Frost on Mountain Ash Berries, Mount Rainier National Park, Washington

Grand landscapes are the cornerstone of most outdoor photography, but it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the big picture. Trying to capture all that beauty and present it in a single frame is often the biggest conundrum of outdoor photographers. When the light is dramatic it transfixes us and we want to get it all in, whether it’s a firey sunset that fills the sky or a hillside covered in golden autumn hues. The mantra is “go wide” and we reach for our faithful 24mm lens to preserve every bit of nature’s gift.

It’s human nature to want to take it all in, but the big picture is only one factor in conveying the emotion that is felt at the scene. The details which often lay at our feet and are so easily overlooked not only create a continuity in telling the story of a particular location, but can result in images that stand quite well on their own. And when the dramatic light is nowhere to be found as on dreary overcast days, this is the perfect time to focus on the small things.