Outdoor Photography How To

Last week we featured the first of a two-part beginners guide to nature and wildlife photography from expert Janine Krayer—a photographer and instructor who spends much of her time teaching workshops and photographing exotic animals in the wilds of Africa.

From my perch on a rock outcrop above the Arctic River, I could make out every detail of the valley. The autumn tundra was a mosaic of red, orange, and yellow. The river flowed pale blue below the gray of storm clouds that were, in turn, lit with just a hint of sunset light. 

Most experienced nature photographers will tell you that great light is the key to spectacular landscape photographs. But when Mother Nature doesn’t cooperate, it’s time to turn to compositional devices like the powerful “S Curve” if you don’t want to come home empty-handed.

Romanian nature photographer Toma Bonciu (AKA “Photo Tom”) is one of our favorite sources of quick and helpful videos for outdoor shooters. This episode is what you might call a “learning how to see” tutorial, that will also unburden you of carrying extra gear.

Jeff McPheeters is a Kansas-based pro whose extensive portfolio encompasses everything from interior design and event photography to landscape, nature and wildlife. While all of McPheeters’ work is impressive, the images he captures of raging storms in rural Kansas are especially spectacular.

Danish pro Mads Peter Iversen has spent years polishing his skills and developing a unique style of landscape photography. Like all accomplished photographers he’s made a few mistakes along the way, and in the video below he explains how to correct a common error so you don’t make it yourself.

There’s a lot more to making great landscape photos than being in the right place at the right time and snapping the shutter. In the video below, top pro Matt Granger reveals his complete workflow from planning a trip and gear selection to location scouting, capturing an image, and making the final edit.