13. Scenic, Wildlife, and Nature Photography

One of the cool things about photography is that so many of the most interesting creative avenues run parallel to each other, criss-cross, or even meander down the same path from time to time. Once you get outdoors and begin shooting, the whole world is your subject. Animals, plants, and scenic vistas all beg to be captured and enjoyed. This chapter will help you deal with the world of nature—basically, anything that does not include humans.

As a result, you’ll find tips here for photographing wildlife of all sorts—but not, for example, people riding horses. Scenic photography can include human-made structures, such as the charming old barns often found in rural landscapes. Nature photographs can include flowering plants, trees, and other flora, but, generally, not photographs of formal flower gardens. However, photographing plant life most often incorporates elements of close-up and macrophotography, so I’m not going to explore that topic in this chapter. You’ll find what you need to know to photograph subjects close to the lens in Chapter 15.