Most Interesting Places to Take Best Outdoor Photos

The National Park Foundation and Olympus Encourage Amateur Photographers to Experience and Photograph America's Beauty at our National Parks and Public Lands
With cool breezes, colorful foliage and fewer crowds, The National Park Foundation reminds Americans that autumn and winter are a wonderful time to visit one of our nation's national parks, historic sites, forests and public lands! To kick off the fall/winter travel season, the National Park Foundation is releasing its annual 'Top 10' list, a photography guide highlighting the very best fall photo experiences in America's national parks and public lands.
With Americans beginning to plan their fall/winter trips, the "2008 Top Ten Parks and Public Lands Photo Tips" outlines 10 unique photography experiences that you can only find in America's parks and public lands. This list was developed by experts from The National Park Foundation and Olympus to serve as a travel and how-to guide for shutterbugs to share the experience of visiting national parks and recreation areas.
"You don't need to be a professional photographer to capture the excitement and beauty of America's federal lands," said Vin Cipolla, President and CEO of the National Park Foundation. "Whether you want to scale a mountain peak or simply relax on the beach, we encourage Americans to grab a camera, get out and visit our nation's treasured public lands and share the experience with all Americans."
The "Top Ten Parks and Public Lands Photo Tips" range from capturing the rich history of Abraham Lincoln's Birthplace to bird watching in the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge Complex. These tips invite amateur photographers to examine some of the hidden gems within the nation's diverse parks and public lands system.
This year, the National Park Foundation and the National Park Service teamed up with Olympus for the official "Share the Experience" photo contest. Amateur photographers are encouraged to enter their favorite photos taken in America's national parks and public lands. Winners are eligible for a variety of prizes, including Olympus camera kits and exciting trips to America's public lands. The "Share the Experience" photo contest benefits America's Federal Recreational Lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Forest Service.
Inge Johnsson, 2007 Share the Experience Photo Contest Grand Prize winner said, "I've never won anything as big as this photo contest and I am proud to share my experience at 'Nankoweap Ruins' with all of America! My photo was taken on a 12-day rafting trip, an unforgettable once-in-a-lifetime journey through one of the most fascinating and inspiring places in the natural world."
TOP 10 PARKS AND PHOTO TIPS:
1. Autumn Sunrise
Acadia National Park, Maine
Famous for its foliage, Acadia National Park does not disappoint. Situated on the rugged coast of Maine, Acadia National Park contains more than 120 miles of historic hiking trails and is home to many plants and animals, and the tallest mountain on the U.S. Atlantic coast.
Each autumn, as the seasons change, the woodlands of Acadia transform into a diverse palate of color that defies the imagination. A scenic journey down the 27-mile Park Loop Road system offers outstanding views of the fall foliage, ocean shoreline and mountain silhouettes. It is no surprise that these picturesque settings are ones that park visitors want to capture with their camera.
OLYMPUS PHOTO TIP: When photographing landscapes, think about the horizon's position. The most interesting photos follow the "rule of thirds," which means always divide the subject into three sections. This can be done horizontally, vertically or diagonally. For a horizon, place it in the bottom third to capture the brilliant colors of a sunset sky, or place it in the top third to feature the park's breath-taking terrain.
2. Majestic Mountains
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Established in 1929, and home to one of the most recognizable mountain landscapes in the world, Grand Teton National Park is 45 miles in length from north to south, 26 miles maximum width. Grand Teton is famous for its spectacular mountain scenery and wildlife.
Take a River Float Trip down the Snake River and see where the beauty of the Columbia River System including: Pacific Creek, Buffalo Fork and Gros Ventre River.
Olympus PHOTO TIP: Use your images to tell a story. Take a wide-angle or panorama shot to establish the setting. (For a panorama, try shooting segments of the mountain rather than the whole mountain at once. Your camera or software may have the ability to stitch images into one impressive panorama.) Then, use your zoom to get close, providing details of a specific scene. This could include wildlife, people, an intricate rock formation or anything that tells the story of your adventure.
While it's easy to use a wide-angle lens, try shooting segments of the mountain rather than the whole mountain at once.
3. Historic Treasure
Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site
See where one of America's most famous Presidents was born. The Abraham Lincoln Birthplace Unit demonstrates his humble beginnings with a symbolic birth cabin enshrined within a neo-classic Memorial Building. The Boyhood Home Unit at Knob Creek Farm was home to Lincoln during his formative years. Events in Kentucky helped mold a young boy into the man who became the nation's sixteenth President.
OLYMPUS PHOTO TIP: One of the best ways to capture a landmark is to include people in it. It not only brings the photo to life, it brings life to the photo. Ask a friend to stand in Lincoln's boyhood doorway and take a step into history.
4. Sparkling Lake
Crater Lake, OR
There is no other place on earth that combines a deep, pure lake, so blue in color than Crater Lake. Surrounded by cliffs reaching almost two thousand feet high, with two picturesque islands and a violent volcanic past, Crater Lake is truly a place of immeasurable beauty, and an outstanding outdoor laboratory and classroom.
Located on the crest of the Cascade Mountain range in Southern Oregon, it lies inside a caldera, or volcanic basin, created when the 12,000 foot (3,660 meter) high Mount Mazama collapsed 7,700 years ago following a large eruption.
OLYMPUS PHOTO TIP: Scale and depth are key to show the expansiveness of our nation's lakes, vistas, mountains or craters. For scale, use something that's size is commonly known, such as a person, car or animal that provides perspective against a vast scene. Additionally, to demonstrate depth, place something close to and far away from the camera. For example, place a person on both sides of a lake or ravine to show it's true depth. The impact can be amazing!
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