How To Do Nature Photography

If you want to take good nature photography , you have come to the right place my friend.

Have you ever thought about how spectacular our planet Earth is? Have you noticed the enormous diversity that it offers at the level of geography, flora, fauna, etc.?

I don’t know if you have ever considered the possibilities that it offers us for photography, but if you haven’t, I recommend that you stop for a moment and think about how overwhelming its beauty can be and the infinite opportunities that it offers you and your camera.

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To celebrate how lucky we are to be able to enjoy it, today I come with the most extensive guide you can find on the Internet about nature photography. A gift for you and all my readers.

I am aware of how ambitious my proposal is. But I also realize that this is one of the photographic disciplines most pursued by all blog readers, along with portrait photography.

Whether you are an amateur, advanced or professional photographer, in this guide you will surely find tricks, ideas, advice or inspiration to enjoy two of the most wonderful things in life: photography and nature.

One moment! Get yourself a pad and a pen, or add this article to your favorites so you don’t lose sight of it, and now, settle down to have a good time and soak up the most authentic nature photography, because all this is what you will find yourself in this guide on nature photography:

WHAT IS NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY? DEFINITION

Nature photography is a photographic genre that consists of visually representing natural elements such as landscapes, fauna, flora, but also inanimate elements such as a rock or a mountain.

The main purpose of nature photography is to capture the aesthetic part of the environment and it is currently one of the most practiced disciplines within photography, due to the fact that it encompasses many subtypes.

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WHAT TYPES OF IMAGES CAN YOU TAKE WITHIN NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY?

As I was saying, within nature photography you can find many subgenres. Let’s see a list of types of images that you can capture within the nature photography genre:

• Photography of plants and flowers
• Wildlife photography
• Underwater photography
• Macro photography
• landscape photography
• Astrophotography
• Night photography
• Still life photography

CAMERA FOR NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY

( Warning: surprise at the end of this section)

To enjoy nature photography to the fullest, you need a camera that responds not only when it comes to setting it to manual mode, but also suits the type of photos you are going to take the most.

For example, if you know that you will be photographing, especially, near water, in very rainy environments or in places where dust and mud is as common as breathing, the body should be sealed to resist water and dust splashes.

If what you can do is the desire to photograph frozen landscapes or other places with extreme temperatures such as the Sahara desert or the Northern Lights in the North Pole, it is important that you make sure that it works well under these conditions.

Are you a fan of birds and do you plan to chase them all over the planet? Or the wildest and fastest fauna? In that case, it is best to look for a camera that has a fast focus and is capable of capturing a good number of photos per second in burst mode.

On the contrary, if your thing is more leisurely nature photography, you are moved by landscapes or you are passionate about plants, none of the above should particularly concern you. Your energy should be more focused on finding a suitable target.

You should pay attention to how it responds to high ISO values ​​in the case in which your obsession is a night photography. Just as you will have to look for a specific case to take underwater photography.

Any camera with manual controls will work for all kinds of nature photography (except for diving into the ocean), however, if you have to buy one and you are very clear about what you mainly want it for, then that is when you can afford to specify with the choice.

If you are thinking of buying a camera and don’t even know where to start, I have prepared a list of the best SLR cameras to get you started in photography.

Hey! That I do not forget that there is a type of user who is more concerned about diversity than quality. If you are one of those people who will enjoy photographing a mushroom as well as the craters of the moon regardless of whether the photo is perfect and you also do not want to be changing lenses, there is an ideal camera for you, and it is not an SLR, it’s about the cameras called bridge.

Okay, it’s true, they don’t allow you to change lenses, but with the one they bring you can photograph a landscape to a lion at 300m, passing through that impressive spider that has made you stop in the middle of the road. Some examples of bridge cameras for the more off-road nature photographers :

• Canon POWERSHOT SX540HS .
• Nikon Coolpix B600 or Nikon Coolpix P1000 with a zoom that will leave you much more than amazed (24-2000mm).

The final surprise is… I have created a free tool that will help you find the best camera for you! If with what you have read in this section you still have doubts, my personalized camera recommender is your solution.

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WHAT OBJECTIVE TO BUY FOR NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY?

It is common for people to become obsessed with the camera when in reality the most important thing is the lens that you attach to it. This is indeed an essential point and where you should pay more attention to when assembling your equipment for nature photography.

What will allow you more creative and complete photography is the optics you use and the more specific your purpose is, the better you will succeed.

Because, effectively, it is not the same that you seek to photograph birds in flight that your goal is the mycological world. Therefore, friend, take your time to think about what type of nature photography you are going to do the most or where you want to start.

These are the aspects that you should pay attention to when choosing a goal. And here are some recommendations for nature lenses depending on the type of images you want to take:

• Best lenses for wildlife photography
• Best lenses for landscape photography
• Recommended lenses for macro photography
• Objectives for night photography

ACCESSORIES FOR NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY

I insist again on the need to specify because you do not need the same accessories to photograph an eagle as a landscape with a cloudy sky.

Pay attention, because I am going to leave you a list of the most used accessories in nature photography and I will tell you when or for what type of photography it is most useful.

TRIPODS FOR NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY

The tripod is essential in night photography, long exposure photography (such as for the silky effect of water), and macro photography and is highly recommended when photographing landscapes or using telephoto lenses (the latter with nuances). When buying a tripod for nature photography, we recommend you take into account some aspects:

• Make it stable.
• Make it light.
• Let the legs extend independently.
• That the feet can adapt to different surfaces.
• Choose the head depending on the type of nature photography that you are going to practice the most.

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MONOPOD FOR NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY

What to tint thing comes because photographing an eclipse with a telephoto lens is not the same as photographing a bird in flight.

And it is that to be able to move with agility, a monopod is much more effective than a tripod and can give you the just stability you need.

TIMER

When it comes to stabilizing your camera for a night or long exposure photography, just a good tripod is not enough. Remote shooting is necessary to avoid camera shake. And if you want to do time-lapse, immortalize a shower of stars or perform circumpolar exercises, you will have no choice but to have an interval timer.

FILTERS FOR NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY

There are many types of filters : polarizer to avoid reflections, neutral density for long daytime exposure, degraded neutral density filter to equalize the difference in exposure between the sky and the ground, etc.

These are just some examples. But mainly you will need a filter if you are going to photograph landscapes, skies and daytime long exposure.

My advice!: if you have scratched your pocket to buy a lens of excellent optical quality, do not put any filter in front of it.

Everything you put in front of your lens will detract from the quality of the image, so I recommend looking for a quality filter if you are looking for maximum image sharpness and quality.

DIFFUSERS AND REFLECTORS IN NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY

Diffusers and reflectors to modify light are especially useful when taking pictures of plants and flowers. Also in macro photography.

NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY BACKPACK

You won’t need a specific backpack to do macro photography in a studio set up at home or to capture the beauty of the flowers of the Botanical Garden of your city.

Now that, if you intend to climb mountains in search of the most spectacular views, travel roads in the middle of the night to capture the Milky Way, photograph the Northern Lights or go on a photographic safari through the ponds of Africa, without a doubt, you need a suitable backpack. .

In my humble opinion, an ideal backpack for nature photography should be padded on the back, with wide and comfortable straps, waterproof, with a space or accessory to place the tripod, and with dividers to keep all the equipment organized. This is one of my favorite camera bags., if it doesn’t work for you, here I tell you how to choose the ideal backpack for your camera.

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HIDES FOR NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY

An essential accessory to photograph animals in their habitat without frightening them is the hide. A hide is a hiding place with which to go completely unnoticed and be able to observe the different species without being discovered.

There are some professionals that you can rent or also hides to buy and use wherever and whenever you want.

OTHER ACCESSORIES FOR NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY

Taking photos of nature, on many occasions, involves photographing in bad weather, here are some recommended accessories to protect your equipment in adverse conditions.

Important! In order not to frustrate your departure after half an hour, also take into account the shoes and clothing you wear. Don’t go Frank of the Jungle in clogs, for example. Neglecting a detail like this can turn your session into something completely disastrous.

If you want to delve deeper into the subject, here is an article dedicated to accessories for the nature photographer. And specifying a little more:

• Accessories for the night photographer
• Accessories for the landscape photographer
• Accessories for macro photography

TIPS FOR NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY

No matter what kind of nature photos you take, here are some general tips:

• Be respectful. Nature belongs to everyone, it is our home, take care of it, for yourself and for everyone. Respect the environment and the animals.
• Study the species you want to photograph.Knowing the species will help you anticipate, knowing their schedules, their behavior, etc., which gives you the opportunity to get ahead and get better snapshots.
• Scan the place. In the same sense, studying the place you want to photograph will not only prevent you from having an accident, but it will also help you to know the lighting, study the different angles from which to get the best shots, etc. It is also important to take into account the climate and weather of each place.
• Be stealthy and silent. In addition to not disturbing the animals that may be there, you will prevent them from running away and leaving you without photographic possibilities.
• Choose the best time, both for light and for animal behavior. Some species are more active at dawn, others at noon, others more nocturnal, etc.
• Plan your outings. So that nothing goes wrong, plan your outings as much as possible. Equipment, location, schedules, weather, type of photos you want to take…
• Prepare your team well. You can always make a list or follow a workflow so that nothing goes wrong.
• Check the camera settings before each outing. The last thing you want is to be faced with night photo settings when shooting a bird in flight, right? The most suitable settings for nature photography depend on the type of photography you are going to do and the moment, so always check before you go out.
• Patience is your best ally.
• Do not miss groceries in your backpack. Especially if you go beyond the park in front of your house or you are one of those who go to heaven when they have a camera in their hands, does it ring a bell?
• Craving for more? Here you will find up to 100 express tips for nature photography.

HOW TO TAKE PHOTOS OF FLOWERS AND PLANTS?

Flowers and plants are an excellent resource to get started in nature photography, because of their beauty and their accessibility, you can have them at home, in the park or in a nearby nursery, and because they do not require such specific equipment as in other disciplines. Unless what you are looking for is tips for taking macro photos of flowers and plants .

To photograph plants and flowers, what you need are these tips , which also come with a good dose of inspiration.

HOW TO PHOTOGRAPH ANIMALS?

When it comes to portraying animals we enter a very different field, the plants do not move, the animals do. And some very fast. Accessibility, not counting the photos of your pets, of course, is not the same either.

For fauna photography, preparation is very important , especially for some species. Knowing their customs will help you. And going one step further when it comes to moving and telling stories with your wildlife photographs will make you a better photographer.

Separate mention requires bird photography . To begin with, because photographing birds at rest is not the same as photographing birds in flight . If you throw yourself into this task, we have an article with the recommended equipment to photograph birds.

WHERE TO PHOTOGRAPH ANIMALS?

You can use zoos to photograph animals . There are some places that go beyond the typical stamp of the zoo to which we are accustomed and from which many flee, with good reason.

In some places, the animals are in semi-freedom and are very frequented by wildlife photographers, such as the Cabárceno Park, in Santander (Spain).At the very least, they are a good option to practice and photograph species that you would not find in your area in any other way.

It is very likely that when you think of wildlife photography a safari comes to mind, and that is perfect, although it should not be an impediment for you to take wildlife photography while you fill the piggy bank. Do it now!

Fauna photography is also very extensive, in your area there are native species that you can photograph. Or maybe you have a conservation or animal protection center nearby that you can also turn to.

WHAT IS STILL LIFE PHOTOGRAPHY? MEANING

Still life or still life is a representation of inanimate beings that can be flowers, food, dead animals or even objects made by man.

It is a very common discipline in painting but also in photography, and it is another territory that you can explore without having to go on an expedition, and that will allow you to practice with lighting and composition.

HOW TO PHOTOGRAPH STILL LIFE

If you are one of those who like to collect treasures on your outings, you usually have flowers in vases at home, you like the tranquility of your home and have a good time in peace with your camera, still lifes are an excellent option for you.

Here we explain in detail how to photograph still life and in this other article you will find inspiration for still life.

HOW TO PHOTOGRAPH NATURE AT NIGHT?

The night, contrary to what it may seem, is as suitable a time as any other to photograph nature in all its immensity.

Have you thought about moon photography ? Well, there is more, astrophotography opens up a whole world of possibilities for the most nocturnal photographers.

Photographing a sky full of stars , taking a stunning photo of the Northern Lights , capturing a panorama of the Milky Way or getting an attractive nightscape are just a few examples. In this article you will find a good dose of inspiration for night landscapes.

HOW TO PHOTOGRAPH THE SILKY EFFECT OF WATER?

If you are attracted to landscapes in which water appears as a silky blanket and you wonder how to achieve it, here we explain it step by step. A river, a waterfall or the sea shore can be perfect places to practice and get impressive images.

VIDEO OF HOW TO PHOTOGRAPH THE SILKY EFFECT OF WATER

If you like watching and listening more than reading, in this video you will discover how to achieve the silky effect of water

HOW TO PHOTOGRAPH MOUNTAINS?

I know for a fact that among my readers there are a good number of mountaineers.

That is why we have prepared this article with tips for photographing mountains , this other one in which we reveal the best time to photograph mountains and this other one in which we tell you how to take photos of mountains without dying of boredom.

And who says mountains, says forests 😉 Have you ever gotten lost with your camera in a forest ? Try it, seriously.

HOW TO PHOTOGRAPH ON THE BEACH?

Surely if you have ever tried to take photos on the beach you have suffered some disappointment and that is that it has its tricks.

There are some very common mistakes when photographing on the beach that you must try to avoid, you will find them in the link, and in this other one, we leave you our tips to get the best photos on the beach .

HOW TO TAKE UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY?

Surely if you have ever tried to take photos on the beach you have suffered some disappointment and that is that it has its tricks. There are some very common mistakes when photographing on the beach that you must try to avoid, you will find them in the link, and in this other one, we leave you our tips to get the best photos on the beach .

HOW TO TAKE UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY?

If what you are passionate about is the underwater world, discovering marine species, the blue of the ocean in the depths, corals or the sun’s rays passing through the surface, follow these tips to successfully immerse yourself in underwater photography.

UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY VIDEO WITH IÑAKI RELANZÓN

Hey! Wait, if it seems too long and you prefer video mode, here we have Iñaki Relanzón with one of his videos in which he gives you a quick overview of underwater photography.

HOW CAN I DO MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY OF NATURE?

Macro photography is one that magnifies the motifs and shows us details that go unnoticed by the human eye. To take this type of photography, the essential thing is that you get a macro lens or, to try if you like it, with some alternative to macro lenses.

To get started in macro photography, we have this article for you in which we tell you everything you need to achieve impressive macro photos .

And in order for you to control the lighting, we have written this other article with everything you need to know to light your macro photos .

HOW TO PHOTOGRAPH THE SKY?

The sky is not only the clouds, which also leave IMPRESSIVE images , but also the sun, the moon, its eclipses , the northern lights , the stars or the rain of stars (in short, what we have named astrophotography before) , and something else.

Something truly spectacular: sunrises and sunsets. To get the best pictures of sunrises and sunsets, take a look at this article. But remember that you also have many other ways to photograph the sky.

COMPOSITION IN NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY

No matter how impressive the landscape in front of you, the flower or the animal, a careless composition will ruin all its beauty. What a mess, right?

It is important that you pay attention to how you place all the natural elements that you want to include within the frame. In this article you will find 100 express tips to achieve the best photographic compositions.

Psss… A secret: whatever your nature photography is, remember that it must have a center of interest.

HOW TO ACHIEVE GREATER SHARPNESS IN YOUR NATURE PHOTOGRAPHS?

In nature photography, a sharp photograph always wins points. Sometimes we fail in the most basic, to avoid the avoidable we have prepared 25 ways to maintain sharpness in your photographs.

BLACK AND WHITE NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY

Nature is an explosion of color, but nobody has said that it cannot be seen in grayscale. There is nothing more to remember the great Ansel Adams or the impressive work of Karl Blossfeld.

Very important trick: to photograph in black and white, always shoot in color and then convert to grayscale.

NATURE PHOTOS TO FILL YOU WITH INSPIRATION

In this article you will find 18 AWESOME photos of flora and fauna with tricks to achieve them , but we have more inspiration prepared for you, in case you still have an appetite for nature photos :

• Rainbow Photos
• Sun photos
• Eclipse photos
• Photos of mountains
• Autumn photos
• Winter photos
• Macro photography
• Photos of trees
• Pictures you can take depending on the weather
• Bird photos

HOW TO PHOTOGRAPH NATURE

Nature, in addition to boasting diversity in terms of landscapes and living beings, also has different seasons, climatologies and meteorological phenomena, which increases the photographic possibilities even more.

Isn’t that amazing? You can photograph the same scene in multiple ways! It looks AMAZING to me. So here are a few ideas and suggestions.

• photograph spring
• photograph the summer
• Shooting in the fall and Settings for shooting in the fall
• photograph winter landscapes
• Photograph rays
• photographing the mist
• photography with rain

NATURE PHOTOGRAPHERS TO INSPIRE YOU

When looking for inspiration, take a look at the work of the experts. I’ll give you some names. All of them will give you something. Definitely.

• Inaki Relanzon. International nature photographer and tireless traveler very committed to some causes, you can visit his instagramor your website.
• Jose Benito Ruiz. It is not possible to talk about nature, at least in this country (Spain) without mentioning this photographer, author of numerous books, among many other merits. His work is impeccable.
• Marina Cano. A Canon Ambassador, she is one of the most international wildlife photographers . She doesn’t photograph animals, she photographs emotions. You can check it in his instagram galleryor on your website.
• Brian Skery. For lovers of the underwater world, I present this Nikon ambassador. His photos are unmissable. If you don’t believe me, check out their websiteor your instagram account.
• Cindy Jeannon. French photographer. Indicated for lovers of minimalism and the Nordic landscape. Contraindicated for those looking for dynamism and bright colors. More on his website😉

This is just an appetizer. In the network you will find many more, according to your style you will be able to better refine your tastes and interests. Later I will tell you a trick to find more fascinating authors.

MOBILE PHONE APPS FOR NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY

Planning is important, luckily you have numerous mobile applications, one better known and others much less, but no less interesting:

• Photopills: A very complete application that will help you in many aspects. Both when planning and taking the picture.
• GPS Kit: An amazing app, especially for curious hikers and photographers who like to let go and not get lost on the way, as it allows you to return to a certain place with great precision (works even without phone/data coverage).
• PeakFinder AR: Ideal for lovers of the mountains. With augmented reality, it works offline and recognizes more than 800,000 peaks. Hardly anything, huh?
• Eltiempo.es: It is essential to know what the weather will be like, don’t you think? Whether you’re looking for a balmy day or chasing storms and lightning, you need reliable information like this to keep you informed.
• GeotagPhotos: This application is very convenient if you want to geotag your photos. That is, that the exact place where they were taken appears in their metadata.
• Dofmaster: Do you need to calculate the hyperfocal ? Measure depth of field? With this app you have it done.
• Enjoy Golden Hour: Free! To plan your sessions based on the sun.
• Tides plans: If your thing is to photograph the sea, this is your app, to check the status of the tides but also moon phases, sunrise and sunset, etc.

RECOMMENDED BOOKS ON PHOTOGRAPHY AND NATURE

As a lover of photography and nature, surely you like to have books in your library to inspire you and enjoy each of the images. Here are some really interesting titles:

• Delve into Nature Photography. I’ll start with our electronic book, which will help you capture incredible nature photographs from scratch with your camera, you can take it on your mobile or iPad.
• Imagining worlds (by Uge Fuertes). A truly inspiring book in terms of text and images. For nature photography in general, to awaken creativity in particular.
• Inspiration + Nature (by Marina Cano). Another one of those books that is a luxury to have and enjoy. Pure poetry in nature photography and more specifically of fauna.
• Macro Photography (by Fran Nieto) . To delve into macro photography with the help of a great teacher and expert in the field who will transmit his passion to you.
• Nature photography (by Iñaki Relanzón). Go through all the photographic disciplines with this book in which this great master of nature photography that I mentioned before presents you with 50 (spectacular) images and tells you how he has made them.
• Natural Paradises (A creative vision) . 24 authors tell you their vision, their experiences and share their passion with you in the form of fabulous nature photographs.
• Photographing in bad weather (by Eduardo Blanco Mendizabal) . For lovers of weather challenges. If yours are not the most peaceful landscapes, this is your book.

COMMUNITY OF NATURE PHOTOGRAPHERS

Belonging to a community of nature photographers offers you a lot of advantages. If you really get into this discipline, you will be accompanied in many ways. In Spain, for example, there is AEFONA.

You can search in your country or in your region because surely you have one nearby.

NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY CONTESTS

Entering local or international competitions is a way to stay motivated, to put your creativity to work and to stay active.

The important thing about contests is not to win them, that too (who wouldn’t want to, right?), but to participate, improve yourself, learn from others, know what works and what doesn’t and be inspired. As I have told you before, it is also a great way to discover great authors.

If you know how to get the best out of all this, I recommend that you be aware of the contests that are held and to which you can have access.

And in case you are interested, the best known is the Wildlife Photographer of the Year, although there is also the World Nature Photography Awardsor Nature Photographer of the Year, for instance. Seeing the winners of other editions is already a joy.

If you dare to present yourself, you can start with local contests or from your region if you have just started. When you have practice and ease and you are really satisfied with your images, you can make the leap to more international contests.

NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY AND PHOTOGRAPHIC ETHICS

I have told you before, in the tips for nature photography, an aspect that is not photographic but important, and it is the issue of being respectful. For me there are two basic aspects:

• Respect the species. Do not disturb them and do not harm them should be our motto. Sometimes due to ignorance we can also damage them. So when in doubt, it is better not to touch them. For example, spraying an insect with water can be very damaging because you can disrupt its cycles.
• Respect the enviroment. It is terrible to walk through the bush and find it full of waste. As lovers of photography and nature, it is our responsibility to be careful and think about the three R’s (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) when, for example, preparing the lunch that we are going to take with us.

Guide

We have reached the end and I want to end this super-mega-guide to nature photography with a humble piece of advice: LET NOTHING STOP YOU. Wherever you look, there is nature, go for it and practice. The rest are excuses.

Hopefully this complete guide will help you to achieve the best nature photos you can imagine and, above all, to enjoy it. Do not hesitate to write us in the comments if you have any questions.

What if you can share it? Of course, you do me and everyone who receives it a favor 😉.