Washington Wild Photo Contest & Tips from Art!

It’s officially summer, the perfect time to enjoy the outdoors and beautiful public lands that  make my home state of Washington such a remarkable place to live, work, and play.

As the Honorary Chair for an environment nonprofit working to protect wild places here in Washington State, I am delighted to give local photographers tips and info for Washington Wild’s summer photo contest.

Here are some photography tips in support of a wild & green Washington!

First – as the saying goes, the best camera is the one you have with you! Take your camera out while hiking, climbing, and exploring – to capture the beauty of Washington’s stunning landscapes. Here are a few of my favorite tips to keep in mind when shooting outside:

• Learn about the place you are visiting, but don’t be wedded to preconceived notions of what to photograph.
• “Think small”, because even in the worst conditions you can still photograph a macro.
• Try a tripod even though it adds bulk. It forces you to slow down and be more critical about your subject. It also allows for longer exposures.
• Don’t be discouraged by bad weather. Overcast days make for richer colors, and fog and weather can add depth to the atmosphere and create unique opportunities to capture that rare once in a lifetime image!
• Take a lot of photos, especially while photographing animals. You can cull similar or unsuccessful shots later, but you don’t want to leave any successful ones in the field!

Ready to go?! Snap away and send your best shots of Washington’s public lands and wild places to Washington Wild by August 7th!

For more information, check out Washington Wild’s photo contest rules & details.

Also, follow Washington Wild on facebook, twitter, and instagram to support their great work!