Nature Photography How To

One of the first bits of advice offered to less-experienced photographers is to “get closer to your subject.” More advanced shooters know that moving in tight tends to avoid background clutter and emphasize the primary subject. Macro (or close-up) photography takes this tenet to the extreme and makes possible some very unique imagery as long as one owns the required equipment and employs proper techniques.

We've all captured what we thought was a great photo, only to pull it up on the computer and discover it's not nearly as compelling as expected—particularly when shooting outdoors when there are several challenges to overcome.

We typically strive for photos with precise sharpness, vibrance, and impressive color balance when shooting outdoors. But in this tutorial from one of our favorite instructors you'll learn why and how a subdued foggy effect can draw attention by conveying an ethereal, atmospheric mood.

Outdoor photographers are at the mercy of Mother Nature, and one aspect of a scene that can make or break an image is the appearance of the sky. Sometimes we confront dull overcast conditions, other times the sky is a flat blue, and perhaps the best situation is a bright blue sky with billowing clouds.

Landscape photographers know that the sky in a scene can make or break a photo. Soft billowing clouds make for compelling imagery, as do dark, threatening skies that evoke a dramatic sense of doom.

You’ve no doubt admired beautiful landscape photos with soft flowing water and cotton-like clouds, and perhaps wondered how they were captured. The typical approach is to use neutral density (ND) filters that significantly reduce the amount of light entering the lens, thereby permitting very slow shutter speeds that create this ethereal effect.

If you want to step out of your comfort zone and try something different, you’ve come to the right place. The tutorial below demonstrates a simple creative technique for expressing yourself that’s a lot of fun.