A peaceful early morning in Bryce Canyon National Park.
Waking up and hitting the trail as early as possible—and staying out after other visitors have called
it a night-will set you up for taking amazing pictures.
Generally the best light for outdoor photography is shortly after sunrise, or in the late afternoon right
before the sunsets. Plus, you'll avoid the crowd and improve your chance to photograph wildlife, which is
usually most active during these times.
Geysers are a must-shoot subject at Yellowstone National Park.
Shooting close up, and from above, like this shot of Lower Geyser Basin, offers a fresh take on the surroundings.
You'll want to capture all the famous landmarks. But you don't have to limit yourself to taking the same shots
that everyone else is taking.
Composition is what makes your photo personal. In addition to taking some standard postcard shots,
look for a unique way to capture more familiar sites.
Don't limit yourself to these familiar "must-photograph" sites. Look for your own unique
"signature" shots.
An unusual heart-shaped cactus provides focus and interest in this shot of Big Bend National Park.
Before you snap the picture, take a few moments to think about how you can improve and simplify the shot.
Can I move closer to my subject? (Fill the frame to give the photo more impact.)
A solo plant in Great White Sands National Park provides a focal point.
Does my photo have a clear subject and focal point?
Is there an unnecessary element in the background-something that is distracting from the subject of
the photo? Eliminate every element that does not add to the composition.
A sunny day is the ideal time for photographing the Grand Canyon National Park.
When you are "scouting" potential photo locations, think about the lighting and how you could photograph the
scene so that it best reflects the sense of place. Then plan to take certain pictures when the lighting is
optimal. For example:
Cloudy or overcast day? Sounds like the perfect weather for close-ups and moody, foggy photos of
the forest.
Sunny days are a great time to take photos that include a lot of sky.
The Sunset shooting mode accentuates the warm tones of a Mount Rainier National Park sunrise.
Most cameras (including HP's) include a host of special camera settings that are optimized to capture different
kind of shots. Several of these are ideal for shooting common national park features.
Use the landscape shooting mode so both the foreground and the background are in focus.
Sunset mode is ideal for adding drama to photos taken in the early evening or early dawn when the sun
is near the horizon.
Learn about the nearly 20 HP
camera shooting modes
and how they can improve your pictures.
Capture all the majesty of Crater Lake National Park with a panoramic photo.
A panorama is a series of photos digitally stitched together to form one wide photo. It's perfect for
capturing the splendor or a vista or mountain range or even the vertical plummet of a waterfall.
Several new HP digital cameras offer in-camera panorama stitching-a feature that fuses up to five single
shots together to create one seamless image-right in your camera. No software needed!
Learn more about
panoramic photography.
Half Dome in Yosemite National Park looks even grander next to human figures.
Including people in your landscapes can give your photos personality and help establish scale. Try shots with
your figures up close and great scenery in background. Or, capture figures in the distance for some drama.
Get tips for
taking better landscape pictures.
Use our
handy comparison chart
to find an HP digital camera with all the features you want including landscape shooting mode. Then
purchase your camera
at our online store.
Take a free online class
in digital photography! Explore the many features of your digital camera, find tips for cropping and editing your
images, and discover new ideas for sharing your photos in creative ways.
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