It doesn’t feel like we have had much of a summer here in the UK. Many people are hoping that the next few weeks will see an improvement in the weather, which will enable everyone to enjoy the outdoors on a more regular basis. Being outside when the sun is shining brings about plenty of photo opportunities whether it be photographing areas of beauty, nature or family events.
Taking a photo or two is a great way, of course, to preserve the memory of these happy moments. Printing and framing one or more of the photos is a great way to take your mind back to that happy place which can evoke positive emotions especially when doing so in bleaker periods such as during the winter months.
Tips for taking photographs during the summer
Probably the best time to take a photograph in the summer months is during what is known as “The Golden Hour”. The golden hour is just before sunrise or just before sunset. This is when you tend to see colours at their most vibrant. It is also when you have large shadows appear which can look extremely impressive in a photo.
Whereas the golden hour is potentially the best time to take a photo, a time to avoid taking photographs is around midday. This is due to the fact that the light is usually quite harsh at this time of the day. For those who would still like to take photos at this time, there is a workaround by using a diffuser or by finding somewhere which is in the shade and to take photographs there. A diffuser softens the light and helps to reduce the glare. They eliminate unattractive contrast and even out the tonality in the image.
By using panning techniques or fast shutter speeds you are able to capture movements in your photos. This could be your children running along the beach, the waves crashing as they reach the shore, a kite fluttering in the wind, a family member swimming in the sea or any other movement that takes the eye. Side-to-side panning is the most common technique, but you can also pan up and down, or even diagonally.
As we have seen this summer, the weather even at this time of the year can be unpredictable, therefore, it’s important to take this into consideration, not only to ensure that your photography equipment is protected should it rain but also to take advantage of the potential spectacular photos that can be taken when a storm is impending. This is when clouds can look at their most dramatic as the wind swirls them from one area to the next.
You can use some of your favourite summer props to really get into the spirit of summer. Items such as sunglasses, sun hats, ice creams, and sun loungers can be captured in the photo to help convey the summer vibe.
With the end of summer fast approaching, hopefully we will all have the chance to take plenty more photographs and to create a lot more happy memories before the colder seasons start.