How to Take Great Spring Photos
I was brought up in the New Forest and, for many years, returned with my camera in the hope of producing an image that would evoke those childhood memories of a springtime walk all the way to Lyndhurst. In early light, it was often the extreme subject brightness range that stole away the magic from my favourite forest glade, replacing precious and sacred shadow detail with black nothingness and, at the other end, turning some of the moist spring leaves into mirrors. It is the succulence of the first leaves to appear that are so wonderful.
Unless I see it well done, I am no fan of HDR and although this technique may be popular to overcome the vagaries of extreme contrast, the ratios are often misjudged resulting in shadows that are not subdued enough and appear to be lit from within (unusual for a shadow!) and highlights that no longer appear to be highlights. No matter how skilled the operator, image manipulation software is no match for getting it right in camera if one possibly can under often trying circumstances. In my New Forest scenario, if a passing and compliant, low- moisture density cloud, were to station itself in front of the sun for a fleeting moment then my glade would have become fairy-like with the sever contrast lessened for a brief moment.
Perhaps as with all landscape photography think of the perimeter of the viewfinder. Ponder for a moment on what I call the ‘brutal and aggressive crop’ We are so often preoccupied with the centre of the image and perhaps are guilty of neglecting the sides. After all no painter would pay scant attention to the edges of their painting and nor should we. Think about what these fierce vertical and horizontal edges will be slicing through and consider cropping sensitively.
There are those who may suggest that the camera intervenes and removes the individual from appreciating the wonders around us. I refute this utterly as it is surely the camera that acts as a conduit to draw us into the very heart of the human response to the world around us and offers us a wonderful device with which to become closer to things.
The more that one can invest of oneself into the entire image making process, the more rewarding an enriching the experience will be. Perhaps there could be a parallel awakening with our landscape photography to be in step with the spring. A new beginning possibly with a fresh new approach?
Look at blossom, one of the most glorious of springs offerings. There are some orchards in the west country and Kent of course which which would be well worth exploring and the owner would be delighted to help in return for an image perhaps?
In spring, there can never be a better time to become uplifted by life returning to the land and to be there with our camera, in readiness for it all, is hard to beat.
Biography
Charlie Waite was born in 1949 and worked in British Theatre and Television for the first ten years of his professional life. Throughout this period he became fascinated by theatrical lighting and design. Gradually the landscape and the way it can be revealed to us through light and shade stole him away from the acting profession.
Over the last twenty five years, he has lectured throughout the UK Europe and the US. He has held numerous one man exhibitions in London, including two shows in London’s National Theatre and three at the OXO gallery and held further solo shows in Tokyo, New York, Carmel and in Australia, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. He has published 27 books on the UK, France, Italy, Spain and Germany; all exclusively of his photography.
Charlie Waite is now firmly established as one of the most celebrated international landscape photographers. Aside from his own photography, he also enjoys introducing photography to others. Through his company, Light and Land the leading photographic tour company in Europe, Charlie Waite and his specialist photographic leaders, all at the very top in their field, run worldwide workshops and tours dedicated to bettering photography.
All images in this article © Charlie Waite
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