Outdoor Photographer March 2022

Photographer: Mike Mezeul II Location: Vulcán de Fuego, Guatemala Equipment: Nikon D850, AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II Situation: Guatemala is a country filled with culture, sensational landscapes and 37 incredibly beautiful volcanoes, four of which are still active. Once you arrive in Guatemala City, three volcanoes are immediately within your view: the Agua Volcano, Pacaya Volcano and Fuego Volcano. Although all three are a feast for a photographer’s eyes, it’s the Fuego Volcano that has my heart. One of the most active volcanoes in the world and referred to by the locals as Volcán de Fuego, or “where the fire is,” Fuego can light up the night sky with its fiery explosions of lava. Although the volcano is visible from miles away, I prefer to get as close as safely possible. To…

Interpreting The Landscape How a background in art history informs and inspires my approach to landscape photography. By Erin Babnik Wild By Nature Melissa Groo’s recurring column on wildlife photography considers all of the elements for success, from equipment to techniques and good field ethics. Assignments Share your best shots in our weekly “Assignments” photo challenges. Submit images that fit the week’s theme—you may be our next Assignment winner. Tip Of The Week Available on our website—or delivered directly to your inbox—our “Tip of the Week” provides shooting and processing techniques to sharpen your photography skills. Sign up today. Connect With Us Get the latest news and be inspired by great photos from the Outdoor Photographer community. Newsletter Subscribe today for updates on the latest features, how-to articles and photography news. outdoorphotographer.com/newsletter…

For landscape photographers, there’s perhaps nothing more thrilling than witnessing an active volcano as explosive geological forces transform the terrain. Incredibly fascinating, a volcanic eruption is also a formidably dangerous event to witness, and the art of photographing volcanos requires extensive planning, situational awareness and nimble adaptivity in the field. Mike Mezeul II is among the most accomplished photographers of volcanos working today, and in his feature story, he shares a comprehensive overview of his process. “To witness and document the true power of nature, and to watch the newest Earth be created right in front of my lens,” he says, “is worth battling face-to-face some of the harshest conditions this world can present to you.” Mezeul covers everything you need to know to start thinking about your own volcanic…

Patricia Lake By Kristen Ryan “I witnessed this beautiful sunrise over Patricia Lake in Jasper, Alberta. As the sun hit the peaks, I was particularly awed by the mist along the horizon, the low clouds and the reflection of the mountains in the calm water. I chose to photograph this scene with a two-minute exposure to enhance the softness of the water, mist and hints of clouds that were floating across the scene. This morning was serenity at its best.” ➤ Nikon D810, AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm F2.8G ED at 36mm. Exposure: 120 sec., ƒ/22, ISO 100. See more of Kristen Ryan’s work at kristenryanphotography.com. Sunset Cove By Max Foster “This was taken at the famous McWay Falls on the Big Sur coast of California. The 80-foot-tall waterfall flows onto the sandy beach below and is surrounded by…

NEW NIKON STANDARD ZOOM PLUS 800MM DEVELOPMENT Nikon introduced a new standard zoom for its full-frame mirrorless Z cameras. The NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8 is an alternative to two existing zooms in the Nikon Z system, the NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S and the NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S, with a few key differentiations. From a size and weight perspective, the new NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8 falls between the two current lenses. At 1.2 pounds, it weighs about 30 percent less than the 24-70mm f/2.8 and just a bit more than the 24-70mm f/4. It’s much closer in size to the 24-70mm f/2.8. (The 24-70mm f/4 is very compact when fully retracted.) In terms of capability, the key difference with the new lens is that, unlike the 24-70mm f/2.8 and f/4 models, both…

Hitting a baseball perfectly, delivering the punchline of a hilarious joke and capturing a stunning travel photo have one thing in common. Timing. Timing can be both a matter of luck and planning. Showing up on time at a predetermined location gives me the best possible chance of getting a perfect shot. When I say on time, I mean well in advance of the time I expect good light or other ideal conditions. Patience has always been a challenge for me, especially when I was younger. It hasn’t become more manageable as I have gotten older, but I have been able to embrace the fact that perseverance pays off with practice. Travel photography has been an excellent teacher for learning the art of tenacity. Not only has it allowed me to become…