T R A V E L & S T Y L E : Go off the beaten track, where you’ll end up with the perfect shot

Do you love photography as much as I do? If so, allow me to share with you what I’ve learned about shooting landscapes.

To my mind, landscape photography requires being excited about a bit of adventure. You definitely need a vehicle that will give you absolute freedom. As well as the capability to get to that hidden beach or to the tippy top of a mountain to capture that shot.

I usually carry a tripod because, as you may have noticed, I use auto-shoot a lot of the time. I love a good- quality photo and that has to be taken by either a photographer holding a pro-level camera or you yourself  controlling the shot with your phone via WIFI. That it allows me this is one of the many reasons I am into my  C a n o n  5 d  M a r k  I V .

The Shot

These sunset photos are a case in point. We drove our  J e e p  W r a n g l e r   to the place where I wanted to shoot. The Wrangler is actually a hybrid of an ATV and actual car, and can handle super-rough territory. The 4×4 all-terrain setting allows you climb steep hills and navigate rocky roads. Perfect for the bumpy one Nacho and I drove up to photograph the sun setting in the mountains the other eve. Santa Barbara County never ceases to impress me with its ruggedly beautiful landscapes and, to add to that, we’ve been treated to jaw-droppingly, colorful sunsets like this one all summer long. It’s photography heaven here.

Style & Photography

Afterwards, we attended  a dinner party with friends who specified on their invitation “cowboy chic” attire. I mean, I was so ready for this! My new buff-colored, suede, fringed, lace-up Ralph Lauren pants I scored in the East Hampton Store a few weeks ago had been calling to me from my closet. No surprise that they were a huge hit at the party. Sadly, they are currently all gone at the store, but you can find similar ones  { here }

b o o t s   l i k e  m i n e  h e r e

p a n t s   l i k e   m i n e  h e r e

The embroidered denim shirt is also from Ralph Lauren. Slipping a rust-colored linen tank under it gave the whole outfit just right amount of cool. I love mixing different types of items like this into one outfit. In the city, I’d probably wear one of the pieces at a time to avoid looking overly cowgirl in an urban setting.

It was too warm out to wear that night, but I also have an adorable Western-style jacket that you’ll see me wearing soon. Be sure to keep in touch and tell me what you think about it.

One other thing I want to add about the Wrangler before I close is that you can completely undress it. Take off the doors and roof for a beach ride or keep them on for driving highways and dirt roads, as we did on this sunset safari. Such useful versatility.

As for my camera equipment, I have been happily shooting for awhile with the Canon I mentioned above. Recently, I added a Yongnuo 50mm lens f2 to my camera bag which I bought for its small size and affordability. While the autofocus is not very fast, this lens makes my camera easier to travel with. For that reason, I have been using the heck out of it. Who knows about its longevity? It has survived well so far. I’ve been taking it in and out of purses, cars, and shaky, sandy and dusty environments too!

Here is my camera and the lens I mentioned

m y   e q u i p m e n t

Happy Labor Day weekend!!