Part 1: Working in Nature
There probably isn’t a photographer in the United States who hasn’t looked through a National Geographic and had at least a small dream about becoming a nature photographer. While reaching the pages of a prestigious publication such as the National Geographic may not be in the cards for everyone, nature photography is something that anyone can learn to do well. Before you begin, there are a few things you need to know not only about photography, but also about how to deal with the natural world.
Before you head out in to the wild outdoors, the first thing you should do is make sure you are prepared for working in nature. It may seem that going for a hike and snapping some pictures contains little risk, but the truth is that there are many dangers in nature. Don’t let this discourage you, simply make sure you understand the risks of going out into the wild and take the appropriate precautions. By taking the time to prepare you can prevent serious problems before they even start. The following list is a great place to start.
1: Make sure someone knows where you are going and when you plan to be back.
Even if you know the area you are going to very well it never hurts to have someone back home who knows not only where you are, but when you plan to be back. This way if you get lost or have an accident, there is someone who can make sure help finds you.
2: If you don’t already have one, buy a high quality backpack.
Not only will you be packing around your equipment, but you should also be bringing other things along as well. A high quality backpack will keep everything in one bundle and will stand up to even the harshest treatment. The last thing you want is to have to go home because your backpack got a hole in it.
3: Pack a change of warm clothes.
Weather can change quickly and being both wet and cold can become a very bad situation. Make sure that you always have a dry change of warm clothes with you. If you do happen to get rained on. Make sure to find a dry place and change as quickly as possible.
4: Pack enough food and water for the time you will be gone as well as enough for an extra day.
If you are planning on camping out fresh water and food are vital. Chances are you probably won’t need the extra days worth of food and water, but it is always better safe than sorry. Also, remember to boil your water or treat it with iodine, this can save a lot of problems.
5: Get a high quality first aid kit.
It is always better to have a first aid kit and not need it, then need it and not have one. Also check into taking some Red Cross classes. Not only do they cover basic first aid but they offer many other very useful classes as well.
6: A detailed map of the area
Even if you have been in the area you are planning to visit a thousand times, you never know when you might need a detailed map. It only takes a few minutes off a well known trail to become lost, and having something that might help you find your way back could prove invaluable.
While the above does not cover every possible problem you could run into, it covers most of them. Another key thing to remember is to start out small. Camp in a commercial campground your first couple of foray’s into the natural world. Then as you get more accustomed and experienced to life in the wilderness, expand your horizons. Pretty soon you will find that not only are you experiencing nature to take photograph’s but because it has its very own special lure.
Part 2: Photographing Nature
In the last article a lot of attention was given to preparing for working in nature. In this installment the focus will be on how nature photography works. While anyone can go out into the woods and snap a few pictures, if you are serious about photography the following information should help you improve your skills.
1: Patience is your best virtue
Nature is probably one of the most unpredictable forces in the universe. For this reason you must remain patient. Some of the best photographers in the world have waited days for the perfect shot to present itself and this shows in the quality of their work.
2: Nothing will Ever be Perfect
While it may seem like every nature photographer manages to get the “perfect” shot, the truth is they didn’t. Nature will never give you everything you want and good photographers know this and take what they are given. If you focus too much on the “perfect” shot, you probably won’t ever see it.
3: Know Your Subjects
If you want to capture breath taking scenes of autumn foliage, make sure you know where the best places are to find it. Also learn things like which trees offer the most color, when the colors change, and similar facts. If you plan to shoot animals in the wild, make sure you know their habitats and cycles. No matter what kind of pictures you plan to take you are always better off having knowledge of the subject before you start pointing the lens.
4: Check the Weather
Meteorology is far from an exact science, but it is generally in the ball park. By knowing what the weather is going to be like you can prepare for unusual lighting conditions. If the day is going to overcast you should bring along equipment that maximizes low light situations. Also, weather can make a shoot interesting. Photographing a patch of wildflowers in the rain will give a much different image than the same flower patch bathed in sunlight.
5: Bring Extras of Everything
Very few photographers have the ability of Ansel Adams to get the perfect shot with a single picture, most of us have to make do with taking a lot of pictures. Because of the unique nature of natural photography, chances are you will take an incredible amount of photos. For this reason it is important to make sure you bring along enough film, batteries, memory cards and other such items that you won’t run out. It may take up extra room in your pack, but you are much more likely to get the shot you want.
While the above pointers are great for starting out the best way to increase your skill in photographing nature is by doing it over and over again. The more you do it, the better you will get. Also make sure to learn what other photographers do. In short, experience and continuing to educate yourself is just as important as any of the above pointers.
