Fine Art Nature Photography – Aspects You Need to Know

By co-admin | In: Photography | No Comments

9 February 2010

You are here: Home / Photography / Fine Art Nature Photography – Aspects You Need to Know

They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder , but there are still encompassing aspects that differentiate fine art from simply taking pictures in nature photography .

First and foremost , a photographer that wants to produce fine art must accept the reality that they’ll need to take literally hundreds of photos for every photo that is a contender for fine art. Often times , there is precious little a photographer can do when their subject cannot be predicted beyond having a stockpile of patience and the reactive reflexes of a stalking spider . The very first aspect relating to fine art nature photography then is trying to capture a moment whenever it occurs . Anyone can photograph lions sleeping in the grass or a storm that hits a reservoir, but the photographer that is both focused and patient who can immortalize the airborne moment before a pounce , or the first of a thousand spreading raindrop ripples .

Another important part of creating fine art nature photography is to ensure you have the right equipment . One example, a good tripod is important when you take nature photos not only to keep shots consistent, but to keep movement of the photographer to a minimum so they don’t disturb the wild environment. The proper lens for the type of photography one is doing is also important , for a 300/4 lens will produce a much different effect than a different type of lens, like a wide angle 20mm.

Another aspect is lighting that really shows the difference between fine art nature photography and the Sunday shots at the zoo . Natural light is usually most abundant , and it’s usually the best option , but only if it’s not midday sun that is harsh. A photographer should not just be familiar with a source of light, but also the ability to control it . Using umbrellas, reflective foils, and white boards may not be needed when photographing nature depending on the time of day and the composite of the landscape . Of course, you need to know what equipment is needed and what you don’t need to get the effects you want.

As we already mentioned , beauty is definitely in the eye on the one beholding the photo, the particular practices and techniques will show up in pictures worthy of bearing the title “fine art.” If you want to produce fine art nature photography, you need to be ready and patient , must know the needed and unneeded equipment , and finally , must master the range of lighting techniques used to get the effect desired . The rest is up to nature and chance .