranges. And its mood can change dramatically depending on the season and where you live.

2. Utilize HDR

HDR stands for “high dynamic range.” This mode takes three pictures with each press of the shutter button but only churns out one image. That may sound incredibly unintuitive, but it makes sense once you understand what is going on inside your camera or phone.

Those three pictures are all taken at different exposures. These capture the distinctions between the scene’s lights and darks (what photographers call the “dynamic range”). The software then combines the three images together to create a single photo that displays vivid details, bright whites, and sharp shadows.

When it comes to sunset photos, it can be difficult to capture this dynamic range without HDR, especially if you’re using your iPhone. One image may have brilliant whites, but no details in shadows. The next will fill in those dark areas, but wash out the whites. With HDR, you get the best of both, and your software does the work for you.

HDR does have one bugbear, though: movement. Because the shutter is snapping three photos quickly, any movement could mean one image being misaligned with the other two. When the software combines them, the resulting photo may be askew. A tripod or very steady hand is recommended.

3. Watch out for lens flare

Lens flare happens when non-image light sneaks through the lens. It typically sneaks in at the corners as a series of conjoined circles, a glaring blind spot, or low-res polygons that look ripped from a ‘90s video game. It’s a distracting effect that may take center frame when you’re shooting sunsets or sunrises.

Since lens flare results from stray light hitting your lens, there’s only one solution: Get it out of there! You can use your hand to block the light. Adjust your angle. Change your position. Zoom in or out. And don’t forget to clean your lens to prevent dust or smudges from catching that unwanted light.

Can’t beat it? Join it! Incorporate lens flare with some artistic, well, flare. Or capture the shot anyway, and see if you can edit it out later. (More on those options below.)

4. Include other elements

The human eye is naturally captivated by the sun during the blue and golden hours, so your shutterbug senses will be drawn to that dazzling horizon. Take too many of these photos, however, and you may find your gallery is a little…samey.

To mix it up, turn your focus to foreground elements. Adding other components gives your photos a sense of scale, personality, and movement. There’s the long, knife-edge shadows of family members watching the sunset. The silhouettes of children playing in the park. Or beach rocks being pummeled by purple waves. When considering how to incorporate these elements, a good option is the rule of thirds.

Then experiment with angles to see if you can add starbursts to your photos. A starburst is when the light diffracts through the lens in a way that wreathes the sun in “pointy” starlight. Hence the name.

When incorporated intentionally, this type of lens flare can add dynamism to your foreground subject. Imagine a fall oak burning in the sunset. It’s nice, but now imagine that same image with a starburst peeking through the canopy. It adds a distinct, dreamy aura to the photo, changing how we view the relationship between the sun and the autumnal world.

5. Edit your images

You encountered a dynamic sunset, shot several pictures, and loved every moment of it. But then you got home, reviewed your images, and felt they were kind of drab. What happened?

Truth is, those amazing sunset photos you see online have another thing in common with our speculative super model: They’ve both been touched up in editing.

If you want breathtaking sunrise or sunset photos, you’ll need to find an editing software you’re comfortable so you can touch them up. Typically, you’ll want to up the saturation to reestablish those intense, vibrant colors. You’ll also want to play with the exposure to ensure your whites and blacks are properly balanced.

After that, it really depends on the photo and your style. Maybe you caught a winter blue hour, and want to incorporate that chilly feeling by upping the deep blues. But that sunset gold hour may be better served with a little golden warmth. Just be sure to make a copy of the original, so you can always go back and try something new.

A beaming gift

Of course, a lovely photo is only worth so much sitting on your hard drive. One of the best ways to share these photos is with a custom card.

The universal appeal of a beautiful sunrise or sunset photo makes it perfect for any occasion card. You can use a winter sunrise for a holiday card. A glorious sunset to invite everyone to a family summer bbq. Either one pairs well with graduation announcements, thank-you cards, and the unexpected but always welcome “just thinking of you.” With Motif, your sunrise and sunset photos will brighten anyone’s day.

The post Taking Sunrise and Sunset Photos: Photography Tips appeared first on The Motif Blog.