Capture the Spring Season 

When spring finally arrives following a long and dark winter it brings with it thousands of exciting subjects that you can capture with your camera. In the months of spring, all the colours of nature are presented to you as one fascinating palette, and the more photo trips you go on the more subjects you will discover. The grass changes to a a greener colour, the trees come into leaf, and flowers slowly emerge from the ground.  Spring is an inspiration to innumerable photographers around the world. 

As early as mid-February the days have become noticeably longer. At least they are in our corner for the world. Light has returned, and a new season of photography is at the door. If your camera has been inactive during winter now is the time to bring it out once again. On this page you will find many tips and much general advice on the best ways of capturing the spring season.  

Light has returned. 300mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 second, ISO 400, -0.7 EV.

 
Discover Details with Your Macro Lens

When you move around in nature armed with a camera you really need to pay attention. If you do not, walking right by a good subject is quite easy. The park, the forest, and the garden probably contain so many different subjects that seeing the big picture can be hard. Look up into the canopy of a tree, get down on your knees, snoop around in the forest floor or walk straight through shrubs instead of around them. Subjects can hide in the most inaccessible places.

        Focusing on details and trying to keep your photos as simple as possible can be a good idea. If you try getting everything into one photo it may easily appear confused.
  

                      Extremely simple. 200mm, f/4, 1/320 second, ISO 200

Many pocket cameras are equipped with a so-called macro mode which makes shooting close-ups possible. Forest canopies, beech leaves, tiny plants squirming their way out of the ground, and colourful insects leaving their winter hiding places are all good subjects. The only limit is your own imagination. If you own a dSLR you will get the best results by using a macro lens. Spring is the season for close-ups so throw yourself at this cornucopia of subjects.

Spring brings thousands of new subjects. 105mm, f/4, 1/250 second, ISO 400, - EV.

People and Moods
It is not only nature that comes alive in spring. Parks, forests, beaches, and lakes are also teeming with people. Spirits often soar to unknown heights on warm spring days when the sun is scorching down from a clear blue sky.
        Take your family on a picnic and shoot a photo series of your happy kids exploring a world of adventure. Or invite your grandparents on a picnic to the seaside and preserve for posterity the happy moments that are bound to arise during the day. There is no better time of year for taking photos of your entire family. Spring is synonymous with joie de vivre and cheerful smiles and this is why this season is particularly suited for letting your camera do some overtime.
 

In deep concentration by the seaside. 70-200mm (on a 200mm), f/2.8, 1/500 second, ISO 200
 
The Migratory Birds Are Coming

Many species of Danish breeding birds migrate to warmer climates in the autumn, and they are often joined by migratory birds from the far north. In spring, they all return looking for food and breeding places. Thousands of birds forage in Denmark for their long journey across the skies of Scandinavia, Europe, and Africa. Very few species of birds can manage this journey in one uninterrupted flight, this means that they have to take breaks in Denmark during their long journey between the continents.
        This gives people with an interest in photography a unique opportunity for getting very close to different species of birds without having to spend their last penny on airplane tickets. Remember to use fast shutter speeds, e.g. 1/500 of a second or less, if you are trying to capture birds in flight. If you want close-ups of birds there is no getting around the tele lens.
  

The grey goose is one of the many species of birds that visit Denmark in the spring.
300mm f/2.8, 1/320 second, ISO 200, - 0,3EV.
 
The largest migrations passing through Denmark take place in April and October.  If you are looking for migratory birds in spring it would be a good idea to visit the northern parts of Denmark where the land narrows to a point. There are many good locations for spotting migratory birds, but in particular the wetlands are a hotspot with regards to the sheer number of species. You will not only find migratory birds on dry land. The inner sounds and the sea surrounding Denmark are also important.
 
All Weather is Good Weather for Photography

In spring the weather is often very capricious. In the morning the fog is dense, before noon it rains, in the afternoon the sky is cloudless, and in the evening the hoarfrost bites. The day may begin with little wind and end with a storm blowing. These varied weather conditions make shooting many different types of photos quite easy.
 

                     70-200mm (on a 180mm), f/2.8, 1/250 second, ISO 200

 
If you want to take photos of flowers, doing it on a cloudy or foggy day will be a good idea because the diffuse (soft) light will bring the best results. If you want to have nature all to yourself, you should place your camera in a watertight bag and go for a walk in the driving rain where different and interesting subjects often hide. In general, you would do well to give some thought to the protection of your camera when you are outdoors in the spring: even the best weather may change in little time. 

D2X 12-24mm, f/8, 1/30 second, ISO 100

Try getting around a lot in many different kinds of weather. Go for a ride in your car, visit a forest that you are not really familiar with and start searching for exciting subjects. Drive to the seaside and notice how the spring sun changes the colours of the landscape during the course of the day. Enjoy the sight of fresh rainwater trickling down beech leaves that have just come into leaf. In spring, you never run out of good subjects.

All weather is good weather for photography 17-55mm 17-55mm (on a 20mm), f/8, 1/250 second, ISO 200

 
Never Forget the Joy of Photography

Taking photos should always be a pleasure rather than a bothersome duty. Your mood will be reflected by your photos. Enjoy the fragrance, the light, and the fresh air that you find in nature and let this mood inspire you to get perfect shoots.
 
You will find more photos in our gallery.
Follow this link to read more about spotting subjects.
Follow this link to read more about protecting your equipment.
 
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