Digital & 35mm Summer Photography Tips

In many regions, summer provides many more opportunities for photography. More time is spent outside, and activities like boating and hiking become possible. Some possible photo subjects are uncovered by ice and snow, while plant and animal life generally becomes more active. There are also fewer mechanical concerns regarding photography, such as lens fogging or minimum camera operating temperatures.

PHOTOGRAPHY SUBJECTS

Some possible summer photo subjects which may not be available during other seasons (depending upon the area you live in) include thunderstorms, fireworks, parades, lakes, beaches, boats, deciduous trees, flowers, insects, migratory birds, hot air balloons, summer sports, and antique car shows.

PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS

BOATING: When using a kayak, canoe, or other boat in the summer, there are often great opportunities to photograph scenery, birds, and other animals. A boat will usually move across the water at least slightly (even when the paddles and/or motor are not in use), so remember to use a fast shutter speed (such as 1/125th of a second) so that the photo will not become blurred, especially when photographing from the side of the boat. Keep in mind that laws in your area may prohibit approaching some types of animals too closely. For example, maineaudubon.org indicates that in Maine "watercraft operators cannot pursue or harass wildlife." Instead of trying to approach animals at close range, the use of a camera with a zoom lens (such lenses are built into zoom cameras and available as an add-on for SLR and some point & shoot camera models) or a binocular-camera is more likely to be successful. If you are using a digital camera, remember that most of them have a delay between when the shutter button is pressed and when the photo is taken, so be sure not to hesitate before photographing animals which may quickly disappear into the water.