Let’s face it: With the advent of smartphones, nearly everyone on the planet has easy access to a camera and technology to capture beautiful outdoor photos. According to MarketSplash, an online publication focused on entrepreneurship, digital marketing, design, and e-commerce, people are making the most of this opportunity. Approximately 54,000 pictures are taken every second, 3.3 million pictures are taken every minute, and 1.7 trillion*, or approximately 1 billion pictures, are taken every year.

Outdoor photography can be done anywhere. I have a camera and can take pictures. Outside there’s natural light, endless colors, authentic, unparalleled scenery, urban or rural settings, four different seasons, wildlife and more. That’s why we thought now would be a good time to share some tips:

Let’s start with a traditional camera. Even if you’re a new photographer, a DSLR or mirrorless camera has many advantages over a fixed-lens point-and-shoot for outdoor photography.

DSLR camera types include full frame, APS-C, and Micro Four Thirds (no, that’s not a typo). The full-frame camera is the largest of the three, offers the best image quality, and is compatible with a variety of different features. APS-C cameras are great for beginners or those with some photography experience. Micro Four Thirds cameras are lighter and cheaper than full-frame models and can easily transition from shooting stills to 4K video.

One of the biggest advantages of DSLR cameras is their adaptability to a variety of lenses, meaning you can capture a variety of different looks, angles, compositions, and more.

Wide-angle lenses (14-24 mm) are ideal for horizontal-format images because they can capture wide-open environments, such as wide valleys. Telephoto lenses (70-200mm) are great for portrait-oriented images because you can get close-ups like deer by the stream. A 50mm lens is a good middle ground that still allows you to get high-quality images of distant or close objects, such as a bubbling stream.

If you plan on taking a lot of photos of faces, make sure your camera has eye autofocus. It automatically locks onto the eyes of the person (or pet) being shot and stays focused on them, even if they are about to move.

Desk with various camera equipment, laptop with wireless mouse and keyboard, and several Kingston SD and microSD cards.

Remember: when you’re shooting outdoors, sunlight is your friend. Use it. The golden hours of early morning and late evening often provide the best lighting for outdoor photography. The light is softer, more even, and warmer. Additionally, the sun behind you while shooting ensures good lighting of your subject. To avoid squinting, keep your subject away from the camera and away from looking directly into the sun. In situations where shadows interfere with your shot, a reflector is a simple and inexpensive way to direct more light towards your subject.

If you’re taking photos outdoors, be sure to make sure your camera’s memory card has enough capacity, or that you have multiple memory cards so you don’t run out of space. Additionally, when shooting outdoor action in continuous shooting mode, the memory card needs to be fast enough to keep up with the camera. Kingston’s Canvas series of flash memory cards are designed for use with digital cameras, smartphones, drones, dash cams and security cameras. With up to 1TB of capacity, there’s enough space to store days’ worth of footage (including RAW files), and it’s fast enough to keep up with your camera.