Photos of Summer 

Summer brings long days with plenty of light and many good subjects for photography. On the beach, in the forest, in the countryside or in the city, wherever you go you find happy people. Nature is in full bloom and provides you with thousands of subjects for your photos. If you are planning on spending your holiday in distant lands exciting photos are coming your way. 

Time for Family Life
Summer, leisure time, and enjoying life go hand in hand. During the summer, we spend many more hours outdoors than we do in the long dark winter, and we have more energy and resources. Abundance of energy, playfulness and happiness are great things to use in your photos.

        Try capturing the kids in a funny situation, perhaps when they are not even aware that you are shooting.  Or shoot Dad standing in the sunset deeply focused on his fishing rod.  The purpose should be to document your loved ones in a situation where they are really at easy. Most summer photos radiate warmth, health, joy, and freedom.

        Working with some of the traditional subjects found in nature can also be a good idea. A field under a blue sky, a deep green beech forest, a flower or a spider’s web weighed down by dew early in the morning.

Frolicking at the beach. Nikon D2X 17-55mm, F8, 1/500 second, ISO 400.
 
Watch Out For the Sun

In mid-summer, light has a power very different from light in winter, spring or autumn. The sun is high in the sky, and you need to take care not to get too strong contrasts in your photos. Shadows will easily turn out all black, and light areas in your photos will have a tendency to turn out all white. Fortunately, you can avoid problems caused by too strong light, for instance, by shooting early in the day or late in the day when the sun is less powerful.

        If a subject presents itself in the middle of the day practising on getting your metering right is a good idea. Many camera models have settings that help you take better photos in strong light, and the more you practise metering light the better results you will get.  If shadows in your photos become very dominant you may consider solving the problem by using a flash. It is all about reading the camera manual thoroughly and getting some hands-on experience. Digital cameras have made photography much easier than ever before.
 

 
In the middle of the day the sunlight is really powerful. For this shot a flash unit was used in order to compensate for the hard light. D2H, 17-55mm, f/11, 1/250 second, SB-800 on a TTL.  

 
Holiday Photos

To many, summer holidays are a time for travelling. Whether your holiday destination is far away or close to home you will suddenly find yourself in a very different environment, an environment teeming with subjects. Remember to bring along your camera and remember to use it frequently. The palm trees above the white beach and similar subjects may seem as a matter of course when you are standing among them, they will however become a cherished memory when you go through your vacation photos in November.

Spend some time capturing good subjects during your vacation. It always pays off.
 
When you are travelling you will naturally want to shoot many photos of your family, but do not forget to take photos of local subjects as well. The world is awash with exciting subjects, take, for instance, the monks at the abbey, the busy old lady in the marketplace or the charming red fisherman's cottage by the sea. By shooting many different subjects you will make sure that you bring back the whole story of your vacation.
 
Equipment

If you are thinking about purchasing a new camera, a new lens or a better flash unit this is the time to act. Whether you stay at home or travel extensively abroad, summer will bring plenty of opportunities for photography. Besides, you will probably have more time to get acquainted with your new equipment during a vacation.
 
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