The endless beauty that is present in nature never ceases to amaze me. Whether I am on a canoe trip enjoying the beautifully vibrant fall colors, or admiring a garden in the heart of the city. My fascination with nature has always been associated with my love of photography. I am far from being a professional nature photographer, but I do like to consider myself an accomplished amateur nature photographer. I can’t help but dream about spending thousands of dollars on the camera of my dreams, but for the average nature photographer your money will be much better spend on more film and a few books on the subject. Composing a beautiful photograph is not a difficult task. Rather, it is one that requires an understanding of what you are looking for.
Along the way, I have encountered many others who consider themselves an amateur nature photographer like myself. Each time I meet someone who shares this passion I make a point to share photography tips. Unfortunately a lot of the technical advice I receive – type of film, shutter speed, aperture, etc.. – is contradictory so all I will say is that you must understand the benefits of these different settings and the best education you can get as a nature photographer is experience. If you get especially good results with a certain film, then keep using it regardless of what others say. There are, however, three pieces of advice that I feel should be shared with every nature photographer. First, try to divide your pictures into thirds. I am not sure the exact reasoning behind this, but if you look at your favorite shots I can almost guarantee that you will see this. Second, take lots and lots of photos. Experience will prove to be the best teacher, not to mention that taking several shots of the same object will often help find the best possible angle. Third, and most important is to decide what your picture is about before you take it. Do you want to focus on the vibrant color of a flower, or how it stands out among the background? Answering these questions will surely improve the quality of your photos.
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