Nature Photography at Its Best

Toledo has an amazing park system. The Metroparks mission of conservation and education has preserved more than 10,500 acres of natural, historical and cultural parklands in Lucas County, including land set aside for future parks. Because Secor Metropark is home to the National Center for Nature Photography, I knew it was one I had to check out.

The Center is North America’s first and only center totally devoted to nature photography. Its hands-on programs combine learning experiences in both nature and photography. It also houses stunning camera work of talented local and regional photographers. In fact, a traveling National Geographic Museum exhibit, Last Stand: America’s Virgin Lands, is what prompted my visit.  That and the fact admission was free … we like free!

The 57 works on display were drawn from a Nat Geo book of the same name by award-winning photographer Annie Griffiths Belt and noted author Barbara Kingsolver, and featured unique images that document America’s endangered wilderness area. Four hundred years ago the North American continent was virgin land; incredibly less than one percent of it can be called that today. Griffiths Belt’s hand-tinted, infrared photographs capture the spirit and beauty of five diverse bioregions—wetlands, woodlands, coasts, grasslands and drylands—and remind us why they should be preserved. A companion exhibit also featured photographs of wilderness preserved by Metroparks and other organizations in northwest Ohio, many of which were taken by the Center’s director, Art Weber. Both exhibits were fascinating and showcased gorgeous works.

The Center also offers workshops and field experience with nature photographers and naturalists. Though I wouldn’t necessarily rule out taking advantage of such an opportunity, a three-hour commute to do so isn’t ideal. So I did the next best thing and picked up their printout entitled Ten Top Photo Tips for Beginners. Many of the things they recommend are techniques I am already putting into practice, but since there’s always room for improvement I’m willing to undertake further suggestions.  My philosophy is that if I walk away knowing even just one thing I didn’t know when I first walked in, it was worthwhile. That being said, I thought I’d share the tips with the hope that someone else may also benefit from them.

Read, learn, photograph!

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Ten Top Photo Tips for Beginners

1 Do the Right Thing. The first rule of nature photography is “Don’t destroy what you love.” Your subject is more important than any photo you could take of it, so don’t disturb the plants or animals as you photograph them. Stay on trails, don’t trample vegetation, use common sense.

2 Know Your Camera. The most expensive camera equipment available won’t do you any good if you don’t know how to use it. Whatever you’re using, know its capabilities and limitations. If it’s not capable of shooting photos indoors, don’t. If you can’t do close-up photography, don’t use it for that. Good technique is far more important in photography than the equipment.

3 K.I.S.S.  Keep it simple stupid. Keep your main subject(s) bold in your photos and keep your background simple. Don’t try to include too much.

4 Film Can’t See Like Your Eyes. Film (digital, too) isn’t as sensitive as your eyes. You see a wide range of details in darkness and light that film can’t. Try to compose your photos so that, no matter what the light level, your subject is in the best light in the photo.

5 Watch Your Highlights. As you compose your photos, keep in mind that when people look at photos their eyes are drawn to the highlights. Bright areas in a photo attract attention, dark areas recede. And, if you’re setting your camera exposure manually, always exposure your film to properly record the highlights.

6 Get Out of the Middle. The Rule of Thirds is a great way to practice good composition. Basically, the Rule of Thirds divides any image into three columns vertically and three rows horizontally, making nine rectangles within your photo. Keep your subject out of the middle rectangle. Instead put your subject on one of the four intersecting points, the Points of Power. Make sure you leave room for action to move into. If you’re shooting a sunset or something that includes a horizon, place the horizon on one of the horizontal lines. Try it, you’ll like it!

7 See the Light. Try shooting your photos in the more dramatic light near dawn and sunset. Light at those times of day is generally warmer (in color) and more pleasing. Low angle light also creates longer and more interesting shadows, and brings out textures.

8 Get Closer! Well, maybe not THAT close. If it’s safe, move in closer to your subject so it’s more dramatic in your photo. Don’t always think that you have to show the entire subject. Let a spray of leaves represent an entire tree or zoom in on the head of an animal for a more visual impact.

9 Work the Angles. Don’t always shoot your photos head-on while you’re standing up. Crouch down and look up, get higher and look down. Turn your subject so it’s lit from behind or from the side. See familiar things in a new way.

10 You Got Style! Be imaginative. Set yourself apart. Develop your own way of seeing things with your camera. Everybody takes photos, but not very many people take great ones.