Whether you're headed to Antarctica or any other cold location, these tips will help you create amazing images. We are excited to share the top ten polar photography tips by Joshua Holko, Joshua is a fully accredited associate member of the Australian Institute of Professional Photographers (AIPP) and was selected to appear in their 'Look for the Logo' television campaign highlighting some of Australia's best photographers. Nature and landscape photographs really require three things in my mind to be successful. Great Subject, Great Composition and Great Light. You really need all three to create an exceptional photograph.
Included below are my top ten in no particular order:
1. Patience. Be patient whenever possible: Wait for good light. Wait for the wildlife to be active.
2. Weather. Look for the edges of weather. The most dramatic light is often found at the edge of a rainstorm or snow storm. Avoid blue sky sunny days as they usually result in boring photographs.
3. Clothing. Be prepared and dress for bad weather. You need to be able to stay out in the snow storm if the light is incredible and keep making photographs. Having the right equipment for yourself is as important as having the right camera equipment.
4. Preparation. Give yourself a chance to get in tune with the landscape. Its almost impossible to turn up to a new area you have never visited and make outstanding photographs. It takes time to get in the rhythm of the landscape and really ‘see’ powerful images. Spend some time just looking before you start taking pictures.
5. Variety. Try different focal lengths and compositions. Don’t always go for the super wide angle because it looks more dramatic on the camera’s LCD.
6. Equipment. Use weather sealed cameras or use weather proof covers for your camera gear.
7. Vision. Think about what it is you are trying to say with your photography. Try and look past the cliche postcard. The strongest images are often the simplest and are those that leave the viewer wanting more or that evoke an emotional response in the viewer.
8. Knowledge. Know your camera gear intimately. It needs to be muscle memory to change settings on your camera. If you are fumbling with buttons and unsure of how to makes changes to your cameras setting your’e photography is going to suffer.
9. Composition. Remember that landscape and nature photography are more often about what we exclude from the frame rather than what we include. Consider simplifying the frame when you are composing the image. A photograph that leaves the viewer asking questions is far more interesting than just a pretty picture.
10. Leading Lines. Look for leading lines in the landscape. Photography is the reproduction of a 3-dimensional scene into a 2-dimensional image or print. Strong leading lines will help you convey a sense of depth and help bring the image to life. Also use slow shutter speeds for clouds and water to help create a sense of movement that can also help bring a photograph to life.
Living in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, Joshua studied with distinction at the Australian Photography Studies College and the Australian College of Journalism. He is a fully accredited associate member of the Australian Institute of Professional Photographers (AIPP) and was selected to appear in their 'Look for the Logo' television campaign highlighting some of Australia's best photographers. In 2011, he was appointed as Australia's first and only Moab Master Photographer and Printer by Moab and Legion Paper in the USA. In early 2012, I was designated as Australia's first and only 66° North Expert by the renowned Icelandic clothing company. He was also honored to be appointed as a member of the esteemed Coloratti by X-Rite and was subsequently interviewed for Nik Radio in late 2012. Early in 2013 he was honoured as the 2012 Outdoor Photographer of the Year in the 'Spirit of Adventure' category for my photograph of Mountain Climbers in Antarctica. In 2014 he won the Epson Victorian Professional Science, Nature and Environment Photographer of the Year, Creative Photographer of the Year, highest Scoring Print Award and overall title of Epson Victorian Professional Photographer of the Year. Visit Joshua's website!
Joshua's photography has also been exhibited at Montsalvat Art Gallery, purchased by City Councils, as well as private collectors around the world. His photography has won both Gold and Silver with Distinction awards at the prestigious Australian Professional Photography Awards (APPA) as well as winning other internationally acclaimed awards such as the World Extreme Environment People's Choice Award. His work has also been published in numerous magazines and journals, including B&W + Color, National Geographic, Canadian Geographic, F11 Magazine, The Australian Photography and Gallery Compendium, Wild, Australian Photography, Better Photography, Better Pictures and the highly respected Silvershotz Journal.
