Hobby Photography Tips – Resource for Learning Photographers

If you like to engage in digital nature photography, the first thing that you need to have is a genuine interest in nature not just because they are good for beautiful wall ornaments. You have to love nature itself and not just a photograph of nature.

Professional photographers always say that you have to know your subjects well in order to capture its essence. This applies greatly on digital nature photography also for a very practical reason. If you like to make wildlife as your subject, you have to at least know something about biology and other related natural sciences. It is important to know the difference between a savannah and a rainforest to better manipulate lighting effects and choose the appropriate equipment to use.

It is difficult to take a photograph of a flock of seagulls if you do not have any idea when they would actually arrive. If you do not know the difference between a cheetah and a leopard, you will miss the chance to capture their distinctive qualities. The art of digital nature photography entails all that. You do not just take a picture of a leopard. You have to take a picture of a leopard stealthily anticipating a prey as it lounges on a treetop.

They say that in photography, equipment is the least important consideration you will have to make. It is partly true that you can take pretty nice pictures of wildlife with a mere black and white Polaroid but with the latest technology available, you get more freedom with your shots and in the long run, be able to develop your own styles and techniques.

When you are about to photograph animals whether they are wild or tame, there is one thing you ought to have in addition to your camera, and that is patience. Let me rephrase that, you need plenty with patience! And of course enough time. For you have to prepare yourself on a fair amount of waiting on the correct situations to appear. If you are willing to wait, then you will also increase your chances of getting some distinguished gleam shots. It also helps to have a tripod nearby so that you are ready to fire on short warnings when the right moment occurs.

General tips and advice:

It’s a good idea to concentrate on a specific type of pictures at a time – e.g. overview pictures, when they eat, other activities, close-ups etc. Then you’ll work on a far calmer and structured way, and you get a feeling with when you have taken enough pictures of the different situations. This principle is valid in many other situations you will encounter as a hobby photographer, wanting to take great pictures of animals.

Always have new film or empty memory cards in your camera when you expect something special is about to happen. Whether you have some pictures again on the film – exchange to a new one when you have a peaceful moment, so you don’t miss out on any gleam shots if you have to change film or erase pictures in the middle of an important happening.

Unexpected situations:
Be ready for unexpected things, and watch carefully for special occurrences. Try to imagine which situations that can arise. Then you can get many funny pictures that you never would have thought to see. Hold your camera steady and pointing the right way at all times.

Wild animals:

To photograph animals in the countryside is a great test of your patience. Some times you will be lucky, and finding yourself in the middle of moments when everything is happening at once. It is important to always stay calm, so the animals don’t become disturbed by your presence and quickly runs away. If you have to move, then walk quietly and don’t make any piercing sounds. While you are setting up all your equipment, you should not “hunt” for the animals simultaneous at the same time. Try to find out where they move and try to study their moving patterns, this way you might be able to find some natural openings behind some bushes. Again be patient if your stressed out by the fact that you haven’t taken any good photographs yet, then you certainly wont do it now either.