5 tips for making the most of clear skies...

After a disappointing start to the summer her in New Zealand, it was wonderful to finally have clear skies for capturing landscape photos.
So, in the last few weeks I'm managed to get out on some bush walks and captured some images of forests and waterfalls, but my passion is to photograph the sea and the sky: so, to be able to get out and photograph sunsets and Comet C/2024 G3 (which won't be visible again for another 100,000 years) is awesome!
If you want to know how to take photos like the ones below, I'm going to be running courses on landscape photography this year, click the link if you'd like to know more.
In advance of the courses, I thought I'd share some things that I wish I had known before venturing into landscape photography.
You don't need expensive equipment.
The first step is simply to get out of the house! Modern smartphones have amazing sensors and imaging capabilities, but they're useless if you never venture outside.
Secondhand gear can be a great place to start.
If you ARE planning to purchase equipment for landscape photography, there are excellent cameras and lenses available on websites like Photo & Video International.
Smaller sensors are sufficient.
My first camera had a "cropped" sensor, which is theoretically not as good as "full frame." In my view, you can achieve great results with a crop sensor without breaking the bank: a nearly new Sony A6400 with 16-50mm lens is under NZ$1000.
Spontaneity is good, but having a plan is also beneficial
Thinking about what you want to capture is a big advantage: apps like PhotoPills help you plan your sunset and sunrise shots and determine the position of the Milky Way core at any given time.
Be ready to improvise!
Joining a group of like-minded photographers not only provides inspiration (and accountability to get off the couch) but can also save the day: the other night, I realized I had forgotten my filters, and my mate came to the rescue!
Petone foreshore on fire Mana Island Sunset Comet...not easy to see :-)
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