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Check Out Our New Gear Page

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Recommended Gear
One of the most common questions I get by email is about what camera gear I use and would recommend. So, I thought it was time to create a “recommended gear” page here on PN.

You can check it out at: https://photonaturalist.com/recommended-gear/

You’ll notice that I only listed a few products, and that I’ve only listed Canon gear. I decided to only include stuff that I’ve personally used and would recommend to a friend. I believe ANY camera or lens is capable of creating remarkable images, but Canon is just what I happen to use. [Read more…] about Check Out Our New Gear Page

How to Keep Your Camera Ready For Action

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Photo by Steve Berardi
It’s probably happened to you before: you’re hiking down this trail, and all of a sudden you notice a bird or any kind of wildlife that doesn’t seem to mind your presence. You’re presented with a perfect photo opportunity, but then you remember, “Oh wait, my camera is tucked all the way into my backpack! And, worse: I think my wide-angle lens is on there!”

By the time you get out your camera, put on a longer lens and find the right exposure, that bird or dragonfly is probably in another zip code.

That’s why it’s a good idea to always keep your camera ready for action as you’re hiking down a trail. Always keep it by your side and ready to photograph a distant subject that may only be there for a second or two. Here are a few tips for making your camera ready to go: [Read more…] about How to Keep Your Camera Ready For Action

The OTHER Reason To Use a Tripod

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tripod_equipment3You hear it all the time: if you want sharp photos, you gotta use a tripod whenever possible.

Well, if that isn’t reason enough for you, here’s another benefit of using a tripod: it forces you to think more carefully about your composition.

When you handhold your camera, there’s a tendency to snap away photos as soon as you spot your subject. Then, after you got a few shots, you’ll just move on.

But, add a tripod to the equation, and all of a sudden you’ll be carefully adjusting those knobs until the camera is exactly where you want it. Sometimes this will take a considerable amount of time, but during this extra time there’s a good chance you’ll notice something new about your subject that will take your composition into a whole new direction. [Read more…] about The OTHER Reason To Use a Tripod

What To Do When You Can’t Bring a Tripod

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notripodYeah, yeah, I know–you should always use a tripod. But, unfortunately this isn’t always possible. Sometimes you need to travel light, and leave your tripod behind. Or, other times you may be going to a place where they don’t even allow tripods.

So, what do you do without a tripod? How can you possibly get sharp photos without one?

Well, one thing you can do is improvise with the objects around you. The tripod is meant to stabilize your camera and prevent it from shaking, so anything you can rest the camera on will also work (just not as well). Try looking for large rocks, or tree branches, or anything else you can rest your camera on while shooting the photo. [Read more…] about What To Do When You Can’t Bring a Tripod

How To Make the Jump To Manual Mode

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At first, manual mode can seem a little intimidating. Finding the right exposure just doesn’t seem as simple as finding the right f-number, does it? That’s probably why most photographers start with Aperture Priority mode before jumping to full manual.

But, shooting in manual will put you in complete control of the image making process. And luckily, there’s an easy way to make the jump to manual mode, while still treating it somewhat like aperture priority mode. Here’s how: [Read more…] about How To Make the Jump To Manual Mode

The Benefits of a Good Tripod

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When you first start shopping for a tripod, you might be a little shocked by the price range: there’s some for $20 and then there’s others for hundreds of dollars.

So, what’s the deal with that huge price range? How could something so simple cost so much? Three metal legs for $500?

I’ll admit that when I first got a digital SLR, I went ahead and got one of those generic $20 tripods. I tried to use that thing once, and after watching my camera slowly slide down after I kept locking it in, I decided to invest in a good tripod.

The good part is that you don’t necessarily need to spend $500 on a tripod. There are some very good ones for about $150, and they’re monumentally better than those generic tripods.

Here are two of the biggest benefits you’ll experience with a “good” tripod: [Read more…] about The Benefits of a Good Tripod