Nature Photography

by Barry Craft

Before you start nature photography, you must have the correct lenses and cameras to take close up pictures. Most cameras do a fine job of taking landscape photography, however if you plan on photographing wildlife animals you may need a zoom lens since you will probably not be able to get as close as you would like without scaring the animal off.

Macro photography, at the other extreme, is the photographing of small objects usually taken very close up. Examples would be such things as insects, greenery, and small flowers. Some cameras have a built-in setting that allows them to take very good pictures close up. But for the best results, you’ll need special lenses for these macro shots. With the right tools, macro photography can be very rewarding.

Macro photography requires more patience, especially when photographing small animals or insects that won’t stay still. Just remember, patience and persistence does pay off. The wind can play a role in the quality of your photos when photographing outdoors. This is because of the fact that you’re zoomed in so close. Even very small movements will be exaggerated causing your picture to be blurred.

A solution for this extra movement is purchasing various accessories for your camera. The equipment will help stabilize the flowers or plants especially in the moderate wind conditions. They usually clip onto the tripod and gently hold your subject in position.

To compose a great nature photograph, you must begin by selecting a subject. Do you find beauty in the sun shining through a leaf or do close-ups of insects make you happy?

If you choose to photograph animals, you must wait until one comes along that you can photograph. See our Wildlife Photography article for information on photographing animals.

To compose the best picture, put your camera on a tripod or hold it straight. A crooked picture will make you look inexperienced, while a straight picture will make the photo look professional, so even if it is on a tripod, make sure it is level. To do this, aim you camera at something like a porch step or even a tree trunk, and see if it looks straight.

A great tripod will come equipt with a level to make this super easy. If not, use your guidelines and line them up with something stright in your photo. These tips will assist you in leveling your tripod and improve the quality of your photographs. Once this is done, you can begin taking pictures.

After you have practiced with your camera, try to take a nature picture that shows a feeling, such as joy or serenity. You might see the bright sun reflecting off of a window as joy, while the sun melting on top of the ocean may be viewed as serenity.

Try using different lighting or color filters to give your photo personality or capture the emotion of the scene. If you practice with your camera enough, you can get great pictures and think to yourself, “Wow! I can’t believe that I took that picture!” If you take a really good photo, you could sell it, get a large print and hang it on your wall or put it on a card, mug, pillow, etc. You will be rewarded with a smile and admiration from friends and family.

About the Author:

Barry Craft loves nature photography. Get his latest tips to help you become a better photographer.Get FREE copy of his latest report entitled, “Top 10 Tips for Great Photo Composition” by visiting Outdoor Photo Tips.