Outdoor Photography How To

You don't have to be an experienced wildlife photographer with exotic gear to capture memorable photos of our feathered friends. Nor is it necessary to travel far from home, because there are numerous opportunities at local parks, a nearby nature reserve, or even in the comfort of your backyard.

Last week we brought you an enlightening tutorial from Hamed Photography that described the many benefits of shooting action photosin Shutter Priority mode with Auto ISO. Today he's following that up with this video demonstrating how combining Manual mode with Auto ISO provides full creative control over exposure without slowing you down.

The proper use of depth-of-field effects is an important component of all great outdoor photographs, and we often use camera settings and techniques that accentuate a main subject by limiting the zone of sharpness to soften backgrounds and deemphasize other areas within the frame.

Shooting environmental portraits in the middle of the day can be sort of a nightmare and often results in unflattering shadows, squinting subjects, and washed out details and skin tones. Today's five-minute tutorial from the Patrick's Boudoir Photography channel will help you use harsh midday light as a creative tool.

Macro photography offers a unique way to explore the small world around us—often while traveling no further than the backyard. So if you have a lonely close-up lens lurking in the back of a cabinet, and are unsure about the necessary techniques, look no further than the beginners guide below.

The Shutter Priority mode, often labeled "S" or "TV" on your exposure dial, provides you with full control over this key setting while the camera automatically adjusts aperture to arrive at accurate light. Today's video below from the Hamed Photography YouTube channel adds an interesting twist that makes this approach to exposure even more useful than you thought.

Some styles of photography cry out for specific types of lenses (although we're strong proponents of experimenting beyond common conventions). Wide focal lengths, for example, are the primary choice of landscape shooters, while very few experienced wildlife photographers would venture out in the field without a long telephoto of 400mm or more.