6 Practical Tips for Capturing Stunning Outdoor Photography with Natural Light

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 19 June 2023 9 min read

Learning how to use natural lighting to capture stunning outdoor photography can be a game-changer for photographers of all levels. With these six practical tips, you'll be able to achieve eye-catching images that stand out from the crowd. Let's dive in!

1. Maximize the Golden Hour

The golden hour is a key element in capturing stunning outdoor photography using natural light. This magical time, when the sunlight is soft and warm, can make your images look truly amazing.

Golden Hour Basics

The golden hour occurs twice a day—shortly after sunrise and just before sunset. During these times, sunlight takes on a warm, golden hue that adds a beautiful glow to your images. Here are some tips to make the most of the golden hour:

Plan ahead: Know when the golden hour occurs in your location and be ready to shoot.
Be patient: The light can change quickly, so be prepared to wait for the perfect moment.
Use a tripod: As the light gets dimmer, a tripod will help you avoid camera shake and maintain sharpness.
Experiment with angles: Capture the golden light from different perspectives to create unique images.

Top Locations for Golden Hour Photography

Now that you know how to use natural lighting during the golden hour, let's explore some ideal locations for capturing stunning outdoor photography:

Beaches: The sun reflecting off the water creates a breathtaking scene, perfect for golden hour shots.
Forests: The warm light filtering through the trees creates an enchanting atmosphere.
Cityscapes: The golden light can add a dramatic touch to urban landscapes, highlighting architectural details.
Open fields: The vast expanse of an open field allows the golden light to spread across the scene, creating stunning contrasts.
Mountains: The sun setting behind mountain ranges can create a breathtaking silhouette effect.

Remember, the key to capturing stunning outdoor photography with natural light is to experiment and practice. So, grab your camera and head out during the golden hour to see the magic unfold!

2. Use the Right Gear

Using the appropriate gear is essential for capturing stunning outdoor photography with natural light. The right camera and lens combination can make all the difference in the world. Let's explore your options and how they can help you achieve the best results.

Camera Selection: DSLR vs Mirrorless

When it comes to choosing a camera for outdoor photography, you might be wondering whether to go for a DSLR or a mirrorless camera. Both options have their own set of advantages:

DSLR cameras offer a wide range of lenses and accessories, as well as excellent image quality and battery life.
Mirrorless cameras are generally lighter and more compact, making them easier to carry around. They also have advanced features like electronic viewfinders and faster autofocus systems.

Ultimately, the choice between DSLR and mirrorless comes down to personal preference and your specific photography needs. Either option can help you capture stunning outdoor photography with natural light, so choose the one that best suits your style and budget.

Lens Choices for Outdoor Photography

When it comes to lenses, there are a few types that work particularly well for outdoor photography using natural light:

Wide-angle lenses: These lenses allow you to capture expansive landscapes and emphasize the depth of a scene.
Telephoto lenses: Ideal for capturing distant subjects, such as wildlife or far-off mountain peaks, with great detail.
Prime lenses: With their fixed focal length and wide apertures, prime lenses are perfect for shooting in low light conditions and achieving a shallow depth of field.

Experimenting with different lenses can help you discover new perspectives and elevate your outdoor photography game. So, don't hesitate to try out various options and find the lens that best suits your style and vision.

3. Master the Rule of Thirds

One of the most effective ways to improve your outdoor photography using natural light is by mastering the rule of thirds. This simple yet powerful composition technique can help you create balanced and visually appealing images. Let's dive into the basics and learn how to apply it in your photography.

Rule of Thirds Basics

The rule of thirds involves dividing your frame into nine equal parts by using two equally spaced horizontal lines and two equally spaced vertical lines. The idea is to place the most important elements of your scene along these lines or at their intersections, which are also known as "power points." This helps create a sense of balance and harmony in your images.

Here are some tips to keep in mind when applying the rule of thirds:

Horizons: Align the horizon with one of the horizontal lines, rather than placing it in the center of the frame. This creates a more dynamic composition.
Subjects: Place your main subject along one of the vertical lines or at a power point to draw attention to it and create a sense of depth in the image.
Negative space: Use the empty areas within the grid to create a sense of balance and direct the viewer's eye through the image.

Applying the Rule of Thirds in Outdoor Photography

Now that you understand the basics of the rule of thirds, let's explore how to apply it in your outdoor photography using natural light:

Sunsets and sunrises: Position the sun at one of the power points and align the horizon with one of the horizontal lines to create a balanced and visually appealing image.
Landscapes: Use the rule of thirds to emphasize the foreground, middle ground, or background, depending on what you want to highlight in your scene.
Portraits: Place your subject's eyes along one of the horizontal lines or at a power point to establish a connection with the viewer and create a more engaging portrait.

By mastering the rule of thirds, you can learn how to use natural lighting to capture stunning outdoor photography that not only looks great but also tells a compelling story.

4. Play with Shadows

Shadows can add depth, contrast, and interest to your outdoor photography. When using natural light, you have the opportunity to experiment with shadows in various ways. Let's explore some creative ideas and techniques for using shadows to enhance your images.

Using Shadows Creatively

Shadows can be used to emphasize certain elements in your image, create a sense of depth, or even as a subject themselves. Here are a few ideas on how to use shadows creatively in your outdoor photography:

Emphasize shapes and patterns: Shadows can help you highlight the shapes and patterns in your scene, making your image more visually interesting.
Lead the viewer's eye: Use shadows as leading lines to direct the viewer's attention to the main subject or focal point of your image.
Create contrast: Play with the contrast between light and shadow to add drama and visual impact to your photos.
Experiment with silhouettes: Position your subject between the light source and your camera to create a striking silhouette effect.

Shadow Photography Techniques

Now that you have some ideas on how to use shadows creatively, let's look at some techniques to help you capture stunning outdoor photography with natural light:

Choose the right time of day: The position of the sun affects the length and direction of shadows. Early morning and late afternoon are ideal times to capture long, dramatic shadows.
Pay attention to the quality of light: Soft, diffused light produces softer shadows, while harsh, direct light creates stronger, more defined shadows. Each type of light can be used to achieve different effects in your images.
Experiment with different angles: Changing your shooting angle can dramatically alter the appearance of shadows in your image. Try shooting from various angles to find the most interesting and visually appealing perspective.

By playing with shadows and incorporating them into your compositions, you can learn how to use natural lighting to capture stunning outdoor photography that truly stands out.

5. Capture Movement

One of the most captivating aspects of outdoor photography is the ability to capture movement. Whether it's a flowing waterfall, a bustling city street, or a flock of birds taking flight, movement can add energy and dynamism to your images. Let's explore some techniques for capturing movement effectively using natural light.

Motion Blur Techniques

Motion blur is an artistic technique that can be used to convey a sense of movement in your images. Here are some tips on how to create motion blur using natural light:

Slow down your shutter speed: A slower shutter speed will allow more light to enter the camera, causing moving subjects to appear blurred. Remember to use a tripod to keep your camera steady and avoid camera shake.
Pan your camera: Panning involves moving your camera in the same direction as the moving subject. This technique can create a sense of speed and motion while keeping the subject in focus and the background blurred.
Experiment with long exposures: Long exposure photography involves using a slow shutter speed to capture moving elements over time. This can create stunning effects, such as smooth, silky water or streaks of light from moving cars.

Shutter Speed Settings for Capturing Movement

Choosing the right shutter speed is crucial for capturing movement effectively. Here are some general guidelines for shutter speed settings when capturing movement in outdoor photography:

Fast-moving subjects: For subjects like birds in flight or athletes in action, you'll need a fast shutter speed of at least 1/1000th of a second to freeze the motion.
Medium-paced subjects: For subjects like walking people or slowly moving vehicles, a shutter speed of around 1/125th to 1/250th of a second should work well.
Slow-moving subjects: For slower subjects like a leisurely bicycle ride or a gentle breeze through the trees, a shutter speed of 1/30th to 1/60th of a second can help create a sense of movement.

Experiment with different shutter speeds and motion blur techniques to discover how to use natural lighting to capture stunning outdoor photography that conveys the energy and dynamism of your subjects.

6. Experiment with White Balance

White balance is an essential aspect of photography that can significantly impact the appearance of your images. By experimenting with white balance settings, you can enhance the natural light in your outdoor photography and create different moods and atmospheres. Let's dive into the basics of white balance and how to adjust it for stunning outdoor photography using natural light.

White Balance Basics

White balance is the process of adjusting the colors in your image to ensure that whites appear neutral and accurate. Different light sources, such as sunlight, shade, or artificial light, can cast different color temperatures that affect the overall look of your photos. Here are the main white balance presets you'll find on your camera:

Auto White Balance (AWB): Your camera automatically adjusts the white balance based on the lighting conditions.
Daylight/Sunny: Designed for shooting in bright sunlight, this setting adds a slight warm tone to counteract the coolness of direct sunlight.
Cloudy: Adds warmth to your images, compensating for the cooler light on cloudy days.
Shade: This setting adds even more warmth to your photos to counteract the cool blue tones often found in shaded areas.
Tungsten/Incandescent: Designed for shooting indoors with tungsten or incandescent lighting, this setting adds a cool blue tone to counteract the warm, yellowish light.
Fluorescent: Compensates for the cool, greenish light of fluorescent bulbs by adding warmth to your images.

Adjusting White Balance for Natural Light Photography

When shooting outdoors with natural light, it's essential to choose the right white balance setting to match the lighting conditions. Here are some tips for adjusting your white balance to capture stunning outdoor photography:

Start with Auto White Balance (AWB): In most cases, AWB does a decent job of adjusting the white balance for you. However, don't be afraid to switch to a different preset if you feel the colors in your image are not accurate or pleasing.
Adjust for changing lighting conditions: As the sun moves through the sky, the color temperature of the light will change. Be prepared to adjust your white balance settings as needed to maintain accurate colors throughout the day.
Experiment with different presets: Don't be afraid to try different white balance presets to create unique and artistic effects. For example, using the "Shade" preset on a sunny day can add a warm, golden glow to your images.
Shoot in RAW format: If your camera allows it, shoot in RAW format, which gives you more flexibility to adjust the white balance during post-processing without degrading image quality.

By experimenting with different white balance settings and adjusting them to suit the lighting conditions, you'll learn how to use natural lighting to capture stunning outdoor photography that showcases the beauty of our world in accurate and artistic ways.

If you're interested in discovering the calming and therapeutic benefits of nature and photography, check out the workshop titled 'Using Nature and Photography as a Form of Meditation' by Louis Bever. This workshop will guide you through the process of using nature and photography to achieve a sense of peace, relaxation, and mindfulness, which can help improve your overall well-being.