Nature Photography How To

For Jess Findlay, outdoor photography was a natural. Growing up in British Columbia (BC), Canada, surrounded by lush landscapes, enthralling wilderness, and birds of every feather, nature called to him every time he stepped outside, spurred on by family activities that included hiking, mountain biking, and birdwatching. As a young child, he would buy disposable cameras for family outings, and that only whet his appetite for the photographic arts. Before he knew it, he was thoroughly immersed. Nature and photography were on converging paths, meeting at a crossroads that would mark his future forever.

Trevor Pottelberg’s “Lighthouse Project” proves that you needn’t travel far from home to create a spectacular photo essay. The Canadian landscape photographer spent an entire year photographing the same lighthouse near his home in Brownsville, Ontario with absolutely beautiful, and different, results.

While most photographers are packing their gear away for winter, an increasing number are finding winter to be their favorite season for photography. Photographers willing to brave the cold often find popular locations deserted, dramatic light, and fresh snow that makes scenes come alive. Whether it’s a once-in-a-lifetime trip to a destination like Yellowstone, Alaska, or Yosemite, or something closer to home, winter is a great time to get to know these locations in a much more intimate way and at slower pace. Here are nine reasons why winter is the best season to go out and shoot.

Jeff McPheeters is a Kansas-based pro whose extensive portfolio encompasses everything from interior design and event photography to landscape, nature and wildlife. While all of McPheeters’ work is impressive, the images he captures of raging storms in rural Kansas are especially spectacular.

Paolo Pettigiani is an Italian photographer/graphic designer whose stunning infrared photographs convey familiar scenes that are at once familiar and surreal. Based in Turin, Pettigiani says he finds inspiration during his travels by discovering “a new reality” with his unique infrared images.

Last month we shared several of our favorite entries in the 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year competition, and now that the spectacular winners have been chosen, we thought we’d feature a few of the First and Second Place Winners.

Brendon Cremer is a wildlife and nature photographer known for his stunning images of exotic animals in Africa. Among his most spectacular photographs are those in which he shoots his subjects by moonlight.