Alex Godard is a passionate explorer and adventure filmmaker. Since 2020, he has been turning every outing into a memorable experience through nature photography and outdoor videography. His approach combines a rigorous understanding of the field with an artistic vision, capturing perfect lighting, compelling compositions that tell a story, and unique moments that inspire a sense of wonder.
The Light and Colors: The Essence of Your Photos
For Alex, the most striking moments occur during the early morning light and the softness of the evening, often referred to as the golden hour and blue hour. These times provide the opportunity to capture warm colors, gentle shadows, and subtle details that are often missed in the harsh light of midday. During these moments, every ray of sunshine on a leaf, every raindrop, and every trace of mud transforms into a narrative element.
Waking up early and staying up late is essential for any videographer or photographer who wants to capture extraordinary moments. By anticipating the light and thoughtfully composing your hiking photos—with careful attention to angles, depth, and details—you can make a significant difference in your work.
Equipment: Your Ally in Creativity
Understanding your equipment is crucial. Alex prefers lightweight, high-performing tools that can endure demanding hikes. For beginners, a high-quality smartphone is sufficient to capture impressive images, while professional cameras provide complete control over focus, sharpness, and exposure.
Some essentials:
- Portable batteries and memory cards to never run out of storage or energy
- Microphones to capture clear and immersive sound
- Waterproof bags to protect equipment during outings in the rain or snow
- Lens wipes to maintain clear and streak-free images
Alex also suggests, "To begin, don't aim to acquire everything of the highest quality. Your phone can do the job adequately."
Creating a story using video
Video goes beyond merely showcasing a landscape; it narrates a journey. Alex designs his expeditions like a 30-minute documentary, combining close-ups with panoramic shots, along with music and natural sounds. Each shot is meticulously planned to ensure total immersion in the experience. Even in challenging weather conditions, such as wind or rain, simple solutions like waterproof covers and protected microphones ensure that nothing is overlooked.
"I prefer to be surprised by nature. The best point of view is the one that amazes you in the moment." - Alex Godard
A multi-layered composition is essential, featuring a foreground, a human subject or detail in the center, and a landscape in the background.
Tips for enhancing your photos with a phone
Impressive photos and videos can be created without professional equipment. Alex has some recommendations.
1. Lock the focus for a specific subject
To avoid exposure changes at the wrong moment, here's what you should do:
- Open the camera on your phone (iPhone or Android).
- Frame your subject in the screen.
- Press and hold the subject until the screen displays "AE/AF Lock" (iPhone) or "Focus lock/auto-exposure" (Android).
- Keep the phone steady while taking the shot.
- Adjust the brightness if necessary with the slider.
- Take your photo or video: the focus will remain locked and the exposure will not change automatically.
2. Play with light
To give a unique dimension to your photos and videos, focus on light. Alex Godard recommends taking advantage of the "golden hours" and "blue hours":
Golden hour: just after sunrise or before sunset, the light is soft and warm, slightly orange. It creates long and delicate shadows and deep colors, perfect for giving a warm atmosphere to your shots.
Blue hour: just before sunrise or after sunset, the sky takes on a bluish and diffuse hue. The light is cooler and softer, ideal for capturing calm atmospheres and highlighting silhouettes and landscapes without too strong contrasts.
Exposing slightly less rather than too much helps to preserve details and makes editing easier. Getting up early or extending the day until sunset becomes essential to truly capture the exceptional.
3. Composition and depth
To create captivating images, it is essential to think about composition and depth. Apply the rule of three layers: include a foreground to provide context, place your main subject in the middle to attract the eye, and leave a landscape or background that adds dimension and space to the scene.
Don't hesitate to try different angles and perspectives: get closer to a detail, change the height or distance, explore different orientations. This helps to avoid clichés and offers a more dynamic and immersive result. Each element of the image should contribute to telling a coherent and interesting visual story.
4. Settings and quality
To achieve smooth, professional-quality videos on your phone, it’s crucial to select the appropriate settings. Film at either 30 or 60 frames per second (FPS). While 30 FPS provides a classic look, 60 FPS can capture fast movements with greater fluidity and detail.
Always select the highest available resolution on your device, such as 1080p or 4K, to preserve maximum detail and color. The higher the resolution, the more flexibility you have for editing and cropping after shooting.
Avoid excessive zooming during filming or photography, as digital zoom can decrease image quality and introduce blur. If you need to get closer to your subject, try to physically move closer or use an appropriate lens to ensure sharpness and maintain detail accuracy.
These straightforward settings enable you to create sharp, smooth, and professional videos and images, even using a phone.
5. Editing and post-production
After shooting, editing can improve the look of your photos. Use software like Lightroom to:
- Adjust colors and make your photo or video more true to the actual scene.
- Adjust the brightness and contrast to enhance details and add depth to the image.
- Crop and rearrange the composition to showcase the main subject better.
Feel free to eliminate any unwanted elements, such as branches, objects, or distractions, to help direct attention to the essentials. Editing also enables you to fix minor lighting or exposure issues and establish a consistent atmosphere that aligns with the story you wish to tell.
6. Practical tips
To make the most of your shots:
- Take more photos than necessary. Having multiple shots allows you to select the one that best captures the moment.
- Keep the lens clean by using a small, soft cloth or a glasses wipe. Smudges or dirt can reduce the sharpness and quality of your images.
- Breathe and stabilize your phone while shooting. A steady hand and smooth movements limit blurring and ensure sharp images.
- Have fun and experiment. Vary angles, try different compositions, and let your curiosity run wild. Motivation and a desire to explore are significant assets for capturing memorable and authentic moments.
How long does it take to create a documentary?
Producing high-quality documentaries demands substantial time and preparation. Alex Godard creates four documentaries each year, with each lasting about 30 minutes on YouTube. This process requires nearly 50 hours dedicated to editing and post-production.
The key is finding the right idea before filming. Initially, he documented everything to avoid missing anything, but he learned to be more efficient. Now, he knows the direction to take and optimizes each release.
Since starting in late 2020, Alex has become more efficient. By understanding his equipment and defining the type of hiker he wants to be, he can capture the best moments while continually improving in the field.
For instance, during a hike, he can combine walking with drone photography, capturing footage while efficiently completing his hike—killing two birds with one stone.
Discover Alex Godard's films
To experience his advice firsthand, check out his videos in nature on his YouTube channel. Each video provides an immersive experience, where the landscapes, lighting, and music come together to tell a unique story. Discover the world through Alex Godard’s perspective.
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