A photograph worthy of looking at is all about the subject that has been taken. This is whether it pleases the eye as something of beauty or simply intrigues. In either case, taking the photographs well and using the best equipment will undoubtedly improve the final image. It is, otherwise, easy to become distracted by the faults in a photograph when all we desire to do is admire its subject.
In this space, we will look to understand the best locations to capture our images to give us a head start in achieving an image that everyone will be pleased with. This includes the photographer, family or friends, or those looking to incorporate our image as part of a glossy magazine or calendar.
The World’s Best Landscapes
If you are struggling to come up with something for December when photographing for a calendar, then look no further than Elephant Island in Antarctica for a location. This ice-covered region became a refuge to famous polar explorer Ernest Shackleton and his crew in 1916. This snowy site is located in the South Shetland Islands of the Southern Ocean in Antarctica, so you will need to wrap up warm.
Perhaps, now, we ought to think of somewhere warmer to capture the rest of our landscapes for the calendar. How about the Grand Canyon in the USA? It spans 54 m across at its narrowest point and 28 km (18 miles) at its widest. So, there is plenty to photograph to come up with the most idyllic photograph of this famed landscape. The best time to go is considered to be either between March and May or between September and November. There is no doubt that layers of rock will create a very different image from your usual mountain range, whether that is covered in snow or not.
Astrophotography
The spot considered the most iconic in terms of astrophotography is located in Utah. It is known as Delicate Arch in the Arches National Park. As proof of this, as the sun sets you will not fail to see a group of photographers poised ready at its location, all hoping to capture their perfect image of the night sky. The downside to this location is its accessibility. It is a 45-minute hike from the closest car park. But then, if it was easy, everybody would be doing it. The photographer who makes the most effort will likely be the one that ends up with the best images and those that are saleable all around the world.
The equipment that you need for astrophotography will depend on whether or not you are looking to progress into deep-sky photography. This is where objects beyond our Solar System are captured. This would involve tracked astrophotography where the motion of the sky is tracked so that long exposure times can be achieved to capture the pin-sharp images of the stars. To simply photograph the night sky as we see it, then considerations will be that you ought to have invested in a wide-angle lens and a sturdy tripod.
The Best Indoor Options
The beauty of taking images indoors is that we can be anywhere in the world capturing them. Wherever we are, we can create the kinds of backdrops that suit our photography needs.
To defect the light, it is useful to invest in a photography umbrella. These are easy to use and portable to move between indoor locations or different studios. Also, they are reasonably cheap to purchase to achieve a professional result. If you are photographing a product for a catalog, for instance, this type of accessory will produce a pleasant and soft glow. The lighting is broad and so mimics natural lighting well for many situations.
It is good to be able to take indoor shots as part of a portfolio because they do not rely on what the weather is doing outside. It is never going to be the factor that spoils your shot. That is as long as your human model has not got drenched on his or her way to the location, or your domestic pet has ended up covered in mud. Both scenarios would just delay the shoot because of the extra preparation time that would then be required.
So, it should be possible to obtain images professional enough to launch or extend a career in photography when we think sufficiently about location. It is all-important that we seek out landscapes the world over to get our work noticed. Everyone wants to see an image of somewhere they have not been in person. It can be a great life as a photographer visiting these idyllic locations to capture the best images to sell. If you have a passion for the night sky, then astrophotography is a branch of photography that allows you to capture intriguing images of the stars and beyond. Utah tops the list of the best astrophotography locations. When indoors, we still need to give our location thought, in the way that we lighten it and make it into the location that fits the message of the image that we are attempting to capture.