SPECIAL
Words and Photography Lisa Michele Burns | OM SYSTEM Ambassador
Travel photography isn’t only about where you go, it’s also about
Seasonal shifts can transform a familiar landscape in just weeks, altering light, colour and mood in ways that shape every image you take. Planning with those changes in mind lets you match your trip to the atmosphere you most want to capture.
Many of the world’s best hikes, festivals and natural spectacles follow these cycles. Snow and winter are an obvious pairing, but the real creative magic often lies in the subtler transitions, shoulder-season light, sudden bursts of colour, or a brief temperature shift that brings mist to a valley, blooms to a field, or a thin layer of ice to a river.
Spend enough time returning to favourite places and you begin to see how a landscape breathes and changes. Your photographs become a thoughtful record of those shifting details rather than a single, fixed view.
From wildflower trails in Western Australia to the aurora sweeping across Lapland, there is no true off-season if you are willing to embrace the conditions and let them guide your lens.
New Growth and Fresh Tones
Spring is a season of movement and rejuvenation. Rivers run strong with meltwater in alpine regions, trails dry out after winter’s grip, and forests flip from skeletal to bursting with life. Photographers who rise early are rewarded with soft mist or fog as the cooler mornings linger and warmer days grow, meaning backlit blossoms and quiet hours before the sun climbs high.
Light is fast-changing, so work quickly and keep an eye on your histogram to avoid clipping highlights in reflective dew or petals. A wide aperture (around f/2.8–f/4) softens backgrounds for a dreamy feel, while stopping down to f/8 or f/11 keeps whole blossoms and branches sharp.
WHERE TO GO
North
The Outer Hebrides & Isle of Skye
Dramatic cliffs, sweeping beaches and moody skies come alive with spring light before the summer crowds and midges arrive, ideal for a road trip, camping by the coast, and photographing landscapes etched with history.
South
Namaqualand and the Cederberg Mountains, South Africa
From late August through September, the arid plains north of Cape Town erupt into colour as daisies and succulents blanket the landscape. Start in Cape Town to capture the dramatic Table Mountain backdrop before heading into the rugged Cederberg ranges, where sandstone cliffs, rock art sites, and remote valleys are framed by spring flowers. Alternatively, begin your trip in Namibia and venture on a road trip from the desert of Sossusvlei along the western coastline to the Cape of Good Hope.
CREATIVE APPROACH
Work low and wide to show sweeping carpets of new growth, then switch to a macro lens for details like dew on petals.
Overcast mornings give soft, even colour, while a quick burst of sun creates beautiful backlit edges on fresh leaves. Use a shutter speed between 1/5s and 1s to blur fast-flowing water while keeping detail crisp, and pair it with a low ISO (100–200) to preserve tonal depth.
Endless Light and Horizons
Summer extends the day and fuels adventure. Golden hours linger at both ends, but the light in between is fierce, creating sharp contrasts and restless skies. It’s an ideal time for late-afternoon hikes, camping under a sky that never fully darkens and wandering coastlines with plenty of time for swims to cool off.
In summer, light control becomes a craft. Underexpose by around two-thirds of a stop to preserve colour detail in bright skies and use spot metering to avoid losing cloud texture. Midday light can be harsh, so position your subject with the sun behind them and use natural reflectors like sand, water or white rock to bounce light back into shadow. For action or wildlife, a fast shutter (1/1000s or more) captures movement sharply, while 1/30s to 1/10s introduces motion blur for dynamic coastal scenes.
WHERE TO GO
North
Icelandic Highlands
Volcanic ridges, braided rivers and steaming vents glow under the midnight sun, with pastel skies that last all night. After your highlands adventure, drive along the southern coast to photograph puffins, glaciers and icebergs at 2 am, simply because the sun is still up, so why not!?
South
Southwest Tasmania Wilderness
Remote rivers, wombats and wild coastlines. Weather swings quickly from blue skies to rolling clouds, rewarding those who keep the camera ready. Tackle one of Tasmania’s multi-day hikes, or hit the southern seas to photograph the highest sea cliffs in Australia with seal colonies ready and waiting to be the stars of your shots.
CREATIVE APPROACH
Scout during the day and photograph in the long golden hours for balanced light, cooler conditions and fewer crowds.
Neutral density filters soften water and clouds even under bright skies, while a polariser reduces glare and intensifies coastal tones. For balanced exposure, keep your ISO low and aperture mid-range (around f/8) to maximise sharpness and dynamic range. If storms roll through, use burst mode with a fast shutter to capture dramatic light shifts between frames.
Colour and Calm
Autumn is a season of patience and timing. Days shorten, mornings sharpen and landscapes swap lush greens for rich tones of gold, amber and crimson. Mist settles in valleys, lakes mirror forests in their firey coats and every breath of wind can shift a scene completely.
This vibrant season is also about controlling colour balance and texture. Use cloudy or shade white balance to subtly warm tones and reveal richness in foliage. A polariser deepens colours, but rotate it carefully, too much can flatten the surface shine that gives leaves their life. Framing with paths or reflections adds structure to the chaos of falling leaves, and slightly underexposing at approximately -0.3 to -0.7 retains detail in warm tones without oversaturation.
WHERE TO GO
North
Canadian Rockies, Canada
Golden larch forests ring turquoise lakes while fresh snow dusts the peaks for natural contrast.
South
Patagonia, Chile & Argentina
Lenga and ñire forests ignite beneath granite spires, with calmer winds perfect for long exposures and reflections.
CREATIVE APPROACH
Autumn light is low and warm, perfect for texture and layers.
Use a telephoto to compress hillsides of changing leaves or isolate a single branch against a darker backdrop. When fog rolls in, switch to manual focus and bracket exposures to balance soft light and contrast. If reflections are strong, a half-stop underexposure helps preserve the mirror effect without losing shadow detail.
Minimalism and Mood
From a visual sense, winter simplifies everything.
Trees stand bare, lakes freeze over, and the lower light leads to shadows and moody conditions. It’s a time for minimalism and contrast with isolated subjects across snow-covered landscapes, layered horizons and textured details highlighted by the stark beauty of ice or snow. It’s also the season where extended darkness provides ample opportunities for aurora sightings with waves of green across the Arctic skies, or streaks of pinks and purples dancing across southern seas.
Snow often fools exposure meters, so apply +1 EV compensation to keep whites bright and true. When photographing aurora, start with ISO 1600–3200, f/2.8 and a 10-second exposure, adjusting as needed to retain definition in colour bands. In freezing conditions, manual focus just before infinity ensures sharp stars, while blue hour provides soft twilight hues that deepen contrast and mood.
The experience of photographing in chilly conditions is not only reflected in the images you bring home, but in the way it hits every one of your senses. Crisp air sharpens every sound as snow absorbs the rest, and the world slows to a hush. Standing in deep cold beneath a sky alive with colour or watching breath drift into the darkness carries a charge no other season can match, a quiet exhilaration that lingers long after the shutter closes.
WHERE TO GO
North
Lapland, Scandinavia
ep snow and silent forests broken only by reindeer trails and the green flash of the northern lights. Think wooden cabins, evenings by the fire, and cosy outings, layered up to document the chilly conditions and icy wonders.
South
South Island, New Zealand
Base yourself around Aoraki/Mount Cook, Wānaka or Queenstown for sweeping alpine views and easy access to high vantage points. Ski fields hum with mid-winter energy, yet just beyond the lifts you’ll find silent valleys, frozen tarns and trails where you can photograph untouched drifts of snow.
On clear nights, the dark sky reserves of Tekapo and Aoraki reveal the Milky Way and, with luck, the soft curtains of the Aurora Australis. For the ultimate landscape lovers' experience, book a scenic sunrise flight to photograph the snowy peaks from above as the soft morning light creeps across the scenery.
CREATIVE APPROACH
Overexpose slightly to keep snow bright and detailed, and consider experimenting with black and white to emphasise form and shadow.
For minimalist compositions, use negative space intentionally; footprints, a lone tree, or a winding trail can anchor the frame. A wide-angle lens helps balance scale between foreground detail and vast sky, while frozen surfaces make perfect reflective canvases for soft light and colour gradients.
PRO SETTINGS FOR THE SEASONS
Focus Bracketing for Depth and Detail
Use Focus Bracketing to keep both foreground flowers and distant landscapes sharp. Around 8 to 10 frames at f/5.6 to f/8 works well, with in-camera stacking on OM SYSTEM bodies delivering sharpness front to back. It’s ideal when shooting low among wildflowers or mossy forest floors, letting you blend detail without losing natural softness.
Long Exposures with Live ND
Activate Live ND to blur waves or waterfalls in bright daylight without physical filters. Start with ND16 to ND64, keep ISO 100 and aperture around f/8 to f/11, and preview the motion effect live before shooting. Experiment with handheld near the coast or on bright alpine trails, as the stabilisation on OM SYSTEM cameras keeps shots sharp even at slower speeds.
Colour and Texture Control
Use Natural or Vivid colour modes to enhance the warmth of autumn tones without oversaturating the scene. Handheld High-Res mode captures extra texture in leaves, bark and reflections, producing incredible fine detail when light filters through the canopy. Shoot backlit to reveal glowing colour, and after rain, seek reflections in puddles or streams to add dimension and contrast to your compositions.
Night Sky Precision
Use Starry Sky AF to lock focus on stars or aurora. ISO 1600 to 3200, f/2.8 and a 10 to 15 second exposure are a strong starting point for crisp skies without trails. For landscapes, combine it with the built-in Live Composite mode to record moving aurora or star trails without overexposing the foreground.
GEAR NOTES
Seasonal photography means facing everything from salty coastal spray to freezing alpine winds.
The right kit keeps you shooting when the weather shifts and helps you capture the subtle changes each season brings, without worrying about the elements.
Below are key items worth packing to stay ready for any landscape or light.
Lenses
A wide-angle lens captures sweeping landscapes and night skies, while a versatile zoom can be one of the best investments for travel photography, ideal for any subject from portraits to distant peaks. Add a macro lens for capturing seasonal details such as wildflowers, insects and frost crystals, and a telephoto lens to compress mountain layers or isolate wildlife without intrusion. Look for lenses with strong weather sealing for year-round shooting; OM SYSTEM’s M.Zuiko PRO range is renowned for handling heavy rain, sea spray and dust.
Filters
For those summer coastal scenes, a polariser cuts glare on water and brings out cloud contrast. Neutral density (ND) filters allow long exposures for silky waterfalls or moving clouds even in bright daylight. A graduated ND balances a bright sky against a darker foreground at sunrise or sunset. Both the ND and GND filters are now built into the OM-1 MKII, offering an accessory-free transition when shooting in the elements.
Essentials
Weather covers or dry bags protect gear from sudden rain or sea spray. Spare batteries are important because cold weather drains power quickly, and a headlamp keeps your hands free for pre-dawn starts or late finishes. Pack a microfibre cloth for misty mornings and a few silica gel packets to fight condensation in the humid summer months.
Experimenting with the elements
While summer is ideal for experimenting with underwater photography, compact cameras like the TG-7 by OM SYSTEM can be a versatile addition to your kit regardless of the season. Dip it into icy, glacial streams, over the side of your kayak, or use it while snorkelling to document the world beneath the surface, too.
A little tip
To avoid condensation on your lens, aim to pack your camera after use and keep it at a stable temperature.
For example, going from an air-conditioned room in summer to humid conditions outside, will instantly fog your lenses. The same with going from cold conditions into a heated room. Keeping your camera protected from the extremes for that transition will reduce the risk of condensation, and the easiest way to do that is to keep it tucked in your camera bag and to provide enough time between the change in temperature to adapt.
THINK YOU'VE GOT A WINNER?
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