What could be more beautiful than mountains? Of course, only mountains. Big and small, covered with greenery or sparkling snow, mystical, wild, very different, but equally magnificent, bewitching and impregnable. Going on a hike, we always take a camera with us in order to capture this mountain beauty, or maybe make a portrait against their background. One way or another, shooting in the mountains will bring you a lot of joy, but at the same time, some difficulties that can be solved with the right approach to business and competent organization.
Principles of successful photography in the mountains
In addition to all the knowledge that you already have, about shooting landscapes, you also need to take into account certain specifics that are characteristic of the mountainous area, which we will now understand.
What photo equipment to choose
When shooting in the mountains, the most important thing you need to consider is the need for a long journey. So that in half an hour you do not get exhausted and do not feel tired, the equipment must be chosen taking into account the moment. The camera should not be large and bulky, but not a simple soap dish with a minimum set of functions. The camera should have all the features for high-quality shooting, but not hamper you in walking. For hiking in the mountains, you will probably need a tripod, which should also be light, but stable enough. Otherwise, after a couple of hours you will no longer think about the pictures from fatigue.
Principles of photography in the mountains
The lens must have excellent zoom, which will allow you to shoot at different distances. Using a wide-angle lens will help you get sharp shots in the foreground and background, while a long-focus lens will come in handy for shooting mountains at a distance. It is best to have several lenses with you that you can experiment with. Do not forget to take additional batteries with you to the camera, you will not have the slightest opportunity to recharge them in the mountains.
Lighting and proper exposure
As with photographing any other landscape, the best time to shoot will be morning or evening, but you need to know that the weather in the mountains is unpredictable and can change very quickly. Successful frames are obtained at dawn, when the light is softest and halftones are visible.
Principles of photography in the mountains
There is a very high contrast in the mountains, so in sunny weather, when there is snow in the frame and the blue sky, the exposure meter will overestimate the readings and the picture will turn out to be quite dark. You can measure the exposure correctly as follows:. First you need to find the brightest area and measure the exposure on it, then take a test shot. That is, to obtain optimal results, exposure should be done on an object that is not too bright and not too dim, that is, the average.
Features of shooting in the mountains
As a rule, a tripod is used for shooting in mountainous areas, especially in the evening when there is insufficient lighting. Photos of the mountains at sunset are real works of art, you just need to prepare for this time and be ready in advance, before the sunset. A tripod will help to avoid shaking, that is, blurring in the picture, which will make the frames clear and bright.
Principles of photography in the mountains
For shooting in the daytime with a tripod, it is recommended to set the aperture value from 8 to 11, and in cloudy weather, the aperture can be opened a little more. ISO photosensitivity is recommended for the minimum value in order to avoid any noise in the photo.
Always use the blend, because the straight rays of the sun will interfere with you when focusing. If the mountains are fog, then this is not a reason to be upset, but rather the opportunity to get unusual photos. With fog, remove only close objects and, accordingly, close -up.
