Some Facts About Nature Landscape Photography
October 8, 2010 by Sheree Mendoza
Filed under Cameras
The desire to artistically capture the natural world is in every photographers heart, as is the urge to create art. In earlier eras, this urge was transformed into still life, nature studies, and landscape painting by artists like Monet and Turner, whose paintings are perfect examples of natural art. These days the work of documenting nature by camera is called nature landscape photography.
This art form is based on displaying the elements of nature such as landscapes, wildlife, plants, and natural scenes and textures. This medium strives to capture the aesthetic beauty of a particular natural phenomenon, as opposed to more objective photography.
Natural photography is therefore built around our sense of aesthetic harmony, and flows from the pleasure it gives us. The myriad shapes that natural objects assume, and the treasure trove of beautiful natural textures and colors, draw photographers to landscape photography in large numbers. Unfortunately, not many have the essential ingredients required to make it in the field.
Common sense dictates that those who photograph war-zones and totalitarian societies work under more strain than mere landscape photographers, but like all cliches, this one is untrue. While it is true that taking photos of nature is geared towards our sense of aesthetic beauty, and derives its justification from the pleasure it gives us, this bias is false for reasons explained below.
That being said, you will have to put in at least two ingredients in order to go far in landscape photography. One of these is a camera, naturally, but an expensive camera is no substitute without the following: perseverance and preparation.
Nature photographers regularly spend upwards of 20 hours in snowy conditions for the perfect shot of animals and natural beauties. They trek through arduous climes such as the Gobi or the Sahara Desert to gain that extra edge over all the other nature photographers doing similar things. Landscape photographers are prepared to go the extra mile to stay focused.
Many experts will argue that a high-end camera is necessary for great pictures. This is manifestly untrue. While a high-end camera and expensive editing equipment can make your work look as good as a Hollywood movie, nothing will make up for lack of imagination and experience.
So go ahead and add a fourth ingredient to the above list: vision. This is absolutely essential if you want, say, National Geographic to feature your work. Without perseverance allied to preparation, you will spend your time taking pictures of the local hillsides. But without vision, no one will want to see them.
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