Get Good Photos in the Great Outdoors

Follow these digital photography tips to make the most of what Mother Nature throws at you -- or fake it with Photoshop when you get home.

Shoot in the shade



When you shoot outdoors in daylight, you might have to contend with a dynamic range — the amount of light and darkness in a photo — that far exceeds what your camera can handle, which produces bright white highlights and deep black shadows in your images. Digital cameras exaggerate the difference between light and shadow, too: If a shadow is partly covering the subject in your photo, the distinction between light and shadow will be as stark as the line formed by the bright and dark portions of a half moon.

To combat the effect, look for alternating patterns of sun and shade. If you see them, recompose the shot to eliminate direct sunlight. If you're shooting at midday, indirect light — such as in the shade — makes for much better pictures. If you can, move your subject under a tree, beside a building, or anywhere you can get away from the harsh sunlight.

8 of 11
VIEW ALL THUMBNAILS

Best Deals on PCWorld

Networking, Wireless & VoIPView all »
NotebooksView all »
TabletsView all »
Mobile PhonesView all »
Printers & ScannersView all »

rhs_login_lockSign up to PC World Today for the latest news, reviews and galleries from PC World Australia.