Nature Photography How To

One advantage of owning a home, or living in an apartment with a pretty yard, is that there's abundance of great photo opportunities right outside your door. Today's topic is garden photography, and the following tutorial from Quiet Light Photo provides five time-tested tips for getting the job done to perfection.

Instructor Adam Gibbs specializes in all forms of nature and landscape photography, with an avid following on YouTube among subscribers who appreciate his shooting and editing advice. He summarizes today's episode this this: "Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out these five tips will help you capture the beauty and essence of any garden."

Gibbs insists that by following his advice you'll be able to easily transform photos from ordinary to extraordinary. He begins with a tip that's important when capturing all types outdoor images so be sure to keep it in the back of your mind. This one is all about experimenting with unusual  camera angles and perspectives.

You see how a simple shift in viewpoint can turn a ho-hum shot into one that really demands attention. Getting down low for a ground-level shot, for example, makes plants appear larger and more dramatic. Conversely, shooting from above provide a bird-eye view of a garden to show off its layout and interesting patterns.

Gibbs' second tip is what he calls "Tell a story with smaller vignettes." This is what he means: Instead of capturing the entire garden in one shot, try focusing on individual flowers, unique plant arrangements, or even interesting corners within the garden. As he says, "these detail photos will convey the garden's character and mood more effectively that a single, wide shot."

Next on the list is incorporating man-made objects within the frame to add a human element to your photos. Simple elements like garden tools, benches, a bird bath, and sculptures, will add depth and context to an image.

There are two more tips to go and they're just as easy and effective as those summarized above. One involves capturing close-ups and patterns, while the other demonstrates how to use overcast skies to enhance colors and minimize noise. So take a look and see how all five techniques will significantly improve the garden photos you shoot.

After watching the lesson take a look at Gibb's popular YouTube channel where you'll find an abundance of shooting and post-processing advice.

And don't miss the tutorial we posted earlier from another accomplished pro who explains the meaning of the term "fast lenses" and how to take advantage of them for the best photographs possible.