On a longer photo hike, you may need to change your lens more frequently. When you do, dust can very easily get onto your camera’s sensor, which then appears in photos as blurry, darker spots in bright areas of the image (e.g., the sky). Therefore, when changing lenses, make sure your camera sensor is exposed for as short a time as possible. Proceed as follows: First, remove the rear cap from the lens you want to attach. Then detach the lens currently mounted on the camera. While doing so, hold the camera so that the open bayonet mount faces downward. Attach the new lens immediately. Only then should you put the cap back on the lens you no longer need. Make sure to complete the process as quickly as possible and that there is as little dust in the air as possible—in other words, do not change the lens if dust has just been stirred up.
Pro tip:
If you want to check whether your sensor is dusty, proceed as follows: Set the camera to aperture priority mode (A). Select the highest possible f-number (= closed aperture, usually 16 or 22). Take a photo of a uniform, bright surface, such as the sky. View the resulting image on the camera’s display or, better yet, on your computer monitor. Zoom in as far as possible. Now move the view across the entire image. Pay particular attention to the corners of the image. If you find more or less distinct, darker spots there, the sensor is dirty. In this case, take your camera to a service center for professional sensor cleaning. Larger camera retailers offer this service.
Photo Tip:
As you walk the next few meters along the path, it’s worth looking back. Across the Weide on the right, you’ll see Hermannsteich again and the first houses of Oberkirchen. If possible, don’t just take a photo from the very first spot where you can see the pond. Take the time to find the best possible vantage point so that your photo contains as few distracting elements as possible.
Task:
Tree stumps are like miniature villages. Try finding a stump covered in mushrooms, moss, and lichen—one full of holes, notches, and cavities. Photograph it from an extremely low angle so that it towers over the camera like a mountain or a structure.
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