After a harsh winter, spring is just around the corner again! Signs of new life will soon be cropping up everywhere, from sunny yellow daffodils and vibrant tulips to pretty pink and white blossoms. Last year I myself travelled to the Netherlands to capture the stunning tulip landscapes across the country and it didn’t disappoint! Like with any photography genre, there are unique challenges that come with spring photography. Here are some tips and tricks for making the most of this beautiful time of year. Submit your best spring shot in our photo contest and win a photo on Xpozer!
Be prepared for a perfect spring shoot
In a perfect world, you’d be heading out to photograph with clear skies and sunshine, but since spring weather can still be quite unpredictable, it’s best to be prepared. Bring protective clothing like a raincoat and a waterproof bag or cover to protect yourself and your gear before venturing out.
Wake up early
Light is without a doubt the most important element in a photograph. The softness and warmth of early morning light creates stunning images that can evoke great emotion, and you’ll want to use this to your advantage. Try scouting out a spot you’d like to capture a day in advance and make note of where the sun will rise to plan your shot accordingly. The next day, make your way back there and with a bit of weather luck you’ll have a beautiful sunrise as a backdrop for your photo!
Look for lines, patterns, or varying colors
Be sure to keep an eye out for lines or patterns that could make your photos more aesthetically pleasing. For instance, you might notice a perfect line of trees, a symmetrical row of tulips, or even interesting shapes and patterns created by branches and tree blossoms.
Spring proof camera equipment
You should make note of what kind of photos you’re trying to achieve and bring the relevant equipment for it. For close up shots for example, a macro lens is vital. A longer focal length zoom, such as a 70-200mm, will help you capture tulips further away in fields. This lens will also be more useful if the field doesn’t have public access and you need to stand on a track or path out of the field which does. A tripod that allows you to get close to the ground is also helpful when photographing flowers or even to achieve long exposures during sunrise or sunset.
Post processing
Once you’ve captured your spring photos, the next step is to edit them to bring out their full potential. Everyone has their own style so I encourage you to experiment in Lightroom/Photoshop and see what style you prefer. Don’t be afraid to crop or straighten your images to improve their visual impact by, for example, removing distracting elements or creating a tighter composition. Play around with selective adjustments. Use adjustment brushes or radial filters to adjust exposure, contrast, shadows, or other settings in specific areas. This can help you create a more balanced image and draw attention to the focal point. Don’t be afraid to get creative and add your own touch to it! Experiment with vignettes, gradients, or texture overlays to add a unique touch to your photos. Unleash your creativity.
Spring creativity ✨
When judging photos I like to pay attention to three factors that I believe make the photo what it is:
1. Composition
Composition is key! It draws the viewer’s eye to the subject and creates a sense of balance and harmony in the image. As mentioned, be on the lookout for lines, patterns, and shapes when framing your image.
2. Lighting
As already mentioned, lighting plays a key role in photography and can make all the difference. Good lighting can evoke a certain mood, highlight important details, and bring out the colors and textures in the image. Take advantage of the time of day when the sun is lower in the horizon such as sunrise and sunset to achieve a dreamy feel. Blue hour is also a beautiful time of day to experiment with lighting.
3. Emotion
As the saying goes, ‘a picture speaks a thousand words.’ The photo should have some kind of impact on the viewer. It should convey a certain mood or feeling. Look for unique moments and play around with lights and shadows while capturing spring landscapes to capture emotion in your image.
Enjoy shooting your prettiest spring photo! Can’t wait to see it 😊
Hey, I’m Sarmad Alghourani!
I’m a professional travel photographer based in northern Germany. Photography started out as a hobby for me. Back in 2019 I took my first landscape photography trip to Iceland and I was instantly hooked. I’ve never seen such unreal landscapes before and I wanted to capture all of it, as well as the emotions that come along with such places. Ever since then I’ve been obsessed with exploring and capturing photos of the beautiful places on our planet.
