Posts Tagged ‘fine art nature photography’

Fine Art Nature Photography - How to Compose a Perfect Picture

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

Fine Art Nature Photography

As with other pictures , fine art nature photography is designed to communicate a message .  Good nature photos should put subjects in the light you want and communicate well.  The composition is crucial for great results. The following are some important techniques for fine art nature photography, and how they should be used .  You need to remember - an amateur can take a great photo once in a while , but practice is needed to do this purposefully!

Composition in photography refers to how the visual elements are arranged .  This is done using color, line, tone, texture, depth, perspective, lighting and many other elements .  Although when taking a photo it’s tough to remember them all , you can simplify this process.  Just as a few questions when you are looking through the viewfinder of the camera .  What’s the photo’s message , and what’s the best way to communicate it ?  If these questions can be answered , most of the other factors will fall into place .

Fine art nature photography with a clear message is more successful .  Every photo that you take doesn’t have to be political statements or an allegory .  The messages involved are most often simple, and difficult to express .  However, most good photos has a message .  You simply must think .

Keep it simple when you are composing, especially if you’re getting your start in this type of photography .  Don’t use a photo to showcase many subjects - just go with one.  Some professionals actually look at scenes in terms of what they can remove and yet keeping the composition good.  Through the viewfinder, find tune everything until you’ve removed as many distractions as possible .

You must have patience.  You won’t get good composition in an instant, although it often looks like .  Up to ten minutes can be taken to compose some of these photos .  While some photography does require quick pointing and shooting , as much as the subject allows, you need to slow down.

Don’t ignore any part of the scene .  Fill the frame with interesting, on-message areas .  Get closer or zoom in to avoid it being difficult to see.  Don’t forget about the verticals, either - most people take primarily horizontal photos .  Mountains and trees are both important!  Lines are everywhere - recognize them to improve photos, instead of letting them interfere .

While good fine art nature photography involves practice, you’ll be surprised what a little care can do to improve your photos .  Check it out yourself !

Understanding the Various Aspects of Fine Art Nature Photography

Monday, February 8th, 2010

They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder , but still some aspects exist that differentiate between nature pictures and fine art nature photography.

First and foremost , the photographer interested in producing art must accept the reality that hundreds of pictures will need to be taken for every one that may be a contender . Sometimes , there is precious little a photographer can do when the subject matter is organic and unpredictable other than using quick reflexes and a whole lot of patience. The very first aspect relating to fine art nature photography then is the ability to catch a natural moment. Anyone can photograph lions sleeping in the grass or a storm pelting a reservoir , but it’s a photographer that is focuses and patient who can immortalize the airborne moment before a pounce , or the first of a thousand spreading raindrop ripples .

Yet another aspect of creating nature photos that are fine art is to ensure you have the right equipment . One example, a good tripod is imperative if you’re taking photos in nature not only to ensure the consistency of the shots , but to help the photographer avoid as much movement as they can so the environment is not disturbed . The right lens for the particular style of photography is also important , for a 300/4 lens will produce a much different effect than a 20mm wide angle lens .

Yet another aspect to consider is lighting that carves canyons between fine art nature photography and the Sunday shots at the zoo . It’s easy to find natural light , and it’s the best, but only if it isn’t too harsh as it is midday . Not only should you know about light sources , but controlling it too . The use of white boards and reflective foils, umbrellas and the like may not be necessary for all nature photography depending on landscape composite and the time you’re shooting . Once again , it’s imperative that you know the equipment you do and don’t need in order to produce the effect one desires .

As we already mentioned , beauty is definitely in the eye on the one beholding the photo, but certain techniques and practices will show up in pictures worthy of bearing the title “fine art.” If you want to produce fine art nature photography, the photographer must have patience and be ready, must know the needed and unneeded equipment , and in the end, must master the techniques of lighting used to get the effect desired . Everything else is about nature and left to chance.