Nature Photography
Have you ever taken a picture of a sunset? Do you enjoy snapping photos of flowers and different nature scenes? If so, then you’re in the right section. Below you’ll find some tips and tricks to help make your next nature photograph as close as possible to the real thing.
Tips
- Be mindful of sunlight when photographing sunrises and sunsets. Never point your digital camera directly into the sun, as the sun's rays can cause damage to your camera and your own eyes.
- Often referred to as the "magic hour" or "golden hour", the hour after sunrise and hour before sunset are the best times for taking photos outside. Taking pictures in the early morning and early evening prevents your photos from being overexposed, since the sun isn't as intense or high in the sky.
- A common mistake when photographing at the beach is to put the horizon line smack dab in the middle of the frame. Remember the rule of thirds and position the horizon more towards the top or bottom of the picture. This composition will create a more compelling and attractive photo.
- Seaside locations often give you the opportunity to use natural frames for your photo. Take advantage of palm trees or rocky cliffs that you can capture as natural borders for your composition.
- The obvious thing to take photos of at the beach is the shoreline. Try to get creative next time you head to the beach by taking photos of the shells, toes meshed into the sand, a coconut or a surfboard. You'll capture the entire beach atmosphere better by taking pictures of different elements.
- A good way to capture a lovely beach portrait is to position your subject against the shoreline to the left or right side of the frame. Having the water and horizon in the background helps the person stand out. Just be mindful of which way the sun is shining - the sun should be shining from behind you, not your subject, to avoid backlighting.
- Flowers are wonderful subject matter for photographs. To create a dew-dropped masterpiece, place drops of water or glycerin on the leaves or petals. Glycerin can be found at most pharmacies and won't dry up as quickly as water.
- Taking photos of flowers or other plants outside can sometimes be challenging on a windy day. To block the wind, position cardboard around your subject matter or place any other sizeable object in the wind's path.
