Nature Photography How To

Sunrise photography presents several challenges, the first of which is getting up early enough to arrive on location before the sun peaks above the horizon. You also need to understand how to deal with rapidly changing light, key camera settings and  techniques, along with the proper gear to use for optimum results.

This tutorial from landscape photographer Jim Schubert explains all this and more by revealing how he captures spectacular early morning images every time. He discusses the importance of scouting a location in advance, how to employ neutral density (ND) filters to balance exposure, and the specific camera setting he recommends.

Thoughtful composition is also part of the equation, and Shubert discusses the power of strong foreground elements, leading lines, and the impact of including human subjects within the frame. And there's a link beneath the video for downloading his free cheat sheet that includes these valuable tips and more.

Schubert's behind-the-scenes video takes place at Battery Lane on Jamestown in Rhode Island during a beautiful sunrise with mostly clear skies. By scouting the spot earlier he was prepared to capture the perfect moment because he already determined his camera position and the attention-grabbing elements he wanted to include .

It's impossible to nail down camera settings in advance because there no way to predict the exact weather and lighting conditions until the day of your shoot. To that end Shubert explains the camera settings he employs for different situations.

Captivating sunset photos often require that you take a different approach to composition than what you do later in the day, and Schubert has some great suggestions for getting the job done, He provides real-world examples of including yourself or someone else in the shot to heighten interest.

As he says, this human touch creates a sense of connection by depicting subjects interacting with nature. And even though your preparation included choosing a primary vantage point, Shubert illustrates how moving around within this general area and experimenting with camera angles will often result in an unexpectedly great photo.

Be sure to download Shubert's helpful cheat sheet when the video concludes, then take a look at his popular YouTube channel where you'll more landscape shooting ideas and post-processing techniques.

We also suggest watching the tutorial we featured with another accomplished pro who demonstrates how to unlock the power of Exposure Bracketing to make landscape photographs with perfect tonal balance. This technique is particularly important when the dynamic range of a scene exceeds the capability of your camera.