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nature photography tips and tutorials

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How to find subjects for your macro shots

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(c) iStockPhoto / Johanna Goodyear
(c) iStockPhoto / Johanna Goodyear
One of the things that makes macro photography so interesting is its ability to show us the world as we normally don’t see it: up close and personal.

For this very reason, sometimes it’s hard to find good subjects for macro shots. We just don’t normally look at things up close, and even when we do, it’s hard to see detail with the naked eye.

Sure, you could just pop on your macro lens and look everywhere, but it’s hard to see things through that tiny viewfinder. [Read more…] about How to find subjects for your macro shots

What mode should you shoot in?

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banner2modeHave you ever been confused by all the different modes on your camera? Maybe you understand what each one does, but you’re not sure which mode is best for what. Well, here’s a summary of the most commonly used modes for nature photography: [Read more…] about What mode should you shoot in?

Ever wonder about taking photos from a kayak? Learn a few tips in our latest podcast!

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Photo by Tom Jones
Photo by Tom Jones
Our newest podcast is now available via iTunes or direct download. In this episode, our host Matthew Fletcher discusses:

  • Taking photos from a kayak
  • What’s new at photonaturalist.net
  • Pros and cons of digiscoping
  • Light-weight solutions for long hiking trips
  • Nikon D5000 Service Advisory
  • Release of Filter Forge Freepack 2
  • Software for stitching photos

Download the podcast now!

If you’d like to subscribe through iTunes, click here

Thanks to all those who sent in questions, and although we don’t answer them all in this episode, we may get a chance to answer them in a future episode (or write an article about it). So, stay tuned, and keep sending us your questions! [Read more…] about Ever wonder about taking photos from a kayak? Learn a few tips in our latest podcast!

4 ways Live Preview can help you take photos

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Photo by Bill Bertram (used under the CC-Attr-SA license)
Photo by Bill Bertram (used under the CC-Attr-SA license)
Okay, I’ll admit it: when I first heard of Live Preview (aka LiveView) on digital SLRs, I thought it was totally stupid. Just another pointless feature that wastes a ton of battery life.

But, then I read an article by John and Barbara Gerlach in Nature Photographer Magazine, and it made me realize how valuable this feature can actually be.

On one of their workshops, the Gerlachs asked each of their students to come up with one good reason to use Live Preview, and some of them came up with really cool ideas: [Read more…] about 4 ways Live Preview can help you take photos

Sometimes the view is better from above

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Photo by Steve Berardi
Photo by Steve Berardi
Ansel Adams shot a lot of his landscape photos from a platform he built on top of his car. Can you guess why he did this?

He did it to add more depth to his landscapes and create a better overlook of the foreground.

We’re so accustomed to viewing a landscape at eye level, that sometimes when you raise that point of view just a little bit, you’ll get a new perspective and a new emotion. [Read more…] about Sometimes the view is better from above

Free software for landscape photographers

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photogephFor landscape photography, it’s good to always be aware of the sunrise/sunset times, and the sun’s azimuth at these times. It helps to know this for the moon too (as well as the current phase). Lots of information to keep track of, huh?

Well, luckily there’s a free program out there that will help you do all this and more! It’s called The Photographer’s Ephemeris, and it’s developed by Stephen Trainor.

Here’s a quick look at some of this tool’s great features: [Read more…] about Free software for landscape photographers