Everyone enjoys going camping. Maybe not everyone, since some of us prefer our showers to the wide outdoors. However, camping remains one of the most popular family activities. If you belong to a camping family and have ever looked at all of your camping pictures and wondered why they all looked the same, stay reading for some tips and methods on taking unique camping images every time you hit the road with your tent (and your camera).
Here are a few tips from Christian Camps In Wisconsin for you to take the best memorable photos of your trips for you:
What you’ll need and how to take care of it
When photography your camping vacation, it’s a good idea to pack little (in terms of gear), mainly because you won’t want to be bragging about a large camera bag, particularly if you’re going to be doing more than simply hanging out at the campsite. If you’re camping near a lake or beach and plan to swim, Christian Camp WI suggests bringing a rugged or tough class camera. These cameras are waterproof and dirt resistant, so you can take them swimming and carry them about in the mud without worrying about sand or debris getting inside of them.
If you do bring a DSLR, bring one lens, so you don’t have to switch it out all the time. Dust, sand, ash, and smoke from the campfire abound outdoors (particularly at campgrounds), and you don’t want any of those to get into your camera. If you need to replace your lenses, it is also suggested by Christian Conference Center Wisconsin to do it inside the tent with the zipper shut. Because your tent is likely to be the dirtiest place on your vacation (unless you’re traveling with children), it’s good to perform all of your lens shifting there.
Making preparations
If you’re the man who handles all of the packing every time your family goes camping, then there is no need to tell you how much labor it is. When you’re filling up the vehicle with sleeping bags, mattress pads, and cooking supplies, the last thing on your mind is probably snapping photos, but the reality is that the packing process is just as important as putting up the tent. Snap a few minutes out of your hectic schedule to take a few pictures of the packing process. This may include a shot of the vehicle being weighed down by all those sleeping bags, duffel bags, and camping gear, or it could be a photo of the meal preparation (always an event in and of itself). It has been observed that photographing excited youngsters in the vehicle as it prepares to pull out of the driveway makes for a terrific touch to the preparation section of the picture series. Those enthusiastic youngsters may be a lot sleepier; attempt to photograph them nodding off in the rear seat, so Christian Retreat Centers WI says to be cautious.
Taking amazing photographs
The destination will be the primary difference between this year’s camping images and the previous year’s camping photographs. So keep in mind that your photographs should have some context. Obviously, it will be tough to do with those preparatory images, but you may add some detail to personalize even the travel to your campground. You could, for example, take a snapshot of your wife looking at a map of the location over her shoulder. You may also take a picture of the stack of brochures you got when you chose your location. You may shoot the GPS on your car’s dashboard while driving, or you can capture some of the country sides you pass through, as long as it’s in a different direction from your last journey.
When you arrive at your location, you may be tempted to take a snapshot of the campsite sign or the state park’s name, potentially with your family in the background. Those photographs are usually good for the album, but they’re not particularly innovative. Instead, Christian Retreat Center Wisconsin suggests attempting to get photographs that reflect the atmosphere of the campsite. Shooting through the woods towards the water, for example, may successfully portray a lakefront campsite. Include the tent or some family members in the picture to make it seem like a part of the camping trip.
Of course, you must have a photo of the tent being set up, and this is especially vital if the process is generally accompanied by impatience and things your spouse shouldn’t be saying in front of the kids. Try to capture the mood honestly, but don’t be so obnoxious that your tent-builder chooses to toss the stakes on the ground and storm off to the bathrooms, though that may make for a great photo.
Camping during golden hour is a terrific way to get golden hour photos since you’ll be in the great outdoors with some stunning scenery to go along with that soft, golden sunset light. Try catching some lens flare, whether it’s light beams bursting through the woods or the soft, low contrast veiling glare you get when backlighting your subject at twilight. Don’t miss out on this chance; I believe those golden hour images will be among your best from the trip.
Snapping photographs when camping may be just as much fun as camping itself, but don’t forget to engage in the enjoyment with your family rather than simply taking pictures. You want to remember the moment, but not at the cost of your own personal experience. WI Christian Retreat Centers want you to make sure you take a break from the camera and roast a marshmallow or test out that paddleboard. You want to be able to reflect back on those experiences, both in your thoughts and on those memory cards, at the conclusion of the journey.
