THE OM SYSTEM GUIDE TO
Earth has boundless natural beauty. You just need to know where to look and how to capture it. Whether you’re getting started or you’ve been shooting for years, you’ll learn something new.
The best landscape photography doesn’t just capture natural beauty. It transports you. No one does this better than Peter Baumgarten. After all, he lives on an island in Ontario, Canada, surrounded by awe-inspiring scenery. Peter specializes in seeing and experiencing nature in ways most people miss. His landscape and wildlife photography has been published many times over, and he’s spent decades as a dedicated teacher leading photography lectures and workshops. Peter loves wilderness camping, canoeing and kayaking. Through it all, he’s never without his Olympus camera.
PETER BAUMGARTEN'S TIPS TO HELP YOU
Know your location before going. Research people’s images online. Check the weather and study satellite imagery of the area. The more you know, the more successful your shoot will be.
You could spend six hours in the morning observing how the light hits a location, then six hours at the end of the day. Use filters and exposure bracketing to control light and your image.
Take your time.
Patience isn’t just a virtue; it’s critical. Get to your location well before the good light, and wait around to see what the light does to your subject later in the day. It could look totally different.
Think Extreme.
While waiting for the ideal light, look around. Work your subjects angles. Move around and change perspective. Take photos from above your head, or shoot from a lower position to capture unusual shots.
Go RAW.
Shooting in RAW format provides the highest level of quality and gives you the most control of how your final image looks. Plus, it’s easier to recover shadows and highlights in post-production..
Rehearse your shot.
Arrive early and test. Try different ways to compose the scene, and take plenty of test shots before the good light comes. You’ll work more efficiently.
What you don’t include in the frame is as important as what’s seen in the frame. Eliminate anything distracting to a viewer’s eye.
Our mirrorless OM-D camera systems are up to half the size and weight of other flagship DSLR systems. For landscape photographers like Peter Baumgarten, this gives him more flexibility, more energy, and more shooting time in the field to get the perfect shot.
Bad weather can sneak up on you. But with E-M1 Series cameras, you’re ready. They’re splashproof, dustproof and freezeproof (down to 14°F/ -10°C). No protective gear necessary. Focus on nailing the best possible landscape shot instead of worrying about your camera.
No one wants to hike to a landscape photo location hauling heavy gear. Let Olympus lighten your load. Our lightweight mirrorless OM-D system delivers image quality that equals or exceeds DSLR systems. Get freedom of movement to shoot with more creativity.
M.Zuiko Digital ED 300mm F4.0 IS PRO + OM-D E-M1 Mark II VS Full Frame DSLR
Tripods are a drag to haul around. The E-M1 Series lets you leave it at home. Take sharp, spectacularly detailed 50MP images, and all you have to do is hold the camera. Handheld High Res Shot Mode works by automatically taking 16 shots and merging them into a single 50MP image. Perfect for anyone looking to travel light.
Create dreamy, moody landscapes without carrying ND Filters. The E-M1 Series previews slow shutter effects in the viewfinder before shooting. Live ND Mode eliminates swapping ND filters for each shooting scene or lens. Choose from 5 ND levels starting from 1EV to 5EV.
Focus stacking is an ideal feature for landscape photography when you’re using an ultra-wide angle lens or have a subject in both the foreground and background. With in-camera Focus Stacking, the camera automatically captures several shots with varying focal points and then merges them to form a single super-sharp image.
It helps to have pinpoint accurate autofocus for photographing landscapes. The OM-D E-M1 Series’ DUAL FAST AF features 121 points of Phase Detection plus Contrast Detection AF that blanket the image sensor. Each point is cross-type for superior detection of horizontal and vertical lines, delivering superior accuracy.
With Olympus’ in-camera image stabilization, you’ll capture crisp super-telephoto landscape shots - all handheld, no tripod needed. You’ll even get bright and clear low-light stills and smooth handheld 4K video. Our industry-leading system provides up to 7.5 shutter speed stops of compensation.
YOU DON'T NEED A LOT OF GEAR TO
Here’s a look at what’s in Peter Baumgarten's gear bag when he’s out on assignment.
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