Finding inspiration in the beauty of the natural world
When I was a kid, one of my favorite destinations was the local forest. The canopy of maples, oaks, and pines towering over me would inspire in me a sense of awe and wonder that no textbook ever could.
This appreciation for nature also led me to become interested in photography, though it took some time before I got the hang of it. Nowadays I'm constantly on the lookout for different subjects to shoot near me and although you can get inspiration from anywhere, there are some places that really present themselves as perfect locations for budding photographers or people wanting a new perspective on their subject matter.
The most important thing to remember is that nature should be appreciated, not studied (or maybe not even just that). The process of photographing a flower, or a particular bird for that matter, is the same as walking through it and experiencing it. The people who appreciate nature are the ones who don't just look at photos of it but actually get up in the morning to find themselves by it.
What are your favorite locations for photography? What inspires you to shoot there?
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We recently discovered a beautiful little spot in our own backyard named Ulland Woods. Many of our photographers have been popping in here often lately, hoping for golden light to fall on their subjects. It's a beautiful little spot and I can't help but be inspired by it.
Campers have to respect the land they're on at all times so they must know how to keep it clean as we all do on our own turf. Making sure that you have the proper equipment to maintain your environment is important, but also about more than that. Before you go out for a walk, make sure you fill up your water bottles and always take out the trash afterwards.
We all need to take care of our surroundings in order to preserve nature in its natural state and this is especially true for photographers who want to experience nature at its best.
If you're dying to get into nature and take some photos of your own, look for a local spot that attracts wildlife and scenery. Maybe it's a pond in your town that has ducks that would love to be photographed or maybe its a forest with acres and acres of natural beauty.
If you're lucky, there will be some interesting people around (like yourself) who also enjoy the great outdoors and are willing to share their view with you. You might stumble upon a park ranger or someone who actually works within the area and is willing to give you tips and tricks on what it's like to be in the middle of one of these beautiful places.
Another thing that I enjoy doing whenever I'm at a place with a lot of trees is to keep an eye out for signs that people have harvested wood from a particular area, especially if it's behind a fence or in front of private property. I love those moments when I see these signs and feel that this spot is actually quite special.
And finally, you'll want to make sure that you're shooting in RAW. Don't worry about it if you don't know what this is or how to shoot it but I simply love the way that RAW photos capture a lot more than the typical JPEGs.
I'm always looking for better places to take photographs so if you have any suggestions, please comment below.
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If there's one thing I've learned over the years of taking pictures, it's that one of the most important things is to find inspiration in nature and take advantage of some of its grandeur--find something special about a place and become infatuated with it.
Find a nice patch of grass and seclude yourself from the rest of the world. The key to becoming inspired is to do what you do in your own way--no one else can inspire you but you as an individual and your subject matter.
Photography is about capturing moments in time and setting them aside for people to enjoy long after they've passed. If you want to capture nature at its best, look for the best times of day when light will be perfect and most flattering.
Things to remember:
Whenever I'm out on a road trip, I drive with the windows down and the music up. Sometimes there's nothing better than a long road trip with good friends (and lots of coffee).
If you're like me, you're always trying to discover new things but one of your biggest distractions can be your phone or computer which is normally filled with apps that have been running in the background for days or even weeks.
These app killers will help you get rid of all those annoying programs so you can focus on what really matters in life (like photography!).
Burn the midnight oil. Try to get up and go shooting at 2:00 AM or 3:00 AM.
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I spend a lot of time in this forest, which is why I have my own spot in my backyard. I love plants, so I always look out for unique varieties and really enjoy seeing all the different colors of berries that grow here. If you go out there at just about any time of day, you'll see deer, foxes, birds and more running around and posing for pictures. This is a great place to get some really nice shots without the hassle of ending up with over-processed photographs that are more difficult to see than they ought to be.
One of my favorite things to do is to take a walk through the forest in the morning and see what I can find. During the summer, I love seeing mushrooms all over the ground which makes me feel as though I'm walking through an alien world--a lot of these mushrooms are huge and beautiful.
This is definitely one of my favorite places to be with a camera.
I have been taking pictures for years now and have learned that one of the most important things about trying to capture images is making sure that you're not forcing it--you want to try and make something out of nothing and not think too hard about what you're doing or else you might end up trying too hard to "force" your photographs.
Conclusion:
One of the things I've learned from reading a post by Walker Evans, one of the greatest photographers in history, is that he always tried to create artful photographs. It's not just about taking pictures but also about being able to do it in a way that's fun and enjoyable for everyone--even if you don't believe in yourself or your own abilities, there will always be others who are willing to help you out and give you advice on what it takes to become better.
I've gotten into photography because I love taking pictures of my children but over the years, I've grown into my own style.