How To Improve Your Nature Photography

Good nature photography is much more a product of effort and patience than your choice of camera. This image of a beautiful white duck on radiant blue water was shot with the cheapest DSLR made by Sony (The Sony A200, now discontinued) and a forty-year-old 200mm, manual Pentax Takumar lens that was acquired for the modest sum of $30. (US). Modest equipment indeed!

This image was captured near my home in Phoenix Arizona. I would visit this park (Papago Park) three times a week, shooting and learning about light. In doing so, I discovered that the sunlight in winter is more appealing near sunset. It reflects on the waters of the lagoon in a way that creates rich blue tones for about an hour before sunset. That light would make the most common of subjects uncommonly beautiful. Timing and observation made this an appealing photo, not the camera!

This image above is one of eight I made of this subject. As the subject was constantly in motion, it was a challenge keeping the head and eye in sharp focus with a bit of ‘catchlight’ in the eye. The other images I shot do not have the eye in sharp focus. This is the one that captured exactly what I had in mind. At times you will need shoot a number of photos to get image you want.

That effort and patience is what makes good photos. You cannot rush good results. Buy a camera you can afford, and learn its features. Learn the craft of photography. Often a class or two can provide a boost in your skills. Shoot often. Learn from what you shoot. Take note of the effect of natural light in different seasons and different times of the day in your photos. Learn to see that light when you look at a landscape or outdoor setting. Take control the quality of your work by being selective of the light conditions you shoot in.

Finally, keep in mind that even the best photographers do not create a masterpiece with every click of the shutter. Experiment, adjust, shoot often. If you can create one memorable shot out of every 30 or so, then you are doing quite well!

The Camera Does Not Matter!

Is that really so? Well here’s proof! The top photo in this article was shot with a Sony Alpha A200 with a 40 year old lens attached, the second photo was shot with a Nikon D40 with a Nikon 55-200mm VR lens. Both were edited from the raw file using Capture One 5. Can you see any discernible difference in image quality that would cause you to choose one as shot with better equipment than the other? I don’t think so! Truthfully, your skill as a photographer has more to do with the results you obtain than the camera you choose. Stop obsessing about the technology and learn to shoot. You will se the rewards if you do so.

Technical Details:

Top Photo: Camera: Sony Alpha A200 (10 megapixel DSLR). Lens: Pentax Takumar 200mm F:4 manual prime lens mounted using a M42-Sony lens adapter. No polarizer. ISO 100, 1/640 second, F:8. Captured handheld. Image was captured raw and edited in Capture One 5.

Second Photo: Camera: Nikon D40 (6 megapixel DSLR). Lens: Nikon 55-200mm VR. No Polarizer. ISO 400, 1/250 second, F:8. Captured handheld. Image was captured raw and edited in Capture One 5.

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