Nature imposes its rules and dictates the conditions with which the photographer must deal. Over the years, my work as a landscape photographer has led me to immortalize many moments in the midst of nature, particularly in the mountains. Today, I'm going to tell you about the new OM SYSTEM OM-5 which, hanging around my neck, has accompanied me during my hikes in the forest and on the very exposed ridges of the Vosges summits. I have been a landscape photographer for almost 10 years. Living in Alsace, I am lucky enough to live near the Vosges. A fantastic playground for any photographer who loves the great outdoors.
As a landscape photographer, the size and especially the weight of the equipment plays a major role. On long mountain hikes, every gram counts. You can't afford to carry only photographic equipment. The camera and lenses share space with food, a change of clothes and everything else you need to ensure your safety. So I recently had the opportunity to try the new OM-5 on a hike, with several lenses, which I will now present to you in more detail.
F/2.8 | 1/400s | ISO 200
Landscape Photography and the Importance of Weight
During my travels and numerous mountain hikes, I have become aware of the importance of the weight of the photographic equipment we carry. Equipment that is too heavy can very quickly become a constraint, which will make the experience unpleasant. The OM-5, with its light weight, solid construction and topicalization, is the ideal companion for the photographer in me.
The question then arises of the lenses. Which lenses should you choose to be able to take the best pictures? Once again, weight, size and topicalization are important elements to consider before leaving. So I tested three lenses that correspond to my use and criteria: the 8-25mm F/4 Pro, the 40-150mm F/4 Pro and the 12-45mm F/4 Pro.
F/4 | 1/40s | ISO 200
My Lens of Choice: The 8-25mm F.4 Pro
Landscape photography and wide angle photography are closely related. Some lenses, such as the 7-14mm F/2.8 Pro, offer a very large aperture and are very effective for photographing the starry sky. Although I am very attached to this lens, which I have used many times and which always had a place in my bag, I was seduced by the 8-25 mm F/4 Pro. The lens benefits from a reduced size, a fixed aperture which corresponds to my daily practice and a light weight which is very practical when you like to travel light.
Wide angle photography requires careful attention to composition. Your main subject can quickly get lost in your image. So be careful with your composition and pay attention to your foreground. The foreground will add depth to your image and make it easier to read.
F/5.6 | 1/13s | ISO 400
In a landscape photo, it can be interesting to place natural elements such as plants or a rock in the foreground. Allow yourself time to explore. Take the time to become familiar with the place you are in. Look for a foreground, pay attention to the guidelines and consider varying your compositions, either by standing or by lowering yourself to ground level.
F/5.6 | 1/13s | ISO 400
Dare To Go Telephoto: The 40-150mm F/4 Pro
The 40-150mm F/4 has quickly become an indispensable part of my photography. In general, when we talk about landscape photography, we don't immediately think of longer focal lengths because they seem to be linked to wildlife photography. However, the 40-150 mm F/4 Pro telephoto lens allows me to simplify the image, to give it another dimension and to focus on details of the landscape.
With its very light weight, it is made for landscape photography. Its topicalization as well as its constant aperture at F/4 allow me to cover all my needs.
F5.6 | 1/40s | ISO 200
A Very Versatile Lens: The 12-45mm F/4
The 12-45mm F/4 Pro is as robustly built as the two lenses already presented, but its versatility and very small size are its main features.
This small telephoto lens alone allows me to cover most of my needs. If I had to limit myself to one goal when walking or hiking, this would be the one that would accompany me.
F/5.6 | 1/160s | ISO 200
The next adventures are already waiting for me and I am looking forward to immortalizing them with the OM-5!
F/5.6 | 0.4s | ISO 200
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F/2.8 | 1/400s | ISO 200
INSTAGRAM: adrien_sutter
I would describe my photographic approach as contemplative. Nature imposes its rules and dictates the conditions with which the photographer must deal. I am then only a privileged witness of the play of lights which sublimates the landscape which is offered to me. Joining the OM SYSTEM Ambassador program, and continuing to travel to capture the world around me, is a dream come true. In recent years, travels in my native Vosges, in the middle of the sharp peaks of the Dolomites or through the American Rockies, have made me realize that each gram carried on my shoulders should not be superfluous. This is why I have always been looking for the lightest possible photographic equipment, without compromising on image quality. OM SYSTEM quickly proved to be the ideal partner.
