YOUR BEST SHOT
Simple tips for Great Photos Make your park memories last with strong outdoor photography. Follow these tips from the managing editor of National Geographic Traveler magazine. LESSON ONE
Get Up Early
Early morning and late afternoon offer “magic hour” light—rich in tone and low-angled, casting soft shadows that give definition and depth to your subjects. Midday light, on the other hand, casts harsh shadows, flattening your subjects. So get up early to catch the best light. LESSON TWO
Tell a Story
Shoot more than just scenery. Also get action shots of your loved ones enjoying the park: hiking, biking, setting up tents, preparing a meal, spreading out a trail map on a rock. Take a variety of wide shots, closeups and portraits. Such pictures tell the story of your outing. LESSON THREE
Frame it
Paintings look better when framed and photo compositions often do, too. Use an element in the foreground—a rock outcrop, doorway, window, person, trees or branches—to lend depth to your picture. The frame can go along one, two, three or all four sides of a picture.
More to Explore: The Ultimate Field Guide to Travel Photography by Scott S. Stuckey (National Geographic Books, 2010) offers many additional photo tips from 15 professional photographers. $21.95; http://shop.nationalgeographic.com.