Keith Lusher is an award-winning Outdoor writer, owner of the Northshore Fishing Report, and Slidell Independent Newspaper Columnist / Radio Show Host at More Outdoors WWL.
We spent some time talking about his approach to writing and photography, which is aimed at helping everyone take better pictures for their content to share. You can see more of his action photography work at NFR by clicking here:
Click below for our chat and Podcast Episode # 21 with Outdoor Writer Keith Lusher.
And here are some tips to help you take better shots even with your phone. Though phones are (usually) very limited for distance or wide-angle work, they make a great starting tool that is always in your pocket! 😃
Quick tips for better pictures.
1. Make sure you take the time to frame up and level the shot with the intended background.
2. A wider angle is (usually) better since you can crop it in to remove items you do not desire from the picture later.
3. Check and tweak the settings for your phone's stock picture applications since the default settings can reduce the quality of those pictures when not intended. Other applications, like Adobe Lightroom for your phone, will give you a much more comprehensive range of settings to turn on. Some even have a level feature so you can see when it is the level before you take the shot. Don’t forget about turning your phone horizontally to grab more of the background!
4. The phone can work well for close-up shots but can fall off fast quality-wise when trying to get wider-angle shots or when zooming in on something in the distance. It is usually better to physically move closer or further away to re-frame the picture than try to use the electronic zoom features.
5. Low light conditions can make for beautiful shots, but you need to be able to support and steady the phone long enough to get them. Something as simple as a flat section of the seawall (look around) to set it to level and steady the camera (for those who do not have a tripod) will help keep those shots more focused while the shutter stays open longer to grab enough light.
6. After taking (iPhone) pictures, open them up and tap on the edit button. The auto enhancement wand can work wonders on their light balance, and most seem always to be a little too dark, which it usually corrects. It's easy enough to undo those adjustments if you do not like them. Now, if you would like to expand your editing skills and tool set, this free program called Paint.Net really does have some excellent features, and I use it all the time, as we discussed in the show.
7. When you are ready to up your photography game, you can really find some great deals on used camera equipment! Our friends at MPB.COM have a great site to find older tested gear that you do not have to spend a fortune on to get quality pictures! We recommend staying with camera equipment with a 16-megabyte or higher sensor (no matter the format) and remember; the lens is more important than the body. I recently picked up a great used body and lens combo for a few hundred dollars that will grab better shots than pretty much any phone could take simply due to the sensor and lens size.
8. YouTube is an excellent resource for learning about your camera or one you want to buy! Plenty of tips and reviews on them going back many years now, and you would be surprised what you can pick up there. A simple search on the Name and Model, like Nikon D5200, is all you need to type in the search bar.
9. Make sure you properly clean up your gear after getting exposed to the Marine Environment, and you can read and watch more about that critical preventive maintenance aspect by clicking here:
We have also received notes from friends and fans looking to use some of our photography for PC Wallpaper. We are honored that you enjoy them! We have set up various wallpapers to download, use, and enjoy on your PC. They can transform your workspace into a place you'd rather be, whether it's at home or in the office. And you can download free copies of them by clicking here:
As mentioned, do check out our causal and the newer Flats Nation Technical Wear that is ready to ship by clicking here:
In the meantime,
We invite you to take in a few Flats Nation Podcast Episodes to help "Scratch that Fishing Itch" when working or traveling and you cannot hitch up the Skiff and go, on these links:
Our newer Flats Nation YouTube Channel can be found by clicking here. Share our videos with family and friends if you find them entertaining and educational! We have some great guests in the works on a wide range of topics and product coverage soon.
So, do like, comment, and share Flats Nation with Family and Friends if you would 😎
Many Blessings!
Dave and the Team @ Flats Nation
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