"We love your books! We pick them up each visit. They are all so beautiful and well done. They are the best guide books of any place we visit. We especially love the Menu Guide" Charles from Michigan
Photography
Towering sandstone spires, massive natural arches, breathtaking canyons and alpine splendor compete for your attention and will quickly fill camera memory cards.
Creating memorable photos in Moab is almost as easy as pointing your camera in any direction and pressing the shutter button. Use the following tips and you’re sure to return home with photos that will fill your family and friends with envy.
The single best way to improve your photos is to shoot at sunrise and sunset. The light is richer and the long shadows cast by a lower sun reveal details in the landscape not evident in midday light.
Bad weather doesn’t equal bad photography. Some of the best landscape photographs are taken as a storm approaches or breaks up. Ominous clouds in the sky add interest, and potholes in sandstone filled with rainwater catch ephemeral reflections. Be safe, though; don’t enter slot canyons when thunderstorms are imminent, and return to your car when lightning is present.
Equally important, take your time composing a dynamic scene. Include a foreground, mid-ground and background to give your photo depth. Don’t place your primary subject dead center in the frame. Use the “rule of thirds:” imagine lines drawn on your image that divide it into thirds horizontally and vertically. Place your main subject at the intersection of these lines to create a more pleasing composition. Try different perspectives instead of shooting everything from standing height. Get down low or seek a higher vantage point.
Colorful flowers, gnarled juniper trees and striated sandstone make wonderful subjects that nicely compliment your grand landscape photographs.
Any pro landscape photographer will tell you their single most important piece of gear is the tripod. Without it, you can’t expect sharp photos in low light at sunrise and sunset. Even a small inexpensive tripod like the Gorillapod will hold your camera steadier than you can. Remember to use the camera’s self-timer to release the shutter.
Don’t discount the power of a point-and-shoot camera. You don’t need expensive cameras and lenses to create stunning photos. Use the tips above and you’ll return home from your vacation with dozens of images to brag about!
For private or group workshops, or to purchase prints, visit Bret Edge Photography (435) 259-5855, www.bretedge.com. Bret has a new gallery open on Main Street.
Windgate Adventures leads photo excursions, (435) 260-9802, www.windgateadventures.com.
