Nature Photography How To

The quickest way to fall into a creative rut is shooting the same types of images over and over again. Landscape photographers shoot landscapes, portrait specialists concentrate on people … well, you get the idea.

Regardless of your favorite photographic pursuit, you’re missing out on some very special opportunities if you never try your hand at nature scenes. After all, the beauty of nature surrounds us, wherever we live, and you’ll be able to take advantage of that by watching the beginners guide below.

This tutorial is the first of two-part series from the experts at Pangolin Wildlife Photography—a knowledgeable group of safari guides, workshop instructors, and photography experts based in Northern Botswana. Today’s instructor Janine Krayer spends much of her time shooting in the wilds of Africa, and she really knows her stuff.

You needn’t travel to exotic locations to make some really nice nature photos, be they images of backyard birds, animals at a nearby park or zoo, or interesting subjects at your local arboretum. By following Krayer’s simple advice you can join the ranks of nature photographers today.

This episode is all about what Krayer considers the important camera settings. She discusses everything from focus modes and white balance options, to metering and exposure compensation, frame-rate and picture-style settings, and a few other tips. As soon as Part II of this series is available, we’ll be sure and bring that to you too.

The tips in the helpful primers are valuable for all sports of outdoor photography, and will work well with just about any camera you own. Krayer says that even if you’re a newbie, “I want to help you so you don’t miss a shot.”

The second installment of this series will delve into several finer points of nature and wildlife photography, so get ready and stay tuned! You can find a variety of helpful tips on the Pangolin Wildlife Photography YouTube channel, so be sure to take a look.

And don’t miss another primer we posted from a British pro, explaining how to get started in wildlife photography.