Nature Photography How To

One of the most important skills in the early development of all photographers is knowing how to interpret the light falling on a scene, and then choosing the camera settings that will result in a perfectly exposure photo. With a bit of knowledge and practice, this quickly becomes second nature—enabling you concentrate on other key variables that make up a great image.

(In March 1986, the Least Bell’s Vireo, a bird species that Moose Peterson had volunteered to photograph, was listed as endangered, and Moose, who was just starting out as a photographer, was about to learn the power of a single image.)

Should you emphasize the foreground in landscape photos, strive to balance nearby objects with those in the distance, or eliminate the foreground altogether? That obviously depends upon the scene. The tutorial below explains how to make this important decision for the best possible results.

Landscape photographers walk a fine line when heading into the great outdoors, when it comes choosing the gear to pack. On the one hand, it’s important to be prepared for whatever you encounter. Conversely, it’s nice to minimize your load, especially if you plan a long hike.

Temperatures are dropping and the first day of winter is barely around the corner, with all the great photo opportunities the chilly new season will present. One way to best capture the essence of winter is to include falling snow in your images.

One of the hardest things about photographing birds is that they usually know you’re there. Whether it’s by seeing, smelling, or hearing you, our fine feathered friends are always acutely aware of your presence, especially when you have a giant telephoto lens pointed at them.

Sunsets and sunrises are among the most popular scenes to shoot; yet photographers are often disappointed with their results because of the difficult lighting conditions involved. If you want to make sure your images are as spectacular as what you witnessed through the viewfinder, watch the detailed tutorial below.