Photographing nature is truly a rewarding experience. It is considered to be one of the most emotional and pleasing encounter. By snapping away some rare once-in-a-lifetime instances you are able to freeze that particular moment for ages to come only to be remembered and recalled later. However, you need to have some great photographic skills to perfectly capture the specific juncture. One thing you need to ensure while photographing nature is that the instance may stay for a split second and you need to be really quick to be able to shoot at the correct time. Although, you need to possess good photographic skills, with the help of a few tips and tricks, even beginners can manage to click away some exceptional pictures.

Tip # 1 : – Get to know your Camera and its Settings
Before you go on any nature expedition, it is important that you know and understand your camera very well. It is crucial to have an idea of the various modes and settings of the device and an overall view of what combinations help deliver excellent results.

Tip # 2 : – Patience
Nature photography is not just about going to a particular spot and clicking the shutter. It is about closely observing the subject over a period of time to determine the best moment to shoot. This requires a lot of patience as well as an eye for details. For example, if you are interested in get a snap of the sunset or sunrise, then you need to observe and determine the perfect time to fire your shutter. The perfect image is obtained when the sun is half set and the colours are spread across the sky. Also the look and feel of the snap would be enhanced if there is a bird flying at the time of sunset or sunrise.

Tip # 3 : – Attention
While moving along the woods or bushes, you need to keep all your senses open. You may stumble upon an interesting opportunity to shoot like a young animal suddenly pops out of a bush with a look of fear and shock. You may not be able to get that emotion again. So, the bottom line is to pay attention to the happenings around you and anticipate what might happen.

Tip # 4 : – Lighting Effects
With regards to lighting, you needs to check out for three major factors; the direction of light, the quality of light and the temperature of light. The different directions of light is capable of producing different effects. Say for example, is the sun is behind you, then the scene will portray strong colour and tonal effect. If the light is coming from the side then the it works towards emphasising the texture of the subject. Finally, back light is best for creating a silhouette.

The quality of light can be divided into two parts; specular light and diffused light. While specular light is the direct and bright form of light such as direct sunlight, diffused light is distributed form of light. This may be when the sun rays pass through the clouds and are scattered across the area. The diffused light is the most favourite forms of light used to capture close-up scenes, forest areas, wildlife, waterfalls etc. This is because they are able to expose the subject properly. On the other hand specular slight might cast ugly shadows on your subjects. But with proper camera mechanism this can also be optimally used.

The temperature of light refers to its colour effects that keeps changing throughout the day. To take optimal advantage of the light temperature, it is advisable to set the white balance to daylight mode.

Major Do’s and Dont’s

Do’s

• Always ensure that your picture does have a story to tell, even if it is a little mysterious.

• Always ensure that you do follow the “ Rule of Thirds”. This means that you need to divide the screen horizontally and vertically into thirds and situate the subject at the intersection of these lines. Some digital cameras come with a “thirds grid” that can be used to compose the image and later turned off.

• See to it that you do make maximum use of the camera’s various scenic modes. Every camera comes with an auto mode that is capable of doing all the necessary adjustments, however there are instances when the image is much better when the correct scenic mode is used.

• Always ensure to shoot the subjects in odd number. This prevents you from dividing the photo into two halves. Also it creates a better dynamic effect.

• Finally, try and shoot rare moments that cannot be seen on everyday basis.

Dont’s

• Do not place your subject in the centre of the picture. Ensure that you subject is a little off-centre. This is capable of creating a more interesting picture.

• While shooting nature, ensure that you do not stop with a single snap. Take multiple shots, this not only gives you the best snap of your subject but at times is capable of exhibiting some rare emotions of the subject.

• Although, you have the scenic modes for assistance, do not completely rely on them. Trust your instincts and view the image on the screen to analyse if this is the perfect one. Even a slight doubt of imperfection should compel you to change the settings and try again.

• While focusing on your subject, do not neglect the background. An incorrect background or improper lighting effects spoils the whole image. Thus ensure to maintain a perfect balance between the two.

On the whole, by keeping these basic tips and tricks in mind, you can also become a great nature photographer. Another major advantage provided by the digital camera manufacturers is the panoramic mode wherein you can shoot a series of images and later stitch it together to create one large image. So make optimum use of the camera and its settings and get started on your excursion.

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