Nature's Moments

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Nature & Wildlife Photography Tips & Techniques - 1

Keep it simple and sweet … the acronym KISS will help remind you of perhaps the most important rule in the composition of an effective nature photograph. Ask yourself, what am I trying to convey to the viewer? What is the most important element in the viewfinder? What moved me to choose this as a photographic subject? Are there any distracting elements in the photo, can I change my camera’s perspective to get a stronger impact of the subject? Use the depth of field button to be sure of the background looks good and works to the best of advantage to the subject. Remember the axiom for outstanding nature photography; Keep It Simple & Sweet!

Nature & Wildlife Photography Tips & Techniques - 2

Opportunities for incredible nature photographs always seem to present themselves when they are least expected." "The steeper the climb, the sweeter the image!" Get out early and stay out late. Be the first photographer to be in the field ready to make images, and make it your goal to be the last photographer to put your equipment away.

Nature & Wildlife Photography Tips & Techniques - 3

Photograph at your subject's eye level as often as possible (or get even lower to the ground for a different perspective). Too many images are taken from approximately five to six feet off the ground; this is the approximate eye level of the photographer. Try to get down low, get down to your subject's eye level and focus on the eyes, this tends to give a much more dramatic perspective of the subject.

"Bald Eagle - 158"

Nature & Wildlife Photography Tips & Techniques - 4

Use a good quality, stable tripod! Make it a habit to use a tripod and your photographs will improve. The creative process becomes more deliberate when you use a tripod. You will find yourself much more diligent in examining the composition within your viewfinder and you will be much more precise in the framing of your subjects. Your top quality lenses will now have the stable support they need to consistently produce razor sharp images.

Nature & Wildlife Photography Tips & Techniques - 5

Make it a point to shoot more vertical images. Many magazines prefer vertical images for publication. Whether or not you are shooting for possible publication, just by shooting some vertical images you will have images that will stand out from what most other photographers are getting. Shooting vertical images will also be exercising your creativeness more, since most of us typically find it easier to see and shoot horizontal
images.

Nature & Wildlife Photography Tips & Techniques - 6

When working with subjects that are low to the ground, wear a set of cushioned kneepads. They can be purchased at most hardware stores. They will make the time you spend on knees much easier to bare.

"Canada Geese Morning"

Nature & Wildlife Photography Tips & Techniques - 7

Thanks to today's new image-editing programs, stunning panoramic images are now possible without owning special purpose panoramic cameras. The use of Photoshop, or some other comparable image-editing program, now gives one the ability to put together (in the digital darkroom) impressive panoramas and thanks to the new photo quality printers, printing these remarkable images is easier then ever. When you are in the field doing your photography, and you have captured your original planned images, let the creative vision flow, start thinking panorama, and shoot some additional frames with the intent of putting them together in your digital darkroom.

Nature & Wildlife Photography Tips & Techniques - 8

Keep a pen and a permanent marker in your camera bag at all times. I find that having a writing instrument with me is imperative, and having a permanent marker gives one, so much more versatility.

Nature & Wildlife Photography Tips & Techniques - 9

Keep a photographic journal, keep track of what subjects you saw, when you saw them (the time of day and date) and the location, by so doing you will be rewarded with an outstanding reference that will prove invaluable for future photographic outings.

Foggy Morning - Landscape 3127

Nature & Wildlife Photography Tips & Techniques - 10

Carry a small point & shoot or digital camera in your camera bag; this is a wonderful tool for capturing memorable photos of friends, and acquaintances that we meet while out in the field doing our serious photography. As time passes, those snapshots of friends become very treasured images. So next time you are out there concentrating on photographing that one of a kind eagle shot, don't forget to pull out the point & shoot and get a couple of photographs of your fellow eagle photographer friends that are with you!

Nature & Wildlife Photography Tips & Techniques - 11

Carry business cards; no matter whether you're a professional nature photographer or a beginner. Having business cards with you can be a very professional way of establishing business relationships with other. Business cards can be printed very economically today, we use and recommend PrintingForLess.com, they do excellent work at very competitive prices and offer a first time order $25 discount coupon, or with today's computers and publishing software, one can easily and inexpensive print business cards at home that look very professional. Carrying business cards in the field will allow you to make a lasting impression on the contacts you make in the field.

Nature & Wildlife Photography Tips & Techniques - 12

I like to carry plenty of the seal-able plastic food storage bags in my camera case. I am always finding new uses for these transparent bags, especially the heavier strength seal-able freezer bags. They can are water resistant and offer excellent protection for various items. I like to keep my maps in these bags, I fold the map so it is approximately the same size as the bag, this way I can read the map without taking it out of the bag. These bags are inexpensive, available almost anywhere and one can see exactly what is in each bag. I also like to carry several of the heavy-duty white trash compactor bags, they are much more tear resistant than regular trash bags. A photographer can also find many uses for these bags; they make excellent rain protection for your equipment, they can be used as light reflectors, or as a background for macro shots, spread out they makes wonderful ground cover to keep your knees form getting wet while doing macro photography. Should you get caught in a rainstorm, a trash compactor bag and some rubber bands may be just the thing to protect your camera and lens from the weather.

"Cold Morning Sunrise" - Landscape 3132

Nature & Wildlife Photography Tips & Techniques - 13

A few small items that I can recommend one carry in their camera bag, a small flashlight, a film leader retriever (if you are shooting film), a jeweler's screwdriver set, rubber bands, plastic trash bags, air tight reseal-able sandwich bags, a spare key to your vehicle, an emergency space blanket, a pen & permanent marker, biodegradable string, a set of small plastic filter wrenches (to remove those hard to dismount filters), a small compass, business cards, a telephone card, a whistle, and lens cleaning tissue. Also be sure to bring sunscreen along.

Nature & Wildlife Photography Tips & Techniques - 14

Carry a small hand held GPS devise, they are inexpensive, easy to use and can possibly save your life when out doing photography in an unfamiliar area!

Nature & Wildlife Photography Tips & Techniques - 15

When planning a long distance photographic trip within the U.S., consider using Fed Ex, UPS or USPS to send some of your photographic supplies to your destination. Notify your hotel that you would like to do this and have the package sent early, this would give you the opportunity to verify that the package arrived safely.

Killdeer - Birds 5111

Nature & Wildlife Photography Tips & Techniques - 16

Most of today's new camera equipment requires batteries to work, quite a savings may be realized if one purchases batteries in bulk. Store your batteries in an airtight container; the container then may be stored in the freezer greatly extending the storage life of your batteries.

Nature & Wildlife Photography Tips & Techniques - 17

Consider using an old insulated cooler to temporarily store some of your photographic equipment. The cooler can be packed with foam to protect the equipment. The insulated cooler will provide a somewhat more temperate environment for your equipment. An important side benefit of using an old cooler, few people will associate an old insulated cooler with housing anything of real value, thus helping to prevent the theft of your film or valuable equipment.

Nature & Wildlife Photography Tips & Techniques - 18

Wear a hat! Protect your head! Wearing a hat not only provides protection from the weather and the elements, but may also assist in reducing extraneous light from entering the viewfinder.

Nature & Wildlife Photography Tips & Techniques - 19

Carry a set of two way radios, (walkie-talkies). They have become very inexpensive and can be a wonderful way to stay in touch in the field.

Nature & Wildlife Photography Tips & Techniques - 20

Purchase a closed cell sleeping bag pad (pad can be purchased for under $10 at a discount sporting goods store), the pad can be cut down in size and placed into your camera bags to offer additional protection for your expensive photo equipment.

Nature & Wildlife Photography Tips & Techniques - 21

If you are a Canon long lens user (500mm f4 IS / 300mm f2.8 IS / 400mm f4 DO), good news ........ you no longer have to use the supplied leather lens cap (although the cap is very nice, it can be time consuming to insert or remove when needing to use the lens quickly, not to mention expensive to replace should you forget it using the lens out in the field). The leather cap can be replace by purchasing an inexpensive Corning Ware bowl lid. The Corning Ware lid that I use fits the lens snuggly, protecting the glass beautifully. When I am finished using the lens and ready to place the lens is it's case, I place the lens shade on the lens (backwards as designed by Canon) and then place the Corning Ware lid snuggly on the lens, much simpler than trying to place the Canon leather cap back over the lens and lens shade. The Corning Ware lid that works best for the 500mm is the #V-16-B, to help make life easier (at least in finding a source to purchase these lids) here is a link to an on line supplier ................ Classic Kitchens and More

CLICK HERE for NEW UPDATED information ...........

"Sunset Egret" - Birds 9145

Wishing you great health, warm light, and wonderful picture making opportunities :)

Nature's Moments