subject: Different Aspects Of Fine Art Nature Photography [print this page] A popular saying is that beauty's in the eye of the beholder, but there are still encompassing aspects that differentiate between nature pictures and fine art nature photography.
First and foremost , the photographer interested in producing art needs to accept the fact that hundreds of pictures will need to be taken for each one that is a piece of fine art . In many cases, not much can be done by the photographer when dealing with an unpredictable subject beyond having a stockpile of patience and the reactive reflexes of a stalking spider . The first aspect of fine art nature photography then is capturing the natural moment when it happens . Any photographer can take a pictures of sleeping lions or a storm that hits a reservoir, but the photographer that is both focused and patient who can immortalize the airborne moment before a pounce , or the very first ripples as the rain falls on water.
Yet another aspect of creating nature photos that are fine art is to ensure you have the right equipment . A tripod, for example, is essential when shooting in nature not only to ensure the consistency of the shots , but to keep movement of the photographer to a minimum so they don't disturb the wild environment. The right lens for the particular style of photography is imperative , for a 300/4 lens is going to produce a very different type of effect than a 20mm wide angle lens .
Yet another aspect to consider is lighting that carves canyons between fine art nature photography and simple shots from the zoo . Natural light is usually most abundant , and it's the best, but only when it's not harsh like it is in the middle of the day . A photographer should not just be familiar with a source of light, but also be able to control it. The use of white boards and reflective foils, umbrellas and the like might not be needed when taking nature photos depending on your time of shooting and the landscape you're shooting. Once again , it's imperative that you know the equipment you do and don't need to get the effects you want.
As mentioned , beauty is in the eye of the beholder , the particular practices and techniques will show up in pictures worthy of bearing the title "fine art." If your end goal is fine art nature photography, you need to be ready and patient , must know what equipment is and is not needed, and in the end, must master the techniques of lighting that can be used to get the effects you want. Everything else is about nature and left to chance.
