Nature Photography

The coronavirus outbreak has the world on lockdown. This has become a photographer’s nightmare. Landscape, street and event photography opportunities are very limited, and often impossible. But Nature has become our sanctuary.

You may have noticed that its Spring, soon to be summer. Nature is enjoying herself without us. Officials for the US Department of the Interior have announced that birds and other wildlife will continue going about their regular bird and wildlife activities, such as flapping, squawking, and stalking, during the pandemic.

When the city is silent, Nature is vibrant. The song birds are still migrating, trees are growing green, and flowers are blooming and bringing bright colors into the world. You can get the joy of being outside and appreciate the most prolific plant and wildlife on the planet.

Keep your camera accessible and never miss another moment.

Photography in Winter

Winter is the season when nature photographers freeze their fingers off to capture images of frozen water, animals and birds on the landscape. Winter leaves the marsh cold and windy, but not barren. The marsh is still alive with birds, and many unseen creatures.

No matter the season, bird photography has always been a special niche among wildlife photographers. Indeed, bird photography is one of the most popular genres of nature photography. You have to be fascinated by birds to be passionate about capturing them on media .Most successful bird photographers have an in depth understanding of birds behavior and habits.

Bird photography isn't just about getting close to your subject. Its also about creating beautiful compositions, getting the light right, exposing properly and learning to track fast moving or flying subjects.

During these bleak winter days, there are still a few herons and egrets around, swans; brant and Canada geese abound, as do various ducks. Other species that may be found are doves, kingfishers, blue jays, starlings, and yellow rumped warblers, finches, and of course the ever present house sparrow.

Insect Photography
Capturing stunning insect photographs requires patience, practice and some expert tips. Here are some tips to get you started.

Equipment

1. Macro lens: A macro lens is essential for capturing high-quality close up photos of insects. However you may be able to make macro photos with a  telephoto lens by standing further away and zooming in on your subject. (this is what I do!)
2. Lighting: in some situations, such as photographing insects in shadow, you may want to use a flash on or off your camera to illuminate your subject. Small light cubes are also available, which may not startle your subject as much.(They can also be used as a portable flash light)

Camera Settings

Use a small aperture to insure a large depth of field, keeping the insect in focus, with a fast shutter speed. The ISO should be as low as you need to accommodate the light available to minimize noise and ensure the best image quality.

Composition and Technique

1. Get close
2. Pay attention to lighting
3. Be patient
4. Anticipate behavior
5. Experiment with angles
6. When possible shoot on burst. You may use up more space on your chip, but this allows for your subjects movements ( and possible unexpected behavior)

Additional Tips

1. Respect your subject. Handle insects gently and humanely, and never harm or disturb them for the sake of a photo.
2. Research your subject: Learn about the insect's behavior, habitat, and life cycle to netter understand and capture their unique characteristics.