Whitewater Rafting Photo Tips from the Pros, Part III

Save $250 on OARS 2009 Photography Expeditions

Book by March 31, 2009, and save $250 on any OARS 2009 whitewater rafting/photography trips.  You don’t need to be a photographer – or even have much interest in photography – to enjoy these trips.  (All include exciting whitewater rafting, camping under a stellar night sky, hiking, lazing around camp, abundant food and drink…)  However – All O.A.R.S. photography trips are appropriate for novices, budding amateurs and professionals. These adventures provide a supportive and educational environment to practice and improve photography skills. We put you in some of the West’s most scenic locations with access to some of the country’s most successful, creative and cutting-edge photographers so that you may unleash your creative potential. The emphasis on all trips is primarily landscape photography, and you will certainly be able to relax and savor your beautiful surroundings.

    Colorado River through Cataract Canyon
    6 Days, May 3rd
    Featured photographer: Justin Bailie

    Yosemite & Tuolumne Hiker: Peaks, Creeks and Waterfalls
    6 Days, May 19th -
    Featured photographer: James Kaiser

    Main Salmon River
    6 Days, June 14th
    Featured photographer: John Blaustein

    Yellowstone & Grand Teton Explorer
    6 Days, June 21st
    Featured photographer: Rick Sheremeta

O.A.R.S. – What’s so nice about this photo of the flower is that it’s so simple and soft.  There are no distracting branches or other things in the background.  How do you do that?

JOHN BLAUSTEIN:  One great way to isolate a subject is to use a very narrow depth of field.  In other words, limit what is in focus to a very narrow range.  You do this by combining the use of a normal or telephoto lens (not wide angle) with a very wide aperture (small f-number like f/4).  Your subject will be in sharp focus while the foreground and background will be out of focus and sharp.

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor