Nature Photography How To

Last May we reported on an unfortunate incident in which three photographers were taken into custody for walking on the Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park and waterskiing behind an RV on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. Now the three have been convicted with two of the bunch facing jail time.

There are various ways that you can use to focus very close to small subjects. Here is a list of choices.

Macro Lenses. You can purchase a lens that is specifically designed to focus closely. These are called “macro” lenses, and they are available in focal lengths between 50mm and 200mm (figure A). They can also focus to infinity so you can use them for landscapes, portraits, etc., but photographers buy them primarily to use in close-up work.

You might say that images from distant, exotic locations are the stock and trade of a professional travel photographer, and certainly in my case you’d be mostly right. Those images pay off commercially and artistically, and when I can make them in places I’ve never before visited, they provide the added satisfaction of exploration and discovery.

If you’re stuck in a rut and need a few fresh ideas, this quick tutorial is for you. In just four minutes you’ll see how to make a big splash with your images by shooting creative photographs of water.

The sunny days of summer are drawing to a close, and overcast autumn weather is right around the corner. That means numerous opportunities for capturing the moody days of fall. In the video below, you’ll see how to shoot fantastic photos once the evening temperature drops and fog rolls in across the morning landscape.

Bird photography is a great way to spend some alone time in nature shooting, without worrying about social distancing. Best yet, it’s something you can even do in your own backyard. And if you prefer standing behind the camera instead of sitting behind a computer, this tutorial is for you.