Six Tips for Photographing Nature
Nature photography is one of the most popular hobbies out there, especially in the modern age when everyone has a camera in their phones.
There are so many beautiful images, scenes, and settings in nature that it’s hard not to want to snap a picture. Even though anyone can snap a quick picture and call the results nature photography, there is a difference between taking a picture and making a photograph.
Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned pro, here are six tips for photographing nature:
1. Proper Planning Produces Perfect Photos
Typically, the fun part of nature photography is being out in the field. Not everyone who is carrying a camera is excited about doing their homework, but a good plan can make the difference between getting a couple of decent pictures to getting THE shot.
Start by knowing what you hope to shoot. You may want to figure out from which side the sun will rise to offer a beautiful glow. If you’re hoping to grab pictures of animals in their natural habitat, study how those critters operate in the wild. If you’re going to a national park, make sure you know if permits are necessary, opening/closing times, weather conditions, etc.
The other part of planning is knowing what gear you want to bring. You don’t need to bring every lens in your collection, but you may want to plan on bringing a couple of options. You don’t need the fanciest equipment to make great photos, but you do want to be familiar with your gear and only bring what you need.
2. When Possible, Shoot In RAW
While setting your camera to take JPEGS might seem easier, you won’t have the full range of editing opportunities that you do shooting RAW. That might also mean making sure you know how to change this setting, if possible, on your camera.
Shooting in RAW may require additional memory cards in your gear bag as RAW files are much larger than other options. RAW files will give you more options when you process and edit your photos to ensure your pictures really pop.
3. Lower The ISO
The ISO setting on your camera basically controls how sensitive your image sensors are to light. The larger the number, the more sensitive your camera is to light. The problem is that a too high ISO can leave your images either too light (blown out) or grainy.
Since you’ll be outside, try to shoot with the lowest ISO setting possible. You can always adjust your shutter speed and aperture to adjust for the right exposure.
4. Stick With Auto Focus Continuous Mode For Wildlife
Not everyone who enjoys Photography likes to use autofocus. If you’re taking your time to set up a scene, manual focus is fine. If you’re trying to capture an animal, autofocus is your best friend.
You also want to stick with a continuous mode. That means your camera will keep taking pictures as long as you’re holding the button down. You might get more shots that you intend to use, but you’ll also have more options of your new friend doing its thing in nature.
5. Bring Your Tripod
While you don’t want to lug around unnecessary equipment, a tripod is something that’s better to have and not need than the other way around. They make tripods that are extremely light and compact that make great nature photography tools.
With your tripod, you don’t have to worry about shaking your camera or hurting the final image. Grab a wired remote to make snapping your nature photos even easier.
Have Fun and Be Creative
There are tons of ways you can add some depth or drama to your images. This can take a mundane picture of a field and turn it into something truly beautiful.
Here are just a few tips to keep those creative juices flowing:
- Find unusual light to create drama
- Try different angles and perspectives
- Use a macro lens to create new perspectives
- Switch lenses in general for a fresh look and feel
- Try to do something different than the obvious shot
Now that you’re prepared and packed, it’s time to go out and make some great images while enjoying nature.