How to Capture Beautiful Nature Photography | 9 Tips for Beginners

Some people might think photography is about capturing the moment, but photography is an art. Photographers should be mindful of what they are doing when taking a photo. Where to stand and how much time they take to capture it. When photographing nature, it’s essential to be patient and observant. In this blog, I will talk to you about nature photography. How to capture images of the natural world even in your own backyard. I will also share some nature photography tips that helped at the beginning of my photography journey.

What is Nature Photography?

Nature photography is the photography of natural objects and scenes. This can include landscapes, plants, animals, weather phenomena, and other features of nature. A photographer might take a photo of a beautiful landscape with mountains in the background or photograph a close-up shot of a flower.

When you capture nature photos, there are many things to consider, such as the time of day, the weather, and what type of photography you want. For example, if you’re going to photograph landscapes, you will want to go out early in the morning or late in the evening when the light is softer. If you’re going to take photos of animals, then you’ll need to be patient and wait for them to come close.

The best way to capture the natural beauty of flora and fauna is by being patient, observant, and intentional with your shots. To do so, you should be mindful of where you stand when photographing something-stand still instead of running around all over the place. You also want to take time looking for distinctive elements that catch your eye, so you have an idea of what to frame in your shot!

Landscape Photography

One of the most popular types of nature photography is landscape. In this type of photography, the photographer takes breathtaking photos of landscapes, including mountains, rivers, forests, and other natural scenery.

To take great landscape photos, you will need to learn how to use your camera’s settings properly. Understand perspective and depth-of-field.

One of the most important things to remember when you want to take amazing images of landscapes is to choose the right time of day. Always use natural light if possible.

Take a look at my landscape portfolio

Macro Photography

Macro photography is a type that captures small objects in great detail. This type of photography can include flowers, insects, and other small creatures.

You will need a tripod and a unique lens, known as a macro lens, to take great macro photos. The focal point is critical in Macro.

When photographing small objects, it is essential to get close-up and use a wide aperture so that the object will be in focus while the background is blurred.

Animal and Wildlife Photography

One of the best wildlife photography tips for beginners is to be patient when it comes to photographing animals. It would be best if you waited until you could see the animal or find a good hiding spot where you could see them at all times.

Wildlife photography isn’t only about capturing an animal in action and photography in a natural setting.

A zoom lens is vital as animals are usually in the distance. A mirrorless or a DSLR camera with fast continuous shooting is also helpful.

Take a look at wildlife portfolio

Tip #1 Get to know your camera settings

One of the most critical nature photography tips for beginners is getting to know your camera settings before taking photos.

Once you are familiar with your camera, it will be easier for you to photograph wildlife or nature subjects because there are times when things move quickly, and if you don’t have a firm grasp of how your shutter speed works, you might end up with blurry photos.

Tip #2 Always shoot raw

When photographing in RAW, you are giving yourself more editing options for photography post-processing. Raw images are bigger files and allow you to preserve all the information.

Tip #3 Choose the Right Lens

If you are photographing wildlife or nature, choosing the right lens is essential. For example, suppose your subject is far away and small in size (like a butterfly). In that case, it’s best to use telephoto lenses because these types of photography subjects will be too tiny for wide-angle photography.

For landscape photography, wide-angle lenses are great for capturing landscapes in their entirety. Imagine shooting landscapes in national parks, and you want to capture the incredible scenery. Then even an ultra-wide-angle lens would be helpful.

If you are a wildlife photographer, a big telephoto lens is crucial. It would be best if you had as much compression as possible to get ”close” to your wild animals and create beautiful images.

Tip #4 Shoot in Manual Mode

One of the essential photography tips for beginners is always shooting in manual mode even if you are photographing landscape or macro photography subjects because there will be times when things come up. It helps to have complete control over your photography settings.

For wildlife, photos are also essential to fully control your exposure. Fast shutter speed will help you ”freeze” the action and avoid a blurred image.

Tip #5 Choose the right time of day

One of the best photography tips for beginners is to choose the right time of day. For example, if you are planning on photographing landscapes, then early morning or late in the evening will be your best option because there isn’t as much harsh light during these times, and it makes taking photos easier.

An additional tip is that sunsets and sunrises are always amazing.

Tip #6 Use a tripod

A tripod is an essential piece of equipment for nature photography because it will help you stabilize your camera and get sharper images, especially when using a slow shutter speed. Also, allow you to keep your horizontal lines straight.

Tip #7 Use AF continuous mode when photographing wildlife

Continuous autofocus can be very effective with animals and birds. Using this photography mode will help ensure that your photos are in focus, even if the animal or bird is moving.

Tip #8 Post Process

There are many different software programs that you can use to edit your photos, but Adobe Photoshop Lightroom is an excellent program for beginners because it’s easy to learn. There are lots of tutorials available online.

Tip #9 Never stop exploring

This advice is as practical for a novice landscaper as for a pro. There is an increased risk that people will burn out when photographing landscapes because the cost of traveling and exploring new places is very high.

When I tell you not to stop and explore, it doesn’t necessarily mean you must go to a new nation or even a new location. I’m talking about an infant-like sense of curiosity. Look around your feet, investigate the big rock and find a small cave. You can have fun in the woods behind your home.

Respect the natural world

Nature photography is all about capturing the natural beauty of the world around us, so it’s important to remember to be respectful of our surroundings and not disturb or damage any plants or wildlife.

There is no way of expressing this without using the phrase ” Leaves merely footprints”. It’s so cliché, but it couldn’t get better. Keep all of your waste in your possession, even if the items you have are considered bio-degradable.

Respect your surroundings. It is essential to avoid damaging the surroundings of the environment. We photograph a complex world in which life exists, and many animals reside.

Learn more about how to help nature here

Conclusion

I hope you have enjoyed this post on capturing the beauty of nature in stunning photos and found my nature photography tips helpful! Be sure to leave a comment in the space below and subscribe for more advice on capturing nature in your photography. I can also work with you one-on-one to help you create beautiful images that make your photography stand out from the rest. Just send me an email at info@vasilismoustakas.com