- Outdoor photography tips from Krystle Wright
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From free-diving in Vanuatu to Alaskan peaks, Krystle Wright puts her kit to work in some of the world's harshest conditions. Here's her advice on taking great pictures outdoors while braving the coldest and wettest elements whether you are taking action or landscape photographs.
Stay warm! It's hard to focus if you are freezing. Dress correctly for the conditions, pack spare gloves and extra layers. Hand warmers come in handy to keep the fingers warm, as they'll cop the brunt of the cold holding your camera body.
Check your histogram! Shooting in snow is the most delicate situation for exposing correctly. The histogram will be your best instruction on how to expose correctly rather than relying on your LCD screen.
Canon cameras are tough in the wilderness, but even with consistent wet weather building, it's important to protect your gear.
But If you choose to use the cheap option of a plastic bag, be sure to attach it to your camera strap, or thread through the camera strap - so it doesn't get left behind. There's nothing worse than polluting the pristine landscape you're photographing.
In many landscapes, the attire athletes wear is a big detail. If you can, encourage athletes/friends to wear bright colours, that will pop against the background. If they were dark, dull colours, it's difficult to work with to make a great image - due to blending in.
My current camera is the EOS 1D X Mark II which I can use for both stills and film. My favourite go to lens is easily the 24mm f/1.4. The reason I choose this lens is that its a wide lens but not so wide that you lose the impact and dimensions of mountains. Plus, even though I love to get up close, the 24mm keeps a little distance so that I avoid the distortion that can happen when shooting super wide and up close.