Nature Photography is a lot more than clicking random pictures of trees or mountains. It is an art of observation. It is about looking at the natural environment from a different perspective, in a way that remains unseen to most people. It gives you a broad array of subjects to work with like landscape, vegetation, birds, the skies, seas and so on. So, if you are a beginner or may be thinking to begin with photography, here I will go over the 3 key aspects, that you need to keep in mind.
Composition
It is the organisation of all the elements within the image. Whatever you leave out from the picture is as important as what you leave in the picture. A great image consists of several different aspects: a great subject, lighting, timing and as well as your technical abilities. Composition is the harmonious whole of all these factors. You have to look beyond what you can see through your viewfinder and imagine what it is going to look like through a digital screen or a printed paper. A good composition often has a 3d perspective. It has the capability of pulling the viewers into the image and retain their attention. Great photographers usually simply the composition to force the viewer’s attention into the subject by taking a minimalist approach. For example, do not try to have people when it comes to nature photography, unless they add to the appeal of the image, or else they only serve as a distraction.
Light
Visible light is a part of the electromagnetic spectrum consisting the seven colours (violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange, yellow). During the day it could appear slightly blue and at sunrise or sunset gets a little warmer colour like more yellow or orange. Colours could reflect off of objects or they may even filter through the atmosphere. However, it is also important to understand how your camera sees light, as although the technology is improving, they are far from the capability of the human eyes. This helps you recognise how the light direction, quality affects your camera exposure and composition. You need to decide at what particular moment you need to go out and get the kind of photograph that you have in mind.
Settings
If you are using a professional camera make sure you know how to operate your camera well, without having to think of it. Here would be some of my recommended settings:
- Camera Mode: Choose “Aperture Priority” when the subject is at rest and “Shutter Priority” for subjects on the move.
- ISO Settings: Choose the low ISO settings for the available light.
- Autofocus Point: Choose single autofocus at the centre of the frame. This enables you to pinpoint the subject.
- Tripod: Mounting your camera on the tripod helps you get sharp images.
Landscape Photography
Shooting landscapes are necessary to bring several elements of nature together and capturing the essence of the natural environment around. If you take photos just for yourself then it really does not really matter which place you go to as long as it has some significance to you. However, if you want other people to enjoy it as well then you have to think a little bit more about the particular location or interest level. After you do get to required the spot, no need to rush, just sit, relax and enjoy the moment before you start taking photographs. Immerse yourself in the nature around you and look for the perfect shot. When you walk to a subject with the camera, be mindful of the composition, camera settings, light and what you decide to include in your photo. All of these can lead to the creation of beautiful landscape imagery. For example, “Split Rock and Cloud, Eastern Sierra, California, 1976” by Galen Rowell (1940-2002), a masterpiece that involved the usage of fleeting natural light in a strong composition where he captured a cloud floating above the rock.
Capture a panorama (wide view of the area) as they are the easiest way to get a powerful landscape. They can be achieved by a wide-angle lens or considering the curvature of the horizon take multiple images and stitch them together as one photograph. These panoramic images can immerse the viewer into the scene. Often times the spherical panoramas are used for virtual reality as well.
Just like any other photograph, even in landscapes, focal points are important. In fact, landscapes without them, would look rather empty and would leave the viewer wandering through the image with no place to rest his/her eyes upon. A focal could be a lot of different things, it could be a mountain, a tree, a rock, a boulder, a steady stream or even a silhouette.
Natural light is also very important as it brings life to the elements of your photograph. There are many photographers who prefer shooting only during the dawn and dusk, typically referred to as the golden hour. At this time the sunlight is much more soft, warm and the angle of the light also creates interesting patterns, dimensions and textures.
The usage of polarisers is also crucial when it comes to landscape photography. Many photographers know that a polarizer is useful for making blue skies richer and removing reflection from glass, water and metal. Even on overcast days, polarisers have strong effects. It will not turn the grey sky blue but will saturate the colours in the scene by removing the glare of the reflecting surface.
With nature photography almost anything works, so we should never restrict ourselves to just the big landscapes. The smaller details in nature are just as appealing as anything we see on the larger scale and this is where macro photography comes in place.
Macro Photography
It is basically close-up still photographs that tightly frame a person or object. The beauty of macro photography is that lets you examine a world of fascinating detail that surrounds us all the time but we are mostly unaware of it. By looking at things up close, you find a greater degree of colour, contrast, interesting shapes and patterns and textures. Anything natural works great in macro photography, like flowers or leaves as they come in different shapes and sizes. Getting in close to these subjects is a great way to show them from a different perspective.
Nature Conservation Photography
Photography that is aimed towards raising awareness about the issues prevalent in the natural environment, the ones caused directly or indirectly by human activities, like global warming, extinction of species, exploitation of natural resources, pollution etc. It involves conservation efforts to save wildlife, forests, rivers, lands and habitats by stimulating protective measures.
Marine biologist and environmentalist, Cristina Mittermeier pioneered modern-day conservation photography. She founded the International League of Conservation Photographers in 2005, an organisation dedicated to environmental and cultural conservation through photography and filmmaking. In the past, we also had photographers like Carleton Watkins whose powerful images led to the foundation of Yosemite National Park in California in 1864.
Wildlife photography
Photographers who capture the wildlife need to have a lot of love and appreciation for animals and nature in general. To be able to capture animals in their natural habitat, there are a few key things to be mindful about.
When you are in the wildlife, be patient. By staying close to the animal’s natural habitat and patiently watching them, you stand a better chance of snapping a great shot. While taking the photo try to keep your subject (animal, bird or insect) slightly off the centre this will make the image feel a lot more natural, but the camera’s focus should always be on the subject and try your best to avoid any sort of distraction. In wildlife imagery, it is also very important to make the viewer feel connected to the subject and a great way to do it is to be at the eye level of the particular animal that you are shooting.
Lastly, put the animal’s welfare as the top priority, as your best photographs will be the ones where the animals look as relaxed and comfortable as possible in their environment. Try experimenting and do things a little different. Take pictures that you like and you feel are right rather than shooting the same as other photographers and have fun.
Conclusion
Good photography is about 99% failure. Taking awesome takes a great deal of patience, hard work and creativity. The best thing you can learn from photography is to be patient as most of the time you would not find the shot that you may have in mind. True photographers are the ones with the most passion and patience and have the ability to sustain through the course being a professional.
