Nature and Wildlife Photography

To many photographers, nature and wildlife photography is one of the most challenging photography niches. That may be due to the wildlife photography influence of National Geographic magazine and the outstanding work of wildlife photographers that they have provided us over the years.

For many photographers there is no greater challenge than capturing the beauty of wild creatures in their natural environment. Photos of wildlife creatures in their environment require disciplines that other photography niches don’t. For example, street photography is often about pointing, focusing and shooting quickly and immediately. And nature and wildlife photography requires a great deal of patience.

Below are some nature and wildlife photography tips and examples.

Patience. Slow down and take your time. Many times, we get so enamored by the beauty around us we feel like we have to capture everything. Take some time to look around you and get a sense of what impresses you about a place. Learn to look at how the light is playing on the environment and think about how you can be capture that moment. Often times, early morning light and afternoon light are more dramatic and can provide for much more interesting photographs. Once you've seen something that captures your interest, think about how you can best capture that thing.

Try different perspectives and views. Once you've taken what you think your shot will be, try moving around and capturing it from a different angle. You might get down low, above, or really close to a subject. We all often come back with wonderful memories of that animal or landscape we saw but we don't get that same feeling when we come home and look at our photos. Part of what a photographer does is look for interesting angles and views to frame the subject. Learn to see what your subject matter is and then try to frame your composition so that you frame just what's important. A good photographer knows what to leave out just as much he or she leaves in the frame.

Use a tripod. It’s happened to all of us: You take a bunch of pictures and they're all blurry. One thing that can help is getting a small tripod. It's difficult, both for professionals and beginners, to get really crisp images without using a tripod. If you don't have one, look to see if you can place your camera on a ledge or rock to help stabilize it.

Keep shooting. Take lots of photographs! As with all crafts, practice does make perfect. The more photos you take, the more mistakes you'll make, and that's a good thing. Take the time to look at your photos and constantly be looking at ways to get better. There's no better way to start getting better. Don't worry about all the fancy gear that professionals sometimes have. Get to know your camera. The more you know how your camera behaves the better you'll be able to come away with killer photos. Remember, it's not the gear; it's the photographer who makes great photos. Take the time to read your camera manual on how our camera works and you’ll be head and shoulders above most photographers.

Have fun. Sounds simple, right? Photography is supposed to be fun! Remember you're out there taking photos because you want to capture unique moments and share them with the world. The more you enjoy it, the less like work it will seem to keep improving and getting better.

A Few More Points To Keep In Mind

To be efficient in any photography genre, it is important to know your camera and 'know-that-you-know' your camera. First of all, read your owner's manual. Take a good online photography course. Look at the nature and wildlife photography of others.

Stock photo photography directories is where you will find places to sell your work. Learn how to sell your photos as stock photography. Learn the best places to sell nature and wildlife photography that fits into stock photography.