Nature Photography How To

Zoos, wildlife parks and farms are some of my favorite places to recommend taking pictures, especially when you are looking to build your portfolio with a diverse subject matter. They offer many opportunities to learn how to photograph rare animals as well as teach you how to cope with challenging environments and locations, similar to what you would encounter if you were on safari on the savannahs of Tanzania or tracking tigers in the jungles of Borneo.

Growing up in London, England, Alan Murphy developed a fascination with birds at an early age. That enthusiasm followed him as he moved to the United States as an adult, but took an interesting tern (pun intended) once he settled on this side of the pond. 

This may be strange to hear from a travel photographer, but I can make a case that location isn’t everything—light is. And I’d build my argument on the fact that the right light brings out the best in any location.

The tiny hummingbird is an amazing creature with the ability to move so fast that the human eye can only perceive the blur of wings and a splash of color. This amazing slow-motion video from National Geographic provides a sharp, clear view of how hummingbirds go about their lives.

You may be surprised to learn that long-exposure photography at night can be accomplished without any specialized equipment, and if you watch this two-minute tutorial from Mango Street you’ll be able to easily capture stellar images of starlit skies.

Toma Abonciu is a pro landscape photographer with some really helpful tips on shooting and editing nature images. In the quick video below he discusses six essential accessories he says should be in the arsenal of every photographer who is serious about shooting the great outdoors.