{"id":670,"date":"2015-09-11T09:43:44","date_gmt":"2015-09-11T08:43:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.aquasoft.net\/blog\/en\/?p=670"},"modified":"2015-09-11T10:16:37","modified_gmt":"2015-09-11T09:16:37","slug":"7-tips-for-photographing-the-american-west","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aquasoft.net\/blog\/en\/7-tips-for-photographing-the-american-west\/","title":{"rendered":"Capturing the Untamed: 7 Tips for Photographing the American West"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Eureka<\/a>

Ranch near Eureka, Nevada<\/p><\/div>\n

When one thinks of Western photography, Ansel Adams<\/a> immediately comes to mind.\u00a0 A Californian photographer famous for his majestic landscapes of America\u2019s national parks, Adams introduced the world to a rugged and wild West.\u00a0 But the Western United States has so much more to offer, than the curated beauty of national parks.\u00a0 Having lived, worked, and photographed in Europe, the Middle East, and West Africa– I am here to tell you: there is something special about photographing the American West.<\/p>\n

\"Yellowstone<\/a>

Yellowstone\u2019s Grand Canyon<\/p><\/div>\n

It\u2019s undeniable that the vast territory of the West boasts an incredible variety of landscapes, such as the red rock landscapes of Utah<\/a>, the massive redwood trees of California, the Grand Canyon<\/a> in Arizona, or the alien geysers and pools of Yellowstone<\/a>.\u00a0 These vistas offer any photographer the chance to capture unbelievable images.<\/p>\n

\"Grand<\/a>

Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming<\/p><\/div>\n

However, beyond these developed tourist destinations is the lifeblood of the American West: those that call it home.\u00a0 The West\u2019s human and animal residents put everything into perspective and demonstrate just how small we are and how untamed the region can be.\u00a0 And here is what makes photographing the West so different to me:\u00a0 it is unpredictable.\u00a0 When I pack my camera and walk out the door, I have no clue what I will find.\u00a0 Will the Northern Lights make a surprise appearance?\u00a0 Will the conditions be just right for a beautiful sunset?\u00a0 Will I cross paths with a wild animal?\u00a0 I never know, and that makes the journey all the more exciting.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how to make the most of photography in the West<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Double<\/a>

Double rainbow, Idaho<\/p><\/div>\n

    \n
  1. Always take your camera with you.\u00a0 I cannot express how many times I have missed a perfect shot because I didn\u2019t bring my camera.\u00a0 Whether it is a nesting desert turtle or an incredible sunset, the West has taught me that photography is a\u00a0lifestyle.\u00a0 If you miss the shot, however, don\u2019t worry.\u00a0 The photograph is never worth more than the memory.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \"Curious<\/a>

    A curious Idahoan ant<\/p><\/div>\n

      \n
    1. Invest in the proper equipment. On your Western trip, be sure to pack a telephoto lens if you want the best images, particularly of wildlife. Take a tripod with you if you want to capture the Milky Way and the stars at night.\u00a0 Consider a macro lens for all of the plants and insects you might come across.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

       <\/p>\n

      \"Sunset<\/a>

      Sunset over Idaho<\/p><\/div>\n

        \n
      1. Seize the (start of the) day!\u00a0 As most photographers are aware, the \u201cgolden hours\u201d after sunrise and before sunset offer the best light for capturing stunning images with dramatic shadows and color.\u00a0 However, this advice is doubly important in the West, as wildlife is most active in the early and evening hours.\u00a0Plus, if you want to hike off the beaten path, the cooler temperatures would be welcome!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

         <\/p>\n

        \"Rodeo<\/a>

        Rodeo in Rigby, Idaho<\/p><\/div>\n

          \n
        1. Be active.\u00a0 I want you to enjoy your time in the West, so I suggest you find activities that will make the most of your travels.\u00a0 Attend a rodeo.\u00a0 Try your hand at fishing or hunting, employing a professional guide when necessary.\u00a0 Explore the more unseen sites by taking an extensive hike.\u00a0 Camp under the stars.\u00a0 Book a white water rafting or horseback riding trip.\u00a0 Visit the national parks.\u00a0 Not only will these experiences make wonderful memories, they will offer you incredible opportunities to take some wonderful photos (double win!).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

           <\/p>\n

          \"Yellowstone<\/a>

          Yellowstone Bear World\u2019s Petting Zoo near Rexburg, Idaho<\/p><\/div>\n

            \n
          1. Make friendships. Westerners (particularly from rural areas) are friendly people who often consider themselves stewards of the land they call home. That means that they are proud of their homeland and love welcoming others to it.\u00a0 Strike up a conversation and be genuine.\u00a0 Who knows when friendships are made?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

             <\/p>\n

            \"Gooseberry<\/a>

            Gooseberry Mesa near Virgin, Utah<\/p><\/div>\n

              \n
            1. Be aware of your surroundings. This involves keeping the sun at your back when taking photos for the best light, but it also includes so much more. There is no telling what you will miss by not opening your eyes.\u00a0 Scan the horizon and the edges of the forests you cross, and you might reward yourself with spotting deer or antelope.\u00a0 Perspective is important, because having a human or animal subject in the photo can really demonstrate the size of the landscape.\u00a0 But most importantly, awareness will make you better prepared to spot the rattlesnake on your path or more aware of the cliffs around you.\u00a0 I wouldn\u2019t want to have anyone fall over the edge or be attacked by an animal trying to get that perfect selfie!\u00a0 Which leads me to my last piece of advice…<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

               <\/p>\n

              \"Wild<\/a>

              Wild black bear in Idaho<\/p><\/div>\n

                \n
              1. Be safe.\u00a0 There is nothing wrong with taking risks, but don\u2019t push it.\u00a0 Follow all guidelines from park rangers and local guides.\u00a0 Unfortunately, people are hurt or killed every year<\/a> by wandering from trails without proper precautions, not using the proper outdoor equipment, or treating wild animals as if they were anything but wild.\u00a0 I am not saying you should be paranoid, or that all wild animals are hungry for human flesh, but do take care (and do not try and\u00a0reproduce the above picture\u2014it was taken with all safety precautions and necessary protection!).\u00a0 After all, the West is untamed.\u00a0 Yet thanks to photography, we can capture a snapshot of that chaos.\u00a0 And it\u2019s beautiful!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                 <\/p>\n

                \"Bison<\/a>

                Bison in Yellowstone<\/p><\/div>\n

                * All photos are the property of the author<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                When one thinks of Western photography, Ansel Adams immediately comes to mind.\u00a0 A Californian photographer famous for his majestic landscapes of America\u2019s national parks, Adams introduced the world to a rugged and wild West.\u00a0 But the Western United States has so much more to offer, than the curated beauty of...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":671,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[92412,52],"tags":[94694,94693,94676,94695,94692],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aquasoft.net\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/670"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aquasoft.net\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aquasoft.net\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aquasoft.net\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/17"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aquasoft.net\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=670"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.aquasoft.net\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/670\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":693,"href":"https:\/\/www.aquasoft.net\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/670\/revisions\/693"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aquasoft.net\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/671"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aquasoft.net\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=670"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aquasoft.net\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=670"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aquasoft.net\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=670"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}