Generated by All in One SEO v4.9.7.2, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # PhotoNaturalist - nature photography tips and tutorials nature photography tips and tutorials ## Sitemaps - [XML Sitemap](https://photonaturalist.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website. ## Posts - [Articles](https://photonaturalist.com/articles/) - [How to Drive Your Passion as a Photonaturalist to the Next Level](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-drive-your-passion-as-a-photonaturalist-to-the-next-level/) - This is a guest post by Wes Gibson, who's been reading PhotoNaturalist for a few years now, but has been a photographer for over 20 years. After reading his post, please be sure to check out his blog for more of his posts. And, if you're also interested in writing a guest post here on - [Slow Down](https://photonaturalist.com/slow-down/) - In today’s fast-paced world of instant gratification, it’s easy to get sucked in and join the rush. And although being in a rush can help you get a lot of things done, it also makes you miss out on truly experiencing moments. It’s like you moved so quickly that you were never really “there.” Lately, - [Learning From "Bad Photos"](https://photonaturalist.com/learning-from-bad-photos/) - In teaching photography, a lot of attention is always paid to the “good photos” — pointing out what made the photo “good.” We don’t really hear much about the “bad photo” ever, but I think you can learn things from any photograph. I’m putting “good” and “bad” in quotes here because, like I’ve said before, - [Simplify](https://photonaturalist.com/simplify/) - The art of art, the glory of expression and the sunshine of the light of letters, is simplicity.” —Walt Whitman One of the first lessons I learned when I got into photography is to simplify your composition. Decide what your subject is, and then compose your shot so it only includes your subject or things - [Adding An Artistic Element](https://photonaturalist.com/adding-an-artistic-element/) - As nature photographers, many times we feel just getting an acceptable photo of an elusive subject is good enough. However, sometimes a bit of patience, luck and perseverance can bring about an enlightening experience. For example, I recently had an encounter with a dragonfly known as a Prince Baskettail (Epitheca princeps). We all know photographing - [How To Show Depth In Close-Ups](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-show-depth-in-close-ups/) - In a previous post, I talked about how to show depth in landscape photos. But depth isn't just important for landscapes, it's also something you might want to do in close-up photos because it makes your subject appear more three-dimensional. So, how do you show depth in close-ups? Simple: just photograph your subject from an - [Creative White Balance](https://photonaturalist.com/creative-white-balance/) - White balance is something that’s often overlooked in photography. It’s what controls the color temperature of your photos: an image with a red or orange tint is considered “warm” whereas an image with more bluish colors is considered “cold.” You can adjust the white balance to make an image warmer or colder. It’s called “white” - [Another Reason To Press the Shutter Button Halfway First](https://photonaturalist.com/another-reason-to-press-the-shutter-button-halfway-first/) - In a previous article, I talked about a few things to keep in mind when pressing the shutter button. One thing I mentioned was to press the button halfway first, wait half a second or so, and then press it down the rest of the way. Doing this helps prevent the camera from shaking, which - [Flowers in Black and White](https://photonaturalist.com/flowers-in-black-and-white/) - When you think about photographing flowers, you probably think about capturing their vibrant colors and how they contrast against the landscape around them. Most things in nature have evolved to blend in with their environment, but flowers have evolved to stand out from the crowd by displaying some of the most wonderful colors found in - [Knowing Your Subject #1](https://photonaturalist.com/knowing-your-subject-1/) - Knowing your subject is important in nature photography because it helps you anticipate the perfect moment for a photograph or identify potential opportunities for a photo. You don’t have to be an expert on everything you photograph, but it helps to know a little and to continue learning more. I’ve written about this topic in - [Photograph What It Feels Like, Not What It Looks Like](https://photonaturalist.com/photograph-what-it-feels-like-not-what-it-looks-like/) - In the past few months, I’ve written a lot about how to show more emotion in your photographs, and to think of your photos as a way of saying something specific about your subject. To think beyond things like “this flower is beautiful” and instead get to the core of what you want to express - [How To Use Filters On Wide-Angle Lenses](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-use-filters-on-wide-angle-lenses/) - Filters can be very useful in nature photography, especially for landscapes. They can do all kinds of things, like get rid of unwanted reflections, saturate or darken the sky, and help you get a longer shutter speed to show motion. But, when you’re using filters on wide-angle lenses (anything at 40mm or less), there’s one - [Introduction to Filters for Digital Cameras](https://photonaturalist.com/introduction-to-filters-for-digital-cameras/) - With film photography, filters were pretty important (especially for black and white images). And although they play a much smaller role in digital photography, there’s still a few filters you should be familiar with. So, here’s a brief introduction to some of them: Polarizing Filter Simply put, the polarizing filter helps reduce unwanted reflections. It - [What Would Make It Better?](https://photonaturalist.com/what-would-make-it-better/) - One of the habits that can lead to better photos is to ask yourself a very simple question after you take a photo: what would make it better? Every time you take a photo, take some time to review it on your camera’s LCD, and look for ways you can make it better. It could - [5 Things That Cause Blurry Photos](https://photonaturalist.com/5-things-that-cause-blurry-photos/) - I recently wrote an article about why sharpness isn’t always that important. I argued that relative sharpness is what really matters, and not so much absolute sharpness. As long as your subject is sharp relative to other parts of the photo, that should be enough to make it stand out. I still strongly believe in - [How To Show Motion](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-show-motion/) - A photograph is a still frame of a precise moment in time. So, although a photograph can’t show motion in the same way that a video can, there’s still a way to illustrate or imply motion in a photograph. You might want to do this for a variety of reasons: maybe your subject moves a - [Setting Photography Goals](https://photonaturalist.com/setting-photography-goals/) - At this time of year, it’s common for us to reflect on the past year: what we accomplished, what we wished to accomplish, etc. It’s also the time we start thinking about what we want to accomplish in the new year. I always like to create a list of goals at the beginning of each - [Reviewing Old Photos](https://photonaturalist.com/reviewing-old-photos/) - In a previous post, I talked about why you should periodically review old photos. In the post, I specifically referred to photos that you originally overlooked and didn’t think were “good enough” to process and share. Well, I’ve recently realized how valuable it can be to also review all your photos that made it to - [How To Capture Starbursts](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-capture-starbursts/) - A starburst is when a light source (such as the sun) appears as a burst in an image, like in the photo above. Notice how there are a bunch of sharp light rays coming from the sun. Starbursts are a nice dramatic effect you can add to your backlit photos. They’re also a nice way - [Fewer Photos, More Meaning](https://photonaturalist.com/less-photos-more-meaning/) - Last week, I visited the Cleveland Museum of Art. I didn’t look at any photographs there, but I’ve always been inspired by all types of artists—not just photographers. There was one artist in particular who’s work I really enjoyed: Frederic Edwin Church, who painted American landscapes in the 1800s. There was one painting of his - [Rethinking RAW vs JPEG](https://photonaturalist.com/rethinking-raw-vs-jpeg/) - Back in 2009, I wrote an article about the pros and cons of shooting in RAW vs JPEG. My basic conclusion of the article was that it usually makes sense to shoot in RAW, except for wildlife when you need to shoot a lot of images in a burst. Like many things in life, as - [RAW vs. JPEG: Who wins?](https://photonaturalist.com/raw-vs-jpeg-who-wins/) - It seems to be one of the biggest debates in digital photography--what's better: RAW or JPEG? Who wins? Some pro photographers say JPEG: you should always know the perfect settings for a photo. And others say always shoot in RAW: it's better quality and you have more power to change things later on. Well, I - [New eBook - Nature Photography: Understanding the Camera](https://photonaturalist.com/new-ebook-nature-photography-understanding-the-camera/) - Today, I’m very excited to announce the release of my new eBook, Nature Photography: Understanding the Camera. This eBook will teach you how to use your camera to photograph the wonderful moments you observe in nature. It covers all types of nature photography, including landscapes, wildlife, and close-ups. I've been working on this eBook for - [Questions to Guide Your Composition](https://photonaturalist.com/questions-to-guide-your-composition/) - Composition is all about creating pleasing images. It’s a difficult aspect of photography because there aren’t really any set-in-stone rules about it, and many aspects of composition are really about how you see the world uniquely from everyone else. So although there aren’t any scripts you can follow that will always lead you to a - [The Best Camera Strap For Nature Photographers](https://photonaturalist.com/the-best-camera-strap-for-nature-photographers/) - In photography, all the gear talk usually revolves around cameras and lenses. The lonely camera strap never gets much attention. But, the camera strap is pretty important in nature photography, because it needs to allow you quick access to your camera and needs to be comfortable (and strong enough) to support larger lenses that are - [Simple Adjustments For a Better Background](https://photonaturalist.com/simple-adjustments-for-a-better-background/) - One thing many of us forget to consider is the background in a photo. We focus (literally and figuratively) on the main subject and feel gratified that we can get the whole subject in the frame and it’s sharp and properly exposed. Let me show you an example of how easy it can be to - [Understanding Perspective and Focal Length](https://photonaturalist.com/understanding-perspective-and-focal-length/) - In photography, there's a common misconception that focal length determines the perspective of an image, but the only thing that really determines perspective is where you put the camera. For example, the telephoto lens is often said to "compress" your scene and make everything look flat. But, it's not the focal length that's doing this. - [How Your Clothes Affect Your Nature Photos](https://photonaturalist.com/how-your-clothes-affect-your-nature-photos/) - You probably already know that you can wear camouflage to help hide yourself from wildlife in order to get closer and photograph them, but there’s also other ways your clothes can affect your photos. It turns out that something as simple as the color of the t-shirt you’re wearing can drastically affect how close you - [A Simple Trick To Eliminate Lens Flare](https://photonaturalist.com/a-simple-trick-to-eliminate-lens-flare/) - I recently acquired a Canon 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 Lens to use with my Canon 80D body for tree photography. The lens is considered a wide zoom, but it doesn’t go so far as to give a fish-eye effect. It does capture a very wide angle of view, however— with its widest angle at 107°. As wonderful - [3 Things That Affect Depth of Field](https://photonaturalist.com/3-things-that-affect-depth-of-field/) - I was planning to write about the three things that affect depth of field this week, but by pure coincidence (seriously!), I discovered this great blog post that Brian Auer wrote a few days ago: Three Ways to Control Depth of Field I'd highly recommend checking it out. Brian did a nice job of explaining - [Sharpness - Relative vs Absolute](https://photonaturalist.com/sharpness-relative-vs-absolute/) - The more I photograph nature, the less I’ve been concerned about sharpness. It’s not out of laziness, but from the realization that relative sharpness is much more important than absolute sharpness. Absolute sharpness is about making your subject as sharp as possible, within the limits of your camera and lens. On the other hand, relative - [How To Focus Closer With your Lenses](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-focus-closer-with-your-lenses/) - Every lens has a minimum focusing distance: the closest point where the lens can get a sharp focus. Generally, the longer the focal length of the lens, the greater the minimum focusing distance. Most of the time, this distance isn't a problem because with longer lenses you'll generally be photographing a distant subject. But, those - [How To Make Any Lens a Macro Lens](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-make-any-lens-a-macro-lens/) - Close-up and macro photography is one of the most popular ways to capture the beauty of nature: whether it’s photographing tiny insects to show their amazing detail or just a simple close-up of a plant (like the Yucca leaves above). When you think of macro photography, you might think you need a special lens, but - [How to Focus Closer When Using Teleconverters](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-focus-closer-when-using-teleconverters/) - In a previous post, I explained how you can use an extension tube to focus closer with your lens. Using one of these hollow tubes can help you fill the frame when doing close-up photography of things like flowers or butterflies. Well, when you're also using a teleconverter on your lens, it's important to attach - [Learn by Example in my new eBook!](https://photonaturalist.com/learn-by-example-in-my-new-ebook/) - Today, I’m happy to announce that my new eBook, Examples, is now available. It’s a collection of 23 of my images and the stories of how those images were made. The idea was inspired by my firm belief that the best way to learn something is by example. As Albert Einstein put it, “Learning by - [New eBook - 53 Tips For Nature Photography](https://photonaturalist.com/new-ebook-53-tips-nature-photography/) - In the last six years, we've published over 240 posts here on PhotoNaturalist. With each new post, it gets harder to dig through the older posts and find the ones you might be interested in. It’s one of the most common comments I get from new readers. So, I thought now was a good time - [New eBook on Wildflower Photography!](https://photonaturalist.com/new-ebook-on-wildflower-photography/) - Today, I’m happy to announce that the new edition of my eBook on wildflower photography is now available. The eBook is a complete guide to photographing wildflowers with a digital SLR. It will teach you how to take stunning photos of wildflowers, and how to post-process them in Adobe Photoshop (CS 4 or later and - [Photographing The Solar Eclipse](https://photonaturalist.com/photographing-the-solar-eclipse/) - On Monday, August 21, there will be a Total Solar Eclipse, visible from North America. The next one visible from North America won’t be until 2024. A solar eclipse is when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth. This upcoming eclipse is special though because it’s a “total” eclipse, meaning the Moon will completely - [The Warmup](https://photonaturalist.com/the-warmup/) - What photo would you say is the one you're least prepared to take? For me, it’s the very first photo on any given day. Have you ever gone out for a day of nature photography, regardless of your subject preference, and find that when you go to shoot that very first photo something is “off?” - [Free eBook on Wildflower Photography](https://photonaturalist.com/free-ebook-on-wildflower-photography/) - With spring beginning here in the southwestern United States, I thought it was time to update our free ebook on wildflower photography. The original version was released about three years ago, so it was due for an update. Most of the content is the same, but I've learned a lot in the last three years, - [How to Photograph Dragonflies (free eBook!)](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-photograph-dragonflies-free-ebook/) - Today I'm happy to announce the release of a free eBook about photographing one of the most unique insects on the planet: dragonflies. The eBook was written by my father, Vic Berardi, who is an outstanding photographer of hawks, dragonflies, and wildflowers. This 18-page eBook is not meant to be a complete guide on the - [Pressing The Button](https://photonaturalist.com/pressing-the-button/) - Pressing the shutter button to snap a photo seems like the most simple part of photography. I mean, you just “press the button” — right? Well, there’s a few things to remember when pressing that button, especially when you’re handholding the camera: 1 — Press the button halfway first You’ve probably noticed that you can - [How To Get Better Control of Autofocus](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-get-better-control-of-autofocus/) - Sometimes autofocus can be really annoying. For some shots it’ll focus on the right part of your subject, but then the very next shot it may choose to focus on something far and away into the background. In a previous post, I shared a few ways to avoid problems like this, but I just found - [How to use the histogram to get a better exposure](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-use-the-histogram-to-get-a-better-exposure/) - One of the first things you probably want to know after taking a photo is whether or not you got your intended exposure. You might be tempted to look at the preview on your LCD screen, but when you're shooting photos outdoors in the sun, those previews can be very deceiving, making your photos look - [How to use the "special" RGB Histogram](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-use-the-special-rgb-histogram/) - A few weeks ago, I explained how to use the histogram to get a better exposure. And although the default histogram will give you a general idea of an image's exposure, there's actually a special histogram that'll tell you a lot more: the RGB histogram. Here's how it works: If you understand the regular histogram, - [Don't be a photographer, be a photonaturalist](https://photonaturalist.com/dont-be-a-photographer-be-a-photo-naturalist/) - Do you remember why you first got into nature photography? Most likely it was the mesmerizing beauty of nature that inspired you to buy a camera and attempt to capture those precious landscapes, or that wonderful flower, or that unique wildlife. I remember clearly what inspired me to buy my first SLR camera--the American Southwest. - [7 Tips for getting sharper photographs](https://photonaturalist.com/7-tips-for-getting-sharper-photographs/) - There's no single trick to getting super sharp photographs. But, when you combine a bunch of little tricks, you'll begin to notice some big changes in sharpness. So, here are seven little things you can do to inch your way towards sharper images: #1 - Always use a tripod I know--tripods are heavy, they take - [How to resize your photos (the "sharp" way)](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-resize-your-photos-the-sharp-way/) - Do you constantly find yourself resizing your photos to prepare them for the Internet? Maybe for posting them to a blog, emailing them to a friend, or adding them to your online photo gallery? Surprisingly, photo resizing (or resampling) involves some very complex computer algorithms. There's many ways to do it, and I won't go - [Why you should always take lots and lots of photos (regardless of subject)](https://photonaturalist.com/why-you-should-always-take-lots-and-lots-of-photos-regardless-of-subject/) - When you decide to photograph a particular subject, how many shots do you usually take? Do you just hit the shutter once and move on? Or, do you take a lot of shots, and perhaps change your camera settings in the process? Well, regardless of what your subject is, you should always take lots and - [How to make your photos super sharp in Photoshop (without adding noise)](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-make-your-photos-super-sharp-in-photoshop-without-adding-noise/) - There seems to be a lot of debate about the best sharpening method in Photoshop. Some say it's "unsharp mask," while others swear by "smart sharpen," and a few have developed complex multi-step workflows for sharpening their photos. I've tried a few of these techniques, but the one I like best is High-Pass sharpening. It's - [How To Show Depth In Landscapes](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-show-depth-in-landscapes/) - One of the common goals of a landscape photograph is to show depth—either to show the viewer how vast a landscape is or to help lead the viewer’s eye from the foreground into the background. You might think that adding depth is as simple as using a wide angle lens, but it’s a little more - [Watch The Perseid Meteor Shower This Week](https://photonaturalist.com/perseid-meteor-shower-peaks-this-week-2/) - Every year between July and August, you can watch the Perseids meteor shower in the night sky. This year it’s supposed to peak on the night of August 13, so any night this week you should be able to see a good amount of meteors streaking across the sky. And, the Perseids is especially great - [Composition Basics In Microphotography](https://photonaturalist.com/composition-basics-in-microphotography/) - Microphotography is magical because it takes us into a smaller universe of vibrant colors, exquisite details and extraordinary patterns that can literally take your breath away. I photograph invertebrates so close-up that they are transformed into large subjects. Through my images I aim to highlight the different characteristics of a variety of species - and - [Captive vs. Wild Images](https://photonaturalist.com/captive-vs-wild-images/) - Today's post delves into an area we photographers often find ourselves ... dealing with photographic ethics. Photographers have to constantly contend with ethics. Do you need a model release? Do you need a property release? Am I about to shoot on public property, or do I need to obtain permission to be here? As with - [How To Build Your Own Flash Bracket](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-build-your-own-flash-bracket/) - Keeping on pace with my last post regarding external flash units, I’ve decided to show you one of my “do-it-yourself” (DIY) projects: building an external flash bracket. Having the majority of my lenses fitted with the same quick-release plates, this flash bracket mounts to all of them with ease and full versatility. Check it out: - [Need Help Identifying a Bird In Your Photo? Check out this website!](https://photonaturalist.com/need-help-identifying-a-bird-in-your-photo-check-out-this-website/) - Have you ever photographed a bird and had no idea what kind it was? Sometimes it’s easy to identify it later by looking through a bird book, and sometimes not so much. And, even when you do identify it, it’s nice to get some confirmation from other people. Well, we’re in luck, because a team - [Using Your Smartphone As a Post-Processing Playground](https://photonaturalist.com/using-your-smartphone-as-a-post-processing-playground/) - Post-processing is one of the most important steps of creating a powerful image (as my dad wrote about in a previous post). Ansel Adams once said, "The negative is the equivalent of the composer's score, and the print the performance.” In modern day digital photography, post-processing leads to the “performance” part that Adams refers to. - [Benefits of Using a Flash Extender](https://photonaturalist.com/benefits-of-using-a-flash-extender/) - Note from the editor (Steve): This is a post by our newest writer: Robert Visconti. He primarily photographs wildlife (especially birds), and he’s got some really cool ideas for DIY projects and optimizing your camera gear. In this post, he talks about using flash extenders and how to make one work better. A flash extender - [Photographing a Subject for Multiple Uses](https://photonaturalist.com/photographing-subject-multiple-uses/) - When photographing a subject, do you picture in your mind just how that photo will be used? Do you ever consider multiple uses? I got caught in the trap of shooting for a single use, early in my photographic endeavors. When putting together a series of images for a nature calendar, I found some older - [How To Prepare Your Images For the Web](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-prepare-your-images-for-the-web/) - These days, most photographers share their images on the web (for many good reasons). But, before posting images online, there’s a few things you should do to prepare them: #1 - Convert color space to sRGB Color spaces are a complex topic, but to ensure the colors in your images look consistently across a wide - [Free eBook on Landscape Photography From Anne McKinnell!](https://photonaturalist.com/free-ebook-on-landscape-photography-from-anne-mckinnell/) - Landscape photography is one of the most difficult types of nature photography. Since there’s so much going on in a landscape image, it’s hard to always be aware of everything and this leads to a lot of common mistakes. Well, we’re in luck, because Anne McKinnell released an excellent eBook this week: 22 Landscape Photography - [Completing Your Vision in Post-Processing](https://photonaturalist.com/completing-your-vision-in-post-processing/) - Note from the editor (Steve): After reading this great post by my Dad, please check out his new blog, where he's writing about his travels, his passion for hawks, and other thoughts on life. That term “vision”—what does it mean? For me it’s simple. When I get home from a day of shooting, I review - [Remember To Update Your Camera's Clock](https://photonaturalist.com/remember-to-update-your-cameras-clock/) - Yesterday (March 8) was the start of Daylight Saving Time (DST) here in the US, so I thought it'd be a good time to remind everyone to update your camera's clock. It's helpful to keep the clock very accurate (down to the second!), so you can better review your photos later. Sometimes the best way - [8 Tips For Photographing Sunsets](https://photonaturalist.com/8-tips-for-photographing-sunsets/) - Photographing the sunset is all about catching rich colors, interesting reflections, dazzling highlights, and dark silhouettes that emerge during this golden hour. As the day wanes, the color and light change minute by minute and elicit an enticing sense of addictive urgency. The perfect shot is all about timing and the ever-changing combination of weather - [How To Use A Photographic Blind](https://photonaturalist.com/use-photographic-blind/) - Shooting from a photographic blind can be very useful, particularly when photographing wary animals. Although I do not routinely use a blind, there are situations where I do. Such as when shooting birds at a feeding station, or at a watering hole. On one occasion, I was photographing songbirds at a watering hole in the - [How To Photograph The Aurora Borealis](https://photonaturalist.com/photograph-aurora-borealis/) - Surreal, scintillating and sensuous, the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) have mesmerized humans since the dawn of time. Unfortunately, they’re a sight few get to experience unless you happen to live in the far northern (or southern) parts of the globe. For the rest of us, seeing this awe-inspiring phenomena involves quite a bit of traveling - [How To Stay Warm on Those Cold Days](https://photonaturalist.com/stay-warm-cold-days/) - Ironically, as I write this post, I'm sitting in a motel room in the Colorado Rockies, waiting for the temperatures to warm up. I arrived here a couple of days ago, to shoot the bighorn sheep in the rut. Although I love to shoot nature in the winter, you also need to use common sense. - [How To Prepare For An African Safari Trip (Part II)](https://photonaturalist.com/prepare-african-safari-trip-part-ii/) - Last week, Jack talked about how to prepare for an African safari trip. This week, in part two of his post, he talks about how to capture the moment once you're there. Early Morning Landscape photographers enjoy the early light of pre-dawn. Be sure to explain this interest to your guide, well in advance, as - [How To Prepare For An African Safari Trip (Part I)](https://photonaturalist.com/prepare-african-safari-trip-part/) - The lioness bared her fangs and we took the moment. Click. We had tracked three lions for about an hour in the Kenyan Samburu Game Reserve, waiting until the senior lioness had relaxed near the road. It had required another 20 minutes of patience before she had looked in our direction and grimaced. Safari photography - [The Most Useful Filters for Nature Photography](https://photonaturalist.com/useful-filters-nature-photography/) - When photographing nature, there are many times when a photographic filter on the end of the lens can help improve the image, or give the image a different effect. Such is the case when I captured Maroon Creek (Colorado) with a Neutral Density filter: Kind of like "creativity in a can." What filters are most - [How To Photograph The Lunar Eclipse](https://photonaturalist.com/photograph-upcoming-lunar-eclipse/) - On October 8th (this Wednesday), there will be a total lunar eclipse. It’ll be visible from much of North and South America, Australia, and much of Asia (see map). In a total eclipse, the moon turns red (due to the way the light from the Sun is scattered as it passes through our atmosphere), and - [4 Steps to Photographing the Milky Way](https://photonaturalist.com/4-steps-photographing-milky-way/) - Technological progress in camera sensor sensitivity during the past decade has dramatically enhanced low-light photography. The ability to photograph the Milky Way is perhaps the most awe-inspiring result of these advances. This post will give you the basics you need to start making your own Milky Way images. If you really get hooked and want - [How To Research a New Photo Location](https://photonaturalist.com/research-new-photo-location/) - Traveling to photograph at a new location is always a fun experience for me. I love reading, or hearing about a place that I “just have to photograph.” But, to get the most out of the experience, be prepared by thoroughly researching the location before packing and heading out. Why Should I Spend Time Researching? - [Micro Fauna for Mega Fun](https://photonaturalist.com/micro-fauna-mega-fun/) - My main photography interest is wildlife, especially the little guys. There’s nothing wrong with moose and elk (and given the opportunity to go on an all expenses paid trip to photograph grizzlies in Alaska, I’d jump on it), but I’ve always been drawn to the little guys. Even though they’re small, they can have big - [Tips For Shooting In Wet or Damp Conditions](https://photonaturalist.com/tips-shooting-wet-damp-conditions/) - Photographing in wet or damp conditions is a mixed blessing. The opportunities are often enormous; in a constantly damp area, the flora can be beautiful. A good example is the Inside Passage of Alaska, where lush, old-growth forests are common. Or a photo journey to a place like Costa Rica (I've never been there, but - [How To Guide Your Viewer Through An Image](https://photonaturalist.com/guide-viewer-image/) - When you look at a photograph, you don’t view it as a whole. Instead, you first focus on one key area that grabs your attention and then you move your eyes throughout the rest of the frame to see what else is there. Where your eye travels from that first spot depends on the image, - [Use PhotoPills To Plan Your Next Milky Way Shot](https://photonaturalist.com/use-photopills-plan-next-milky-way-shot/) - One of the great things about being a photographer in this day and age is that we have a ton of awesome tools available for planning our landscape shots. I've talked about many of them already, including The Photographer's Ephemeris, PhotoPills, Google Earth, and Stellarium. Together, these four tools can help you answer just about - [How To Photograph Wildlife in Low Light](https://photonaturalist.com/photograph-wildlife-low-light/) - Have you ever tried to capture that great wildlife shot in low light? It's often not easy, is it? Such is the case of capturing this rare and endangered Barn Owl in a Missouri barn: In Missouri, loss of habitat and farms, including barns where the Barn Owl prefers to live, have caused the Barn - [How To Shoot In The Fog](https://photonaturalist.com/shoot-fog/) - Shooting in fog has always intrigued me. From golden rays lighting wavy mist rising from a placid lake to an atmospheric scene of a craggy coast line and silhouetted tree — fog can be a truly amazing gift in photography. It can add a moody and mysterious ambiance to any scene. It has the ability - [How To Photograph Wildlife Action Shots](https://photonaturalist.com/photograph-wildlife-action-shots/) - If you enjoy wildlife photography, then you'll surely love to capture action shots: Capturing action or behavior gives impact to your images. Sure, an image of a bear just standing in a creek can be a nice image, and it certainly has its place. But, an action shot of that bear can bring your photography - [5 Tips For Aerial Photography](https://photonaturalist.com/5-tips-aerial-photography/) - Many of us were first attracted to photography because it allowed us to see the world anew. Your camera challenges you not only to explore new places but also see familiar ones differently. One of the most dramatic ways to do this is with aerial photography. Have you ever taken two shots a few yards - [How To Take Photos From a Kayak](https://photonaturalist.com/take-photos-kayak/) - Note from Steve: Today I'm excited to introduce another new contributor to PhotoNaturalist: Jim Braswell. Jim is a great wildlife/landscape photographer from Missouri, and his first post is all about taking photos from a kayak! Enjoy! Want to have some real fun? I was turned on to photographing wildlife from a kayak by a friend - [Take Only Pictures, Leave Only Footprints](https://photonaturalist.com/take-pictures-leave-footprints/) - Now that we're well into spring here in the northern hemisphere (and getting ready for summer), there’s lots of wildflowers in bloom. This is one of the best times of year for photography because the wildflowers also bring a lot of other cool stuff to photograph (such as butterflies and other insects). With so many exciting - [How To Photograph Manatees](https://photonaturalist.com/photograph-manatees/) - Note from Steve: A few weeks ago, I announced that PhotoNaturalist was looking for more writers. Well, today I'm excited to introduce one of our new contributors: Jeff Stamer. Jeff is a great wildlife/landscape photographer from Florida, and his first post is all about photographing manatees in the wild! Enjoy! It seems that nearly everyone - [How To Add Contrast To Landscape Photos](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-add-contrast-to-landscape-photos/) - Adding contrast to a landscape photo is one way to make it a more compelling image. When we think of the word “contrast” we usually think about contrasting colors or brightness. But, there’s also another type of contrast that you can capture in your images: subjective contrast. Here’s a quick look at the different types - [Write For PhotoNaturalist and Earn $40!](https://photonaturalist.com/write-photonaturalist-earn-40/) - When I first started PhotoNaturalist over five years ago, my original vision was to have lots of different photographers writing about their experiences and sharing their knowledge with other nature photographers. My father and I have done most of the writing here on PN up until now, but now that PhotoNaturalist is generating a stable - [What Is Tripod Load Capacity?](https://photonaturalist.com/tripod-load-capacity/) - When you’re shopping for a tripod, one of the more confusing numbers you’ll run into is the tripod’s “load capacity.” It sounds pretty simple: shouldn’t that just be the maximum weight the tripod can handle? Well, it’s a little more complicated than that, and unfortunately there’s no universal standard for determining the load capacity. So, - [How to Reduce Noise in Your Photos](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-reduce-noise-in-your-photos/) - Noise is that ugly discoloration that makes your photos look “grainy” (like in the image on the right, where the noise has been exaggerated to make it more clear). It’s one of the most annoying things you’ll have to deal with in digital images. Although you’ll never get rid of noise completely, there are a - [Introduction to Insect Macro Photography (Part III) - Composition and Focusing](https://photonaturalist.com/introduction-insect-macro-photography-part-iii-composition-focusing/) - This is the final part (III) of a guest post by Huub de Waard, an exceptional photographer who specializes in close-up shots of insects. After reading his post, be sure to check out more of his awesome photos at his website. And, if you're also interested in writing a guest post here on PhotoNaturalist, please - [Introduction to Insect Macro Photography (Part II) - How to Approach Insects](https://photonaturalist.com/introduction-insect-macro-photography-part-ii-approach-insects/) - This is part II of a guest post by Huub de Waard, an exceptional photographer who specializes in close-up shots of insects. After reading his post, be sure to check out more of his awesome photos at his website. And, if you're also interested in writing a guest post here on PhotoNaturalist, please contact me, - [Introduction to Insect Macro Photography (Part I)](https://photonaturalist.com/introduction-insect-macro-photography-part/) - This is a guest post by Huub de Waard, an exceptional photographer who specializes in close-up shots of insects. After reading his post, be sure to check out more of his awesome photos at his website. And, if you're also interested in writing a guest post here on PhotoNaturalist, please contact me, thanks! --Steve One - [Happy Birthday to PN!](https://photonaturalist.com/happy-birthday-pn/) - Today, PhotoNaturalist celebrates its fifth birthday! We're now halfway to a decade, woohoo! It's been an amazing five years. This blog has been one of the most rewarding projects of my life, and I'm looking forward to continuing its growth. I want to send out a special thank you to everyone who's helped spread the - [New Issue of Fotozaar Now Available!](https://photonaturalist.com/new-issue-fotozaar-now-available/) - Today I'm happy to announce that the third issue of Fotozaar is now available. It contains twenty incredible photographs from a wide variety of photographers, along with detailed explanations of how each image was made. You may remember hearing about Fotozaar last year, when I released the first issue. The idea for this series of - [Edward Weston: The Photographer](https://photonaturalist.com/edward-weston-photographer/) - Edward Weston once said that "Good composition is merely the strongest way of seeing." I've always thought that was one of the best explanations of what photography is at it's core: it's really just about learning to see better. Weston is widely known as one of the most influential American photographers. He primarily shot photos - [Why You Should Get Insurance For Your Gear](https://photonaturalist.com/get-insurance-gear/) - Photography is an expensive hobby. You might've started with something small and inexpensive, like a point and shoot camera. But, then the passion was probably too much to control, so you moved onto a more manual camera, or even a DSLR. Then came all the fancy lenses and tripod. And, before you knew it, all - [Happy Holidays!](https://photonaturalist.com/happy-holidays-2/) - I'll be taking the next couple of weeks off from writing, so I just wanted to wish you all a very happy holiday season. I hope you get some time to relax and spend some time with your family. And, if you asked Santa for any camera gear this year, then I hope it shows - [8 Tips and Tutorials For Winter Photography](https://photonaturalist.com/8-tips-and-tutorials-for-winter-photography/) - With all this super cold and snowy weather we're getting up here in the northern hemisphere, I thought it'd be good to put together a list of helpful tips and tutorials for winter photography :) So, here are a few posts we've written about winter here at PhotoNaturalist, as well as some great articles from - [Holiday Gift Ideas For Nature Photographers](https://photonaturalist.com/holiday-gift-ideas-nature-photographers/) - Now that we're in the holiday season, you might be thinking about what you can get for your photographer friends or family. Or, maybe you need some ideas for yourself ;) Although most cameras and lenses are pretty expensive (and might be out of "gift" range), there's a lot of other photography stuff that any - [How To Protect Your Photos Online](https://photonaturalist.com/protect-photos-online/) - In a previous post, I talked about the benefits of sharing your photos online. But, even after reading about these great benefits, you might be worried that someone will steal your photos if you post them online. Well, luckily there's a few things you can do to help protect your images: #1 - Add Watermarks - [Should You Always Isolate Your Subject?](https://photonaturalist.com/should-you-always-isolate-your-subject/) - One of the things we're commonly taught about photographing wildlife is to always isolate your subject by making the background completely out of focus (like in the photo on the right). This helps the viewer immediately focus on the subject, but should that always be your goal? When you choose not to isolate your subject - [Things To Consider When Buying Used Camera Gear](https://photonaturalist.com/things-consider-buying-used-camera-gear/) - This is a guest post by Amy Cobb, from Photography Colleges There are many reasons to opt for a pre-owned camera as opposed to a new one. The fact that a camera once had a relationship with another photographer doesn't necessarily mean that it was misused, abused, or made defective—chances are, the previous owner is - [Benefits of Sharing Your Photos Online](https://photonaturalist.com/benefits-of-sharing-your-photos-online/) - One of the great things about being a photographer today is the ability to easily share your photos online, making them publicly viewable by lots of people. You might be hesitant to share your images online, with the fear that someone might steal them. But, there are some great benefits to sharing your images: #1 - [Which Photo Do You Like Better?](https://photonaturalist.com/which-photo-do-you-like-better/) - Which of the two photos above do you like better? Why? Both photos are very similar, but one was shot at sunrise and one was shot at sunset, so different parts of the red rock were lit up by the sun. There's no right or wrong answer here. The reason I'm asking the question is - [5 Great Photography Articles You Might've Missed This Week](https://photonaturalist.com/5-great-photography-articles-you-mightve-missed-this-week/) - Every week, I send out an email newsletter that contains a link to the newest PN post, a list of upcoming astronomical events (such as meteor showers and lunar eclipses), and also a list of 3-5 great articles that were posted on other photography blogs that week. Well, this week there was a lot of - [4 Tips For Getting the Most Out of Your Tripod](https://photonaturalist.com/4-tips-for-getting-the-most-out-of-your-tripod/) - Tripods are one of the most important tools of nature photography. Not only do they help you get sharper images, but they also have a tendency to force you to consider your composition more carefully. And, although they may seem like really simple pieces of equipment (especially when compared to your camera), there's actually a - [Benefits of a Full Frame Camera](https://photonaturalist.com/benefits-of-a-full-frame-camera/) - One of the most common questions that comes up when upgrading your digital SLR is whether or not to go with a "full frame" camera or stick with a crop sensor. There's good and bad things about both types of cameras, but here are a few benefits of the larger "full frame" sensor: #1 - - [Tips For Photographing Fall Color](https://photonaturalist.com/tips-for-photographing-fall-color/) - It looks like autumn might be off to an early start here in the northern hemisphere. A popular blog on California fall color has already reported some really impressive colors seen in the Eastern Sierra. So, now's the time to start getting ready to capture all of those amazing colors! Here are a few great - [Introduction To The Types of Natural Light](https://photonaturalist.com/introduction-to-the-types-of-natural-light/) - Light is something you have very little control over in nature photography, but it has a big effect on the look of your photographs so it's important to understand how different lighting conditions will affect the look of your photograph. Here's a short intro to the different types of light you'll experience, along with a - [Learn by Example In The New eBook From Fotozaar](https://photonaturalist.com/learn-by-example-in-the-new-ebook-from-fotozaar/) - Today I'm happy to announce that the second volume of Fotozaar is now available. It contains twenty incredible photographs from a wide variety of photographers, along with detailed stories about how each image was made. You may remember hearing about Fotozaar a few months ago, when I released the first volume. It's a side project - [Another Free eBook From Craft & Vision](https://photonaturalist.com/another-free-ebook-from-craft-vision/) - A few months ago, Craft & Vision released an excellent ebook on photography for free. If you haven't already downloaded and read that one, then I highly recommend checking it out. It's packed with some great tips from lots of great photographers. This week, they released another great ebook for free! It's called TEN and - [Three Reasons To Periodically Look Through Your Old Photos](https://photonaturalist.com/three-reasons-to-periodically-look-through-your-old-photos/) - One of the great things about digital photography is that memory is cheap. We can take lots and lots of photos without ever having to worry about expensive film. You can buy a big memory card once, and use it over and over again. As a result, you probably have a big stockpile of photos - [Three Great Tripod Accessories](https://photonaturalist.com/3-great-tripod-accessories/) - Sometimes it can be really annoying to get your tripod in the EXACT position you need it. Just when you think you've got it set up how you want it, you lock in the ballhead, and realize your camera just moved down half an inch, which totally ruins your composition. Well, luckily there are a - [PhotoPills - New App For Planning Landscape Images](https://photonaturalist.com/photopills-new-app-for-planning-landscape-images/) - One of the great things about being a nature photographer in the digital age is that we have all these wonderful apps to help us plan our shots. And, now with the smartphone we can bring many of these apps along with us in the wilderness. I've already talked about a few of these great - [7 Tips For Photographing Butterflies](https://photonaturalist.com/7-tips-for-photographing-butterflies/) - Butterflies are amazing little creatures, aren't they? They start out as a hungry slow-moving blob and through the process of metamorphosis, they transform themselves into a winged insect exhibiting a wonderful array of contrasting colors. Some species migrate thousands of miles for the winter, and many species have remarkable features like eyespots that help protect - [Check Out Our New Gear Page](https://photonaturalist.com/check-out-our-new-gear-page/) - One of the most common questions I get by email is about what camera gear I use and would recommend. So, I thought it was time to create a "recommended gear" page here on PN. You can check it out at: https://photonaturalist.com/recommended-gear/ You'll notice that I only listed a few products, and that I've only - [Attention Users of Google Reader](https://photonaturalist.com/attention-users-of-google-reader/) - If you use Google Reader to follow PhotoNaturalist, then you probably already know that Google is shutting down this service on July 1st (next week!). So, as you're migrating your RSS feeds over to a new reader, please remember to include PhotoNaturalist in that migration :) It's a sad end to a great service that - [The Most Common Problem In Nature Photography](https://photonaturalist.com/the-most-common-problem-in-nature-photography/) - One of the most common problems in nature photography is getting a good exposure. There seems to be a common tendency to underexpose nature photos. There could be a lot of reasons why this happens. Maybe your camera's metering mode doesn't work well for a particular scene. Or, the more likely issue is that your - [Ethics of Wildlife Photography](https://photonaturalist.com/ethics-of-wildlife-photography/) - One of the very first articles we published here on PhotoNaturalist was about the ethics of baiting owls to get a good photograph. It's a great article written by my father, Vic Berardi (if you're new to PN, I highly recommend reading it, as it represents one of our core beliefs here at PN). In - [The Perfect Tripod For a Hiking Photographer](https://photonaturalist.com/the-perfect-tripod-for-a-hiking-photographer/) - After the camera and lens, the tripod is the most important piece of camera gear you’ll own. In some of my favorite words from Scott Kelby, you should “become married to your tripod.” Nothing will keep your camera more still than a tripod. If you want the sharpest photos possible, then you gotta use one - [Learn The Secrets Behind Incredible Photos](https://photonaturalist.com/learn-the-secrets-behind-incredible-photos/) - Have you ever seen an incredible photo and wondered: how on earth did the photographer create that image? Sometimes, if you’re lucky, the photographer will share what settings they used on their camera (such as aperture, shutter speed, and ISO). But, as I’m sure you know, this kind of information only begins to tell the - [How to Keep Your Camera Ready For Action](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-keep-your-camera-ready-for-action/) - It’s probably happened to you before: you’re hiking down this trail, and all of a sudden you notice a bird or any kind of wildlife that doesn’t seem to mind your presence. You’re presented with a perfect photo opportunity, but then you remember, “Oh wait, my camera is tucked all the way into my backpack! - [Introduction to IR Photography](https://photonaturalist.com/introduction-to-ir-photography/) - Infrared (IR) photography doesn't get much attention, but it can be extremely useful for photographing landscapes in black and white. It's known for capturing strong contrast between vegetation and the surrounding landscape. So, here's a brief introduction to IR photography and its effects: Benefits and Effects of IR Photography So, what's so special about IR - [What The Coyote Can Teach You About Nature Photography](https://photonaturalist.com/what-the-coyote-can-teach-you-about-nature-photography/) - The coyote is one of the most common mammals of North America. And, unlike many other mammals, its range has expanded as a result of human civilization and encroachment. It seems to flourish even in urban environments. The coyote has adapted so well that they're considered pests in some areas. As a result, many aggressive - [The OTHER Reason To Use a Tripod](https://photonaturalist.com/the-other-reason-to-use-a-tripod-2/) - You hear it all the time: if you want sharp photos, you gotta use a tripod whenever possible. Well, if that isn't reason enough for you, here's another benefit of using a tripod: it forces you to think more carefully about your composition. When you handhold your camera, there's a tendency to snap away photos - [Three elements of a great landscape](https://photonaturalist.com/three-elements-of-a-great-landscape/) - Landscapes are one of the most difficult subjects in nature photography. It's always hard deciding what to include and what to leave out. And, it's not easy translating a vast three dimensional space into a two dimensional photo. Well, the next time you're having trouble composing a landscape photograph, consider these three elements: Foreground The - [Free eBook From Craft & Vision](https://photonaturalist.com/free-ebook-from-craft-vision/) - Last week, Craft & Vision (founded by David duChemin) released a free eBook with nine excellent articles on how you can improve your photography. The articles are written by a variety of professional photographers and cover a wide range of topics. And although some of the articles may not specifically apply to nature photography, I've - [Three Quick Tips For Close-Ups](https://photonaturalist.com/three-quick-tips-for-close-ups/) - Now that spring has arrived here in the Northern Hemisphere, it's time to start thinking about photographing all those wonderful wildflowers and insects. It's the perfect season for close-up photography. So, here are three quick tips to get you started: #1 - Get down to your subject's level Many of the plants and insects that - [Why You Should Calibrate Your Monitor](https://photonaturalist.com/why-you-should-calibrate-your-monitor/) - Have you ever tried ordering prints of your digital photos, but were disappointed by the results? Maybe the prints were darker or lighter than they looked on your monitor, or maybe they had a weird tint that seemed to just come out of nowhere. Well, those problems most likely occurred because your monitor isn't calibrated - [What's Wrong With This Photo?](https://photonaturalist.com/whats-wrong-with-this-photo/) - This is a photo of a Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus). It breeds in the arctic and migrates southward down into the far southern areas of western Canada and throughout much of the United States where it spends most of the winter. Its journey southward and back again is long and arduous. This particular photo was - [11 Tips For Avoiding Memory Card Problems](https://photonaturalist.com/11-tips-for-avoiding-memory-card-problems/) - Once you snap some photos, the memory card becomes the most important part of your camera, because it's responsible for transferring your photos safely back to your computer. Just like any kind of technology, a lot can go wrong with memory cards. And the last thing you want to happen is to lose all your - [How to get a closer focus with your lens](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-get-a-closer-focus-with-your-lens/) - Every lens has a minimum focusing distance: the closest point where the lens can get a sharp focus. Generally, the longer the focal length of the lens, the greater the minimum focusing distance. Most of the time, this distance isn't too important: with longer lenses you'll generally be photographing a distant subject, because you just - [How To Merge Two Exposures](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-merge-two-exposures/) - One of the most common problems in landscape photography occurs when photographing a sunrise or sunset: the sky is always super bright and the foreground is always super dark. This causes some trouble for your camera because it can't handle that dramatic range of brightness. There's a few ways to solve this problem, but one - [Be Careful Where You Buy Your Camera Gear](https://photonaturalist.com/be-careful-where-you-buy-your-camera-gear/) - Photography is an expensive hobby. So, it's always tempting to look for the lowest price on some new gear you need. But, unfortunately, there's a lot of counterfeit gear out there and many retailers mislabel items on their website. So, it's important to use a little caution when shopping for new gear. For example, a - [What To Do When You Can't Bring a Tripod](https://photonaturalist.com/what-to-do-when-you-cant-bring-a-tripod/) - Yeah, yeah, I know--you should always use a tripod. But, unfortunately this isn't always possible. Sometimes you need to travel light, and leave your tripod behind. Or, other times you may be going to a place where they don't even allow tripods. So, what do you do without a tripod? How can you possibly get - [Nature Photography In The Least Expected Places](https://photonaturalist.com/nature-photography-in-the-least-expected-places/) - It's the dead of winter, you live in an area that doesn't have classic winter scenery, then you look outside and see that it's cold and dreary. The last snowfall was at least a week ago, so taking photos with beautiful fresh snow in the background or foreground isn't an option. So, you decide to - [6 Tips For Photographing Shorebirds](https://photonaturalist.com/6-tips-for-photographing-shorebirds/) - We've talked a lot about photographing birds here on PN: how to photograph them in flight, how to photograph perched birds, and even a few tips for photographing hummingbirds. But, we haven't talked a whole lot about shorebirds specifically, so I thought it'd be good to share a few tips for photographing these types of - [Galen Rowell's great book, Inner Game of Outdoor Photography, is now back in print!](https://photonaturalist.com/galen-rowells-great-book-inner-game-of-outdoor-photography-is-now-back-in-print/) - Galen Rowell is widely known as one of the greatest landscape photographers that ever lived. But, he wasn't just a photographer: he was also an avid mountain climber and passionate adventurer. He truly loved the natural world: not only observing it, but also participating in it. Through his pioneering use of graduated neutral density filters, - [How To Make the Jump To Manual Mode](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-make-the-jump-to-manual-mode/) - At first, manual mode can seem a little intimidating. Finding the right exposure just doesn't seem as simple as finding the right f-number, does it? That's probably why most photographers start with Aperture Priority mode before jumping to full manual. But, shooting in manual will put you in complete control of the image making process. - [In Wildness Is the Preservation of the World (Book Review)](https://photonaturalist.com/in-wildness-is-the-preservation-of-the-world-book-review/) - Eliot Porter was a famous nature photographer, who gained widespread attention after publishing his great book, In Wildness Is the Preservation of the World, back in 1962. It's still known as one of the most important nature photography books ever published, but until recently it was out of print. Luckily, Ammo Books just started publishing - [Do You Have a Photography New Years Resolution?](https://photonaturalist.com/do-you-have-a-photography-new-years-resolution/) - So, today is the first day of 2013. Happy New Year!! It's a great day to reflect on the previous year, and to build hopes and dreams for this great new year we have ahead of us. Setting goals is a great way to motivate yourself to learn something new, or reach a major milestone - [Top Posts of 2012](https://photonaturalist.com/top-posts-of-2012/) - With 2012 coming to a close soon, I thought it'd be good to look back at the top posts of the year: Free eBook on Wildflower Photography Three Ways To Recover Photos From a Corrupt Memory Card How to Win the Battle of Close-Up Photography Five Things Every Landscape Photographer Should Carry At All Times - [How To Photograph Birds In Bad Light](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-photograph-birds-in-bad-light/) - You've probably said it yourself and you’ve heard it said many times, "I decided to stay home today because the lighting was so awful." If you're like many beginning bird photographers, then you check the weather forecast hoping it calls for sunny blue skies. But, then you get depressed when the forecast calls for "mostly - [The Benefits of a Good Tripod](https://photonaturalist.com/the-benefits-of-a-good-tripod/) - When you first start shopping for a tripod, you might be a little shocked by the price range: there's some for $20 and then there's others for hundreds of dollars. So, what's the deal with that huge price range? How could something so simple cost so much? Three metal legs for $500? I'll admit that - [Three Great Resources For Comparing Cameras and Lenses](https://photonaturalist.com/three-great-resources-for-comparing-cameras-and-lenses/) - It's always hard to make a decision about purchasing a new camera or lens. There seems to be an endless amount of things to consider: everything from ISO performance of a camera to the sharpest aperture of a lens you're thinking about buying. Well, luckily there's some great resources for helping you compare all those - [5 Great Quotes From 5 Great Photographers](https://photonaturalist.com/5-great-quotes-from-5-great-photographers/) - Whenever I need inspiration, one of my favorite things to do is read some of my favorite quotes on photography, from some of the greatest photographers. So, I thought it'd be nice to share some of those quotes: Ansel Adams "We don't make a photograph just with a camera, we bring to the act of - [5 Things Every Landscape Photographer Should Carry At All Times](https://photonaturalist.com/5-things-every-landscape-photographer-should-carry-at-all-times/) - With all those camera accessories available out there, it's easy to become a gearhead, and lose sight of what's really important: making photographs. Although a lot of these accessories just add unnecessary weight to your backpack, there are at least five things that are extremely useful for a landscape photographer: #1 - Tripod Okay, this - [The Benefit of a Point and Shoot Camera](https://photonaturalist.com/the-benefit-of-a-point-and-shoot-camera/) - When you first got an SLR camera, you might've buried your point and shoot (P&S) camera in a drawer somewhere. But, the point and shoot camera can actually be a very valuable tool in developing your photography skills. Since they're so small and lightweight, you can bring them just about anywhere. And, you don't have - [Quick Tip For Spotting Wildlife](https://photonaturalist.com/quick-tip-for-spotting-wildlife/) - One of the most difficult parts of wildlife photography is spotting your subject. Most wild animals tend to stay away from us humans, so it often requires a lot of patience to actually encounter them. Well, a few weeks ago I took a survival training course and learned something that might increase your chances of - [There's No Such Thing As Bad Light](https://photonaturalist.com/theres-no-such-thing-as-bad-light/) - In photography, there's always a lot of talk about "good light" and "bad light." Especially when it comes to specific subjects (like that popular rule that says the only "good light" for photographing landscapes is at sunrise or sunset). But, as I create and look at more and more images, the more I've realized that - [8 Tips For Photographing Silhouettes](https://photonaturalist.com/8-tips-for-photographing-silhouettes/) - One of the simplest ways to capture the dramatic colors of a sunrise or sunset is to photograph a silhouette. Although they're simple looking images, here are a few tips for photographing them: #1 - Use a telephoto lens With silhouettes, you'll usually want an out of focus background to help draw attention to your - [Remember To Always Put Safety First](https://photonaturalist.com/remember-to-always-put-safety-first/) - Today I read a sad story about a man who was attacked and killed by a grizzly bear while trying to photograph it in Denali National Park (Alaska). Apparently, he was photographing it for over eight minutes, and got within 50 yards of the bear. The bear probably then felt threatened, and attacked the man. - [Three Reasons to Photograph Wildlife at Eye Level](https://photonaturalist.com/3-reasons-to-photograph-wildlife-at-eye-level/) - When you encounter wildlife, it's pretty easy to get excited, isn't it? It doesn't happen often, so when you're lucky enough, the first thing you're probably thinking is, "wow, I do not want to scare this thing away!" (well, unless it's a bear or mountain lion, heh). In that moment of excitement, it's easy to - [Why You Should Prepare For the Unexpected](https://photonaturalist.com/why-you-should-prepare-for-the-unexpected/) - This past weekend, I missed out on a really good photo opportunity. I was hiking with a friend in the chaparral of Southern California, when all of a sudden a big thunderstorm rolls through. I noticed the weather forecast called for a 20% chance of rain and thunderstorms, but I've seen that kind of forecast - [Two Reasons For Using a Lens Hood](https://photonaturalist.com/two-reasons-for-using-a-lens-hood/) - The lens hood is an often overlooked accessory. I see a lot of people walking around without one. Or sometimes they have one on their lens, but they're not using it: it's put on backwards (the storage position). So, to help remedy this problem and motivate you to always use a lens hood (if you're - [How To Make Your Subject Stand Out](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-make-your-subject-stand-out/) - Photography is all about making your subject stand out. You want the viewer to easily recognize your subject, and appreciate its beauty. There are lots of ways to draw attention to your subject, but here are a few of my favorites: Contrast One of the simplest ways to make your subject stand out is to - [3 Quick Tips For Photographing Insects](https://photonaturalist.com/3-quick-tips-for-photographing-insects/) - Now that we're in the middle of summer (here in the northern hemisphere), there's lots of insects flying around. Some of them are cool looking and some are just really annoying (like those pesky mosquitoes!). But, if you're looking to photograph some of the not so annoying ones, here are a few tips: #1 - - [How To Recover Photos From a Corrupt Memory Card](https://photonaturalist.com/3-ways-to-recover-photos-from-a-corrupt-memory-card/) - Although there are ways to reduce the risk of memory card problems, you can never escape them completely. Sooner or later, you're going to come home from a wonderful day in the wilderness with a memory card loaded with great photos, but when you try to download those shots to your computer, your memory card - [How a Light Diffuser Can Help Your Close-Up Photos](https://photonaturalist.com/how-a-shower-curtain-can-help-your-close-up-photos/) - In a previous post, I talked about how you can build a light diffuser out of a shower curtain and wire clothes hanger. You can use this diffuser to help cast a soft light on your subjects, which helps eliminate harsh shadows and really makes the colors of your subject pop. It's especially helpful for - [What To Photograph On An Overcast Day](https://photonaturalist.com/what-to-photograph-on-an-overcast-day/) - In Southern California, we have this thing called "June Gloom" where pretty much every day in the month of June is overcast or cloudy. Some people call it our punishment for having bright sunny days for the rest of the year. But, I look forward to the overcast skies because although they produce some gloomy - [Quick Tip For Recharging Your Creativity](https://photonaturalist.com/quick-tip-for-recharging-your-creativity/) - In a previous post, I talked about something you could do when you need inpsiration: look at a ton of photos. Well, if you've already tried looking at a hundred photos, and still don't feel that creative energy kicking in, then there's something else you can try that I just recently discovered: Limit yourself to - [Why You Should Always Shoot Lots of Photos](https://photonaturalist.com/why-you-should-always-shoot-lots-of-photos/) - There seems to be a common habit among photographers to take just one shot of something and then immediately move on. Although you can definitely get good shots this way, I think it's also beneficial to slow down a little bit and take lots of photos of your subject. Here are a few reasons why: - [3 Tools To Help Prepare You For the Annular Eclipse This Weekend](https://photonaturalist.com/3-tools-to-help-prepare-you-for-the-annular-eclipse-this-weekend/) - This Sunday, May 20th, there will be an annular solar eclipse, visible from parts of Asia and the western United States. I wrote a detailed post about the eclipse last month, which includes some great links to maps, but I forgot to list some tools to help you scout out a location to photograph this - [How To Reduce Noise In Your Close-Up Photos (using Photoshop)](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-reduce-noise-in-your-close-up-photos-using-photoshop/) - In close-up photography, you often use fast shutter speeds to help battle the wind or freeze the action of your subject (such as a butterfly feeding on a flower). To get these faster shutter speeds without sacrificing your desired depth of field, your only option is to use higher ISOs (making your camera's sensor more - [Biggest Full Moon of the Year Occurs This Saturday](https://photonaturalist.com/biggest-full-moon-of-the-year-occurs-this-saturday/) - The biggest full moon of the year will occur this Saturday, May 5th at 11:35 PM EDT. The moon will appear extra large on Saturday, because that's when it makes its closest approach to Earth (also known as perigee). With a larger moon in the sky, it'll be a great opportunity to get some good - [Something That Should Be In Every Camera Bag](https://photonaturalist.com/something-that-should-be-in-every-camera-bag/) - In previous posts, I've talked about helpful accessories for your camera and tripod. But, I always seem to forget one item that almost always gets mentioned in the comments: A garbage bag. How could a garbage bag possibly help you with photography? Well, primarily the garbage bag is good for protecting your gear in case - [Three Reasons to Avoid Relying on the Crop Tool](https://photonaturalist.com/three-reasons-to-avoid-relying-on-the-crop-tool/) - In this age of digital photo editing, it's tempting to get lazy when you're taking a photo out in the field and just say to yourself, "well, if I don't like how I framed this, I could always crop it later." But, there are a few disadvantages to relying on that crop tool too much: - [Get Ready For the Upcoming Annular Eclipse on May 20th](https://photonaturalist.com/get-ready-for-the-upcoming-annular-eclipse-on-may-20th/) - Next month, on May 20th, there will be an annular solar eclipse, visible from parts of Asia, and the western United States. An annular solar eclipse is not a "total" eclipse, so the moon will not completely block the Sun. Instead, the Sun will look like a very bright ring (also known as an "annulus"), - [Join Our New Weekly Newsletter For More Great Photography Tips!](https://photonaturalist.com/join-our-new-weekly-newsletter-for-more-great-photography-tips/) - Today I'm excited to announce the new PhotoNaturalist Weekly Newsletter. This is a free email newsletter that will contain a list of great photography tips, sent out every Thursday night. Every week, I read a ton of photography blogs, and come across many great tips and tutorials that I share on our Facebook and Twitter - [Why You Shouldn't Carry Too Much Gear](https://photonaturalist.com/why-you-shouldnt-carry-too-much-gear/) - A few weeks ago I had a horrible accident: I cracked the LCD screen cover on the back of my Canon 5D Mk II. I was carrying two cameras at the time, and wanted to change lenses on my other camera, so I put the 5D on my tripod, and began switching lenses on my - [How GPS Can Help Your Photography](https://photonaturalist.com/how-gps-can-help-your-photography/) - I just recently started hiking with a handheld GPS device to log my hikes and so I could have elevation data wherever I go. But, I've also started using it as a tool for photography. Here are a few ways it's helped me: #1 - Keep track of good spots for landscape images This probably - [A Fun Way To Improve Your Wildflower Photography](https://photonaturalist.com/a-fun-way-to-improve-your-wildflower-photography/) - As spring approaches and the dreary overcast days of winter are still upon us, we anxiously await going out in the field for some wildflower photography. But, while you're waiting for those flowers to pop up, you can still do something to help you prepare for those wildflower photos. Over the winter, I picked up - [How to Win the Battle of Close-up Photography](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-win-the-battle-of-close-up-photography/) - In close-up nature photography, there's a constant battle of trying to find that perfect balance between a sharp subject and an out-of-focus background. An out-of-focus background is essential to a good close-up photo, because it helps draw attention to your main subject. But, it's not always easy to get that nice background. Sometimes the background - [New eBook, Digital Wildflower Photography, is now available!](https://photonaturalist.com/new-ebook-digital-wildflower-photography-is-now-available/) - Today I’m happy to announce that my new eBook, Digital Wildflower Photography, is now available. The first thing you’re probably wondering is how it’s different from the free eBook I released last spring. Well, this new one is over twice as long at 55 pages, and has a ton of new content. While the free - [FREE eBook: 13 tips for better wildflower photography](https://photonaturalist.com/free-ebook-13-tips-for-better-wildflower-photography/) - In anticipation of a great spring wildflower season, we decided to put together a FREE 20-page eBook, 13 tips for better wildflower photography. It contains some of our existing articles, but also includes SIX brand new articles! Here's what you'll learn in this free 20-page eBook: #1 - How to identify wildflowers #2 - The - [How To Organize Your Photo Ideas](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-organize-your-photo-ideas/) - Last week, I talked about the different phases of developing creativity. I mentioned that in the final phase, you start visualizing images that are not a part of your collection yet. But, once you start getting all these great ideas for images, how do you keep track of them all? Well, here are a few - [Three Phases of Developing Creativity](https://photonaturalist.com/three-phases-of-developing-creativity/) - In the first chapter of Galen Rowell's great book, Inner Game of Outdoor Photography, he talks about the three phases of developing creativity. Ever since reading this, I've noticed how often it applies to any "creative" hobby I start. I've also noticed other people go through these same phases. So, I thought it'd be interesting - [Learn About the Mighty Mississippi River In a New Documentary from Nat Geo WILD](https://photonaturalist.com/learn-about-the-mighty-mississippi-river-in-a-new-documentary-from-nat-geo-wild/) - This past weekend, I had an opportunity to watch a new mini-series from National Geographic: Wild Mississippi. I grew up just a few hours away from the Mississippi River, so it was nice to learn more about it. The three part series will premiere on Nat Geo WILD this Sunday, February 12, at 8 PM - [Where to Get Precipitation Data](https://photonaturalist.com/where-to-get-precipitation-data/) - With spring just around the corner here in the southwestern United States, it's time to start scouting out places for wildflowers. And, one of the best ways to do that is to look at winter precipitation data. Precipitation isn't the only thing that affects a good wildflower show, but it can usually be a strong - [3 Ways To Prevent Posterization](https://photonaturalist.com/3-ways-to-prevent-posterization/) - One of the most annoying problems in digital photography is posterization (as seen in the photo above). It can turn your beautiful sunset photos into a jagged mess. But, luckily there are a few ways to prevent this ugly problem: #1 - Get the best exposure possible The best thing you can do to prevent - [Amazing Photograph of the Earth](https://photonaturalist.com/amazing-photograph-of-the-earth/) - Today, NASA released an incredible "blue marble" image of the Earth. It was created by combining a bunch of smaller photos to create one massive 64-megapixel image (8,000x8,000 pixels). You can check out the full resolution image by clicking here. Awesome. - [The Perfect Backpack For a Hiking Photographer](https://photonaturalist.com/the-perfect-backpack-for-a-hiking-photographer/) - As nature photographers, we usually have to carry around a lot of gear with us. That gear can get pretty heavy, so it's helpful to have a camera bag that fits all of your stuff AND is comfortable to wear. Well, a couple years ago I found what I consider the perfect backpack for a - [6 Tips For Photographing Sand Dunes](https://photonaturalist.com/6-tips-for-photographing-sand-dunes/) - Sand dunes are some of the most visually stunning subjects you'll find in the desert. In a land that's dominated by sharp cactus and pointy rocks, dunes provide some relief with their smooth curves and soft sand. So, naturally they make good subjects for photographs. Here are a few tips for photographing them: #1 - - [How to Switch Lenses on Your Camera](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-switch-lenses-on-your-camera/) - In a previous post, I talked about the importance of being careful when switching your camera lenses, in order to avoid dust from gathering on your camera's sensor. But I didn't elaborate much on how to switch your lenses, so here's my method for switching camera lenses: Put your camera on a flat surface, so - [5 Essential Tools For Closeup Photography](https://photonaturalist.com/5-essential-tools-for-closeup-photography/) - As nature photographers, we usually have to limit the amount of gear we carry (and that is certainly a good thing). But, there's always that list of "essential" items we bring on a hike, so here's a little peek at what I carry in my bag when I know I'll be doing some closeup photography: - [Top 10 PhotoNaturalist Posts of 2011](https://photonaturalist.com/top-10-photonaturalist-posts-of-2011/) - With 2011 coming to a close in about a week, I thought it'd be good to check out the top posts of the year. So, here they are: When NOT to Use Lens Stabilization The Perfect Tripod For a Hiking Photographer How to Fix a Washed Out Sky in Photoshop 5 Essential Tools For Closeup - [Why You Should Keep Your Camera's Clock Accurate](https://photonaturalist.com/why-you-should-keep-your-cameras-clock-accurate/) - When I first get a camera, I always set the right date and time, but then I usually completely forget about it. A few daylight savings time changes go by, and of course I forget to update the time, so for half the year, my cameras are an hour off. But, there's also a few - [Watch the Premiere of The Last Lions This Friday on Nat Geo WILD](https://photonaturalist.com/watch-the-premiere-of-the-last-lions-this-friday-on-nat-geo-wild/) - This Friday, the documentary The Last Lions will make its television premiere on Nat Geo WILD (check your local TV listings for the start time). The film documents the life of a lioness named Ma di Tau ("Mother of Lions") as she protects her cubs from enemies to ensure their survival. The film was created - [Total Lunar Eclipse This Saturday](https://photonaturalist.com/total-lunar-eclipse-this-saturday/) - This Saturday, December 10th, there will be a total eclipse of the Moon, visible from western North America, and much of Asia and Australia. To see it in the western US, you'll have to wake up pretty early (about 4:45 AM PST if you want to see the entire show), but it's well worth it. - [Evolution of a Nature Photograph](https://photonaturalist.com/evolution-of-a-nature-photograph/) - Sometimes when you come across a subject, you immediately know how to photograph it and create a pleasing image. But, other times (and perhaps, most of the time), it takes some thought and experimenting to find that image you're looking for. You start off with a basic shot, and continue tweaking or evolving it, until - [Why You Shouldn't Rely on Auto White Balance](https://photonaturalist.com/why-you-shouldnt-rely-on-auto-white-balance/) - Don't you love it when something is "automatic"? It's just one less thing to worry about, right? Well, as you probably already know, "automatic" doesn't always work (especially when it comes to cameras). But, that's what makes photography so fun :) One of those automatic features of your camera that doesn't always work is white - [How To Get Started With Animal Tracking](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-get-started-with-animal-tracking/) - If you're serious about wildlife photography, then it's helpful to learn a little about animal tracking. Knowing where an animal typically hangs out or walks around can significantly increase your chances of being in the right place at the right time. Learning how to accurately track animals can be a long process, but here are - [Panheads Vs Ballheads](https://photonaturalist.com/panheads-vs-ballheads/) - When you're shopping for a tripod, one of the decisions you'll have to make is whether to get a panhead or a ballhead. But, what's the difference? Which one's better? Well, here's a quick summary of each type of head, along with some thoughts on which one you might prefer: Panheads Panheads work by controlling - [We Now Have 5,000 Readers!](https://photonaturalist.com/we-now-have-5000-readers/) - Today, I'm happy to announce that we've just passed 5,000 subscribed readers to PhotoNaturalist! One of our largest sources of traffic has been through social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. So, I want to send out a sincere thank you to those of you who have shared PhotoNaturalist with your friends. You've been a - [How to Find Good Locations For Fall Color](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-find-good-locations-for-fall-color/) - Now that we're almost in the middle of October, many of the trees in the US are bursting with color as their leaves fall off for the winter. Unfortunately, those colors don't last long and sometimes they're better in one area than they are in another, so it's important to choose your locations carefully. Luckily, - [Thank You, Steve Jobs, For All The Life and Inspiration You've Given Us](https://photonaturalist.com/thank-you-steve-jobs-for-all-the-life-and-inspiration-youve-given-us/) - I was planning to write a post tonight about how to find good locations for photographing fall color, but after hearing that Steve Jobs passed away earlier today, I just can't think about photography right now. Steve Jobs has brought so much life and passion into this world, that it's really hard to imagine what - [Never Give Up On a Sunset](https://photonaturalist.com/never-give-up-on-a-sunset/) - After watching and photographing a lot of sunsets, it's tempting to start thinking that you can look at the sky and predict how good a sunset will be a few hours before it happens. You might see a bunch of thick and dark gray clouds up there, and think, "well, the sunset is gonna suck - [Do You Refactor Your Photographs?](https://photonaturalist.com/do-you-refactor-your-photographs/) - As a software developer, one of the things I do every day is refactor code. I'll write some code to solve a problem, test it out to make sure it works, and then I'll take another look at the code and see if there's a way to make it more clear or more efficient. Then, - [When NOT to Use Lens Stabilization](https://photonaturalist.com/when-not-to-use-lens-stabilization/) - Many camera lenses come with some kind of lens stabilization technology. It's usually called something different by every camera manufacturer (e.g. Nikon calls it "vibration reduction" and Canon calls it "image stabilization"), but they all have the same goal: helping to stabilize your lens. It works great for those times when you're forced to hand-hold - [How Perspective Affects Your Photos](https://photonaturalist.com/how-perspective-affects-your-photos/) - Ansel Adams once said, "A good photograph is knowing where to stand." But, before you know where to stand, it's important to understand a few concepts about perspective. I've written about perspective here on PhotoNaturalist a few times, but I've also written a couple posts about it over at the Digital Photography School (a great - [Quick Tip for Identifying Your Unknown Subjects](https://photonaturalist.com/quick-tip-for-identifying-your-unknown-subjects/) - One of the most rewarding parts of nature photography is learning how to identify your subjects. When we place a name on something, it somehow makes us feel more connected to it. When you first meet someone new, the first thing you tell them is your name. And, so naturally, when we photograph something we - [What To Do When You Need Inspiration](https://photonaturalist.com/what-to-do-when-you-need-inspiration/) - A few weeks ago, I wrote a post about how to tell if you're in a slump. I made the argument that you're most likely not in a slump at all--that perhaps you're just learning and being more picky about your compositions (which is a very good thing). But, what do you do when you - [How to Photograph Landscapes With the Moon](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-photograph-landscapes-with-the-moon/) - Including the moon in a landscape can sometimes add a nice sense of balance or contrast to an image, like in the photo above (taken in the Colorado Desert of California). But, photographing a landscape with the moon is a little tricky and requires some patience. One of the problems is that the moon won't - [Are You In An Artistic Slump or Just Learning?](https://photonaturalist.com/are-you-in-an-artistic-slump-or-just-learning/) - When you first got your camera, I'll bet you took a photo of just about everything. I know I did. When I got my first SLR, I could barely walk ten feet on a trail without stopping to photograph something. I probably photographed every flower or insect I saw. But, then that pace starts to - [What To Do When Your Memory Card Fails](https://photonaturalist.com/what-to-do-when-your-memory-card-fails/) - In a previous post, I talked about a few ways to avoid memory card problems. But, even if you follow all those tips, you're bound to get a corrupt memory card someday. Unfortunately, technology doesn't always work :( So, what do you do when you get home with a memory card full of awesome photos - [The Secret Ingredient to Good Nature Photos](https://photonaturalist.com/the-secret-ingredient-to-good-nature-photos/) - Do you ever wish you could add something to your nature photos that would just magically make them all super awesome and fantastic? Well, guess what? You can! That secret ingredient is patience. One of the hardest parts about photographing nature is that nature is filled with uncontrollable subjects. That flower will grow where it - [Why You Should Keep All Your Photos](https://photonaturalist.com/why-you-should-keep-all-your-photos/) - When you get back home with your camera after a long day outside, do you rush to your computer and inspect your photos immediately? I think that's a healthy obsession, because it simply means you're passionate about your results and dying to find out if you captured that sight just the way you saw it - [How to Make Your Camera Shoot Faster](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-make-your-camera-shoot-faster/) - Shooting photos quickly is one of the keys to success for some types of nature photography, like photographing birds in flight, or any kind of wildlife photography. As my dad illustrated in one of his articles, shooting just a few more frames per second can really make a difference in your success rate. If you're - [Have You Updated Your Camera’s Firmware Lately?](https://photonaturalist.com/have-you-updated-your-camera’s-firmware-lately/) - Firmware is the low-level software that runs inside your camera, and basically controls how everything works. It’s the stuff that controls how images are written to your memory cards, how the lens talks to the camera and more. Most digital SLRs these days allow you to upgrade the firmware. But, why would you want to - [Why You Should Read Your Camera’s Manual](https://photonaturalist.com/why-you-should-read-your-camera’s-manual/) - The instruction manual is probably the most boring thing you get with a new camera. It’s funny: you spend a few hundred (or thousand) dollars on a nice camera so you can take brilliantly colorful photos, and all it comes with is a tiny, poorly printed and poorly written instruction manual full of black and - [9 Tips For Photographing Perched Birds](https://photonaturalist.com/9-tips-for-photographing-perched-birds/) - We’ve talked about bird photography fairly often here on PhotoNaturalist, including posts on how to photograph birds in flight and how to photograph hummingbirds in the wild. Well, today’s topic is photographing perched birds, like in the photo above of a black-throated sparrow. Bird photography can be frustrating at times, and it may seem like - [How to Give Your Photography a Turbo Boost](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-give-your-photography-a-turbo-boost/) - You know those turbo boosts that you get in car racing video games? You’ll be driving along, struggling to get out of 9th place, but then you use a few turbos and BOOM––all of a sudden you’re cruising in 1st place! Woohoo! Do you ever wish you could use those turbos in real life too? - [How to Fix a Washed Out Sky In Photoshop](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-fix-a-washed-out-sky-in-photoshop/) - One of the common problems you’ll run into while using a wide-angle lens with a polarizer is a partly washed out sky. The photo on the left illustrates this ugly problem. It happens because the polarizer works better on some parts of the sky than others. And, since you’re capturing such a wide part of - [Keys to Getting Sharp Photos of Birds in Flight](https://photonaturalist.com/keys-to-getting-sharp-photos-of-birds-in-flight/) - Last year, my dad wrote a great post about how to get sharp photos of birds in flight. Since then, I’ve occasionally tried to photograph a hawk in flight, but never really dedicated a whole lot of time to it, so I was never able to get a sharp photo. Well, a few weeks ago - [Top 10 PhotoNaturalist Posts of 2010](https://photonaturalist.com/top-10-photonaturalist-posts-of-2010/) - With 2010 coming to a close in a few days, I thought it'd be good to check out the top posts of the year. So, here they are: How to Photograph Dragonflies (free ebook) 5 Reasons to Minimize Your Gear 5 Great Resources for Nature Photographers Why You Should Memorize the F-Number Series Quick Tip - [7 Tips For Photographing Landscapes In Extreme Wind](https://photonaturalist.com/7-tips-for-photographing-landscapes-in-extreme-wind/) - I recently found myself on an extremely windy mountaintop trying to photograph a distant rock spire. The wind was blowing at 45 mph, with gusts over 60 mph! I’m used to dealing with some light 15 mph winds when photographing wildflowers, but this 60 mph stuff was strong enough to start shaking my tripod. So, - [What to do when you get sensor dust](https://photonaturalist.com/what-to-do-when-you-get-sensor-dust/) - In a previous post, I talked about the importance of keeping your camera’s sensor clean. The best way to do that is to be extremely careful when you switch out lenses on your camera. But, what if you still get a little dust on your sensor despite being super careful? I always thought I was - [Quick Tip for Getting a Faster Autofocus](https://photonaturalist.com/quick-tip-for-getting-a-faster-autofocus/) - Sometimes autofocus can be really annoying: it’ll search and search for an object to focus on, and either never find it, or go through multiple cycles until it finally finds the right object to focus on. And by that time, you may have already missed the shot--especially if you’re photographing a quick moving subject like - [Ansel Adams in the National Parks (Book Review)](https://photonaturalist.com/ansel-adams-in-the-national-parks-book-review/) - Ansel Adams doesn’t need an introduction. Even non-photographers know about his awesomeness. He wasn’t just a master at making amazing images though--he also played a very large role in the preservation of the American wilderness. Well, about a month ago a new book was published with a few hundred of his photographs that were taken - [What a TV Show Can Teach You About Photography](https://photonaturalist.com/what-a-tv-show-can-teach-you-about-photography/) - A few months ago, I was lucky enough to have one of my favorite TV shows (Dexter) filmed right outside my apartment building. They filmed a scene in the alley of my building, and I was able to watch the whole thing from my porch! If you're a fan of the show, pay close attention - [Quick Tip for Getting Sharper Closeup Photos](https://photonaturalist.com/quick-tip-for-getting-sharper-closeup-photos/) - In a previous post, I explained a quick way you can get sharper photos by adjusting the "picture style" on your DSLR (if you're shooting in JPEG). Well, another small way you can make your closeup photos appear sharper is by photographing your subject in front of a contrasting background. The photo above is a - [How to Photograph Wildflowers with Flash](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-photograph-wildflowers-with-flash/) - Note from Steve: This is a guest post written by Rob Neave, of Perth, Western Australia. In this post he talks about an interesting technique for photographing wildflowers with flash. As always, if youʼre also interested in writing a guest post, please feel free to contact me. Thanks! ________ My state of Western Australia is - [Where to Keep Your Telephoto Lens](https://photonaturalist.com/where-to-keep-your-telephoto-lens/) - The last time I went hiking on one of my favorite trails here in Southern California, I missed out on a really good photo opportunity. As I was driving out of the national forest at the end of the day, I spotted a Red-Tailed hawk perched in a nearby tree. The tree must've been just - [Thank You!](https://photonaturalist.com/thank-you/) - I'm happy to announce that PhotoNaturalist recently passed two big milestones. A few weeks ago, our Facebook page got it's 1,000th fan. And, today we passed 3,000 subscribed readers. One of our largest sources of traffic has been through social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. So, I want to send out a sincere thank - [How Do You Know When to Upgrade Your Equipment?](https://photonaturalist.com/how-do-you-know-when-to-upgrade-your-equipment/) - For the past several years my main bird photography equipment has been one of Canon’s xxD bodies (30D, 40D, 50D and the recent 7D) along with either the Canon 400mm f/5.6L or the Canon 300mm f/4L IS. Sometimes I’ve also used these lenses with the Canon 1.4x Extender. Both of these lenses offer superb image - [Book Review: Science for the Curious Photographer by Charles Johnson](https://photonaturalist.com/book-review-science-for-the-curious-photographer-by-charles-johnson/) - As a photographer with a science background, I've always been on the lookout for a good book on the science behind photography. Although Ansel Adams got pretty technical in his excellent books, they left me wanting to know more about how cameras, lenses, and sensors work. So, I started searching for the right book, and - [5 Great iPhone Apps for Nature Photographers](https://photonaturalist.com/5-great-iphone-apps-for-nature-photographers/) - With mobile phones getting more and more powerful these days, they're starting to become some pretty useful tools. They're not just phones anymore. Many of them allow you to install different "apps" that can significantly help you take photos while you're out on the trail. For example, here's a list of some great apps available - [Take a Second Look at Your Subject](https://photonaturalist.com/take-a-second-look-at-your-subject/) - Ever wonder why some photographers see things that you donʼt? True, there is some degree of “right brain” thinking going on with the more experienced photographer, but I think thereʼs more to it than just that. Whatʼs most important is perseverance and taking a second look at your subject. For example, consider the photo below: - [How to Photograph Hummingbirds in the Wild](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-photograph-hummingbirds-in-the-wild/) - Hummingbirds are amazing little birds: they're the only birds that can fly backwards, and they're the fastest animal on the planet (if you measure speed in body lengths per second, heh). They’re fairly easy to photograph if you setup a feeder, but I prefer to photograph them in the wild, since my goal is to - [Why the Sharpest Photo Isn’t Always the Best Photo](https://photonaturalist.com/why-the-sharpest-photo-isn’t-always-the-best-photo/) - As nature photographers, we tend to have an obsession with tack sharp photos and will do almost anything to increase the sharpness just a tiny bit. After all, looking up close at a sharp photo of a dragonfly is one of the greatest rewards of photographing the natural world :) But, sometimes it’s necessary to - [When NOT to Use a Battery Grip](https://photonaturalist.com/when-not-to-use-a-battery-grip/) - The battery grip is a great accessory for an SLR: not only does it allow you to plug in two batteries to your camera, but it also helps give you a much better grip on the camera, making it easier to handle. But, there's at least one situation where you should avoid using this great - [How to Photograph Grizzly Bears](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-photograph-grizzly-bears/) - Note from Steve: Today Iʼm happy to publish our first guest post here at PhotoNaturalist. This post was written by Robert Berdan, of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Robert has a lot of experience with photographing mammals (something I pretty much have NO experience with!), so I was pleased to accept his post about photographing grizzly bears. - [6 Reasons Why Flickr is a Great Tool for Nature Photographers](https://photonaturalist.com/6-reasons-why-flickr-is-a-great-tool-for-nature-photographers/) - As you might already know, I’m a big fan of Flickr. Although it’s primarily just a place for you to store and share your photos, there’s a lot more reason to use it as well. Especially as a nature photographer. Here are some reasons why: #1 - Learn from other photographers There are a ton - [11 Tips for Landscape Photography](https://photonaturalist.com/11-tips-for-landscape-photography/) - Once in awhile, I think it's good to re-read and review stuff you've already read before. It's a good way to refresh your memory and pick up things you might've missed the first time. I've probably re-read Ansel Adams' book The Camera at least five times, and I still learn something new each time. So, - [Why Timing is Critical for a Photo](https://photonaturalist.com/why-timing-is-critical-for-a-photo/) - The two photos above were taken two minutes apart as the sun was setting one evening in the Mojave Desert. Although it's not too drastic, there's a clear difference in color between the two photos. Of course, neither photo is necessarily "better" than the other (in fact, about half the people I've asked prefer the - [7 tips for photographing waterfalls](https://photonaturalist.com/7-tips-for-photographing-waterfalls/) - Hiking trails to waterfalls always seem to be the most popular trails. There's a good reason for this: as humans, we're naturally drawn to water. It's one of our most basic survival instincts. Not only do we love the sight of water, but we love the sound of water falling against rocks, and we love - [Why you should keep your camera's SENSOR super clean](https://photonaturalist.com/why-you-should-keep-your-cameras-sensor-super-clean/) - Last week, I wrote a post about why it's important to keep your lenses clean, and included an example photo to help illustrate my point. Well, it turns out I was wrong about what caused those dust specks in the photo: they were NOT caused by dust on the lens, but instead resulted from dust - [Photographer's Ephemeris now available for iPhone!](https://photonaturalist.com/photographers-ephemeris-now-available-for-iphone/) - I've written about The Photographer's Ephemeris before: it's a free desktop application that runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux. It's a tool that helps show you the exact position of the sun and moon on a particular time of day, overlaying their azimuths on top of a Google Map. It's hard to explain the entire - [Why you should keep your lenses super clean](https://photonaturalist.com/why-you-should-keep-your-lenses-super-clean/) - One of the consequences of shooting photos outdoors is that you'll constantly be getting dust or dirt on your lenses and filters. It's easy to forget about this dust and just deal with it by removing any specks in your photos later in Photoshop, but sometimes those specks won't always appear on a nice blue - [9 tips for photographing wildflowers with a point and shoot camera](https://photonaturalist.com/9-tips-for-photographing-wildflowers-with-a-point-and-shoot-camera/) - Although wildflowers are best photographed with an SLR camera, it's still possible to take some pretty good shots with a plain old point and shoot camera. And, sometimes this may be the only camera you have with you at the time, either because you're backpacking far into the wilderness and want to travel light, or - [5 reasons to minimize your camera gear](https://photonaturalist.com/5-reasons-why-you-should-minimize-your-gear/) - Have you ever felt like you were just one camera lens away from completing your ultimate collection of gear? Have you ever said to yourself, "if only I had that 600mm lens, THEN I could take those awesome photos I want." Or maybe there's some nifty little accessories that you're just itching to get. I - [How to create intimate portraits of nature](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-create-intimate-portraits-of-nature/) - Which of the two photos above do you like better? They were both taken of the same flower, with the same camera settings. The only difference between the two shots is the position of the camera. I'll take a wild guess that you like the first one more. And, I think this photo is better - [5 great resources for nature photographers](https://photonaturalist.com/5-great-resources-for-nature-photographers/) - When I started this website, I listed a few great resources on the right sidebar, but I just realized that I've never written about them in a post before. So, I thought I'd take a moment to list them here and explain how each one can be helpful on your journey to photograph the wonderful - [What went wrong with this sand dune photo?](https://photonaturalist.com/what-went-wrong-with-this-sand-dune-photo/) - I received a lot of positive feedback the last time I discussed one of my "bad photos," so it was easy for me to decide to continue these types of posts. This time I want to talk about a photo I took last weekend while camping in the Mojave Desert. I intentionally picked this weekend - [How three bananas can help improve your wildlife photography skills](https://photonaturalist.com/how-three-bananas-can-help-improve-your-wildlife-photography-skills/) - One of the hardest parts about photographing wildlife is learning how to use a long lens. There's a lot of little things you have to get used to with that big lens. One of those is simply learning how to quickly locate your subject in the viewfinder. With such a long lens (around 400mm or - [Why you should memorize the f-number series](https://photonaturalist.com/why-you-should-memorize-the-f-number-series/) - In photography there's something known as the standard f-number series. It's a geometric sequence of f-numbers that goes like this: f/1 1.4 2 2.8 4 5.6 8 11 16 22 32 At first this may look like a random series of numbers, but there's actually a method to this madness, and memorizing this series can - [Learn more than exposure from the histogram](https://photonaturalist.com/learn-more-than-exposure-from-the-histogram/) - In a previous post, I explained how to use the histogram to get a better exposure (and then how to do it better with the RGB version). The histogram is a great tool, and it can even tell you a lot more than just the exposure of your image. It can also help show you - [Quick tip for getting sharper wildlife photos](https://photonaturalist.com/quick-tip-for-getting-sharper-wildlife-photos/) - Getting sharp photos of wildlife is a constant battle. With an uncontrollable and constantly moving subject, you usually end up with a lot more blurry shots than sharp ones. To increase your chances of getting a sharp shot, you can do things like shoot in JPEG to help you take a lot more photos in - [Top 10 PhotoNaturalist posts of 2009](https://photonaturalist.com/top-10-photonaturalist-posts-of-2009/) - With 2009 coming to a close last week, I thought it'd be good to take a look back at some of the most popular posts from the year. So, without further ado, here are the top 10 posts from 2009: 7 tips for getting sharper photographs 5 things every landscape photographer should carry at all - [When NOT to use mirror lockup](https://photonaturalist.com/when-not-to-use-mirror-lockup/) - Mirror lockup is one of those little things you can do to get sharper photographs. Sure, by itself you may not see a big difference, but combine it with a few other little things, and you'll begin to notice that extra sharpness. It makes sense to use mirror lockup when you have a somewhat controllable - [How to fix the "gray snow problem" with Photoshop](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-fix-the-gray-snow-problem-with-photoshop/) - Yesterday, I wrote a few tips for getting a perfect exposure of a snow covered landscape (or, how to avoid the "gray snow problem"). But, what do you do with all those gray snow photos you already took? Throw them away? Nope! Fortunately, there's an easy way to fix the gray snow problem in Photoshop. - [How to get a perfect exposure of a snow covered landscape](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-get-a-perfect-exposure-of-a-snow-covered-landscape/) - Have you ever tried taking photos of a beautiful winter landscape covered in bright white snow? And, did the snow in all your photos end up looking gray, instead of that beautiful white? The "gray snow problem" is very common, and happens because your camera's light meter sees everything as neutral gray. When it looks - [7 great resources for winter photography](https://photonaturalist.com/7-great-resources-for-winter-photography/) - We're starting to get a good layer of snow on the mountains here in southern California, so I figured now's a good time to start getting ready for some winter photos. There are a few unique problems with winter photography because of the bright white snow and cold weather. So, here are a few resources - [What went wrong with this dragonfly photo?](https://photonaturalist.com/what-went-wrong-with-this-dragonfly-photo/) - In Bob Dylan's great song, "Love Minus Zero/No Limit," he proclaims, "There's no success like failure, and failure's no success at all." It's one of my favorite lines. I don't always think failure is such a bad thing, because we learn so much more from failure, than we do success. So, I'd like to try - [Book Review: Digital Landscape Photography by John and Barbara Gerlach](https://photonaturalist.com/book-review-digital-landscape-photography-by-john-and-barbara-gerlach/) - I first discovered John and Barbara Gerlach about a year ago through Nature Photographer Magazine. I remember looking at their photos for the first time and just saying, "wow!" They seem to have mastered every type of nature photography: everything from wildlife to landscapes. But, they're not just amazing photographers, they're also pretty awesome writers. - [How to check sharpness out on the trail](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-check-sharpness-out-on-the-trail/) - In last week's post, I explained how to use the histogram to check if you exposed a photo properly. Another thing you probably want to know after taking a photo is whether or not it's sharp. Well, one way to see if a photo came out sharp enough, is to zoom in as much as - [How to avoid autofocus problems](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-avoid-autofocus-problems/) - Sometimes autofocus can really be annoying. For some shots it'll focus on the right part of your subject, but then the very next shot it may choose to focus on something far and away into the background. Sure, you could avoid this problem by always using manual focus, but autofocus is great when you need - ["Wow, you must have a really good camera!"](https://photonaturalist.com/wow-you-must-have-a-really-good-camera/) - Anyone who has ever taken a sharp, properly exposed, and well-composed photo has heard these very words. A couple of years ago someone I know, a writer of three published books and numerous articles, came across some of my flower photos. He looked at them intensely and said, “Wow, you must have a really good - [How to identify wildflowers](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-identify-wildflowers/) - Are you tired of having a bunch of nameless wildflower photographs? Well, below are some tips to help you put some names on those photos! And, don't worry--you don't need to become a botanist to identify flowers. Get to know your local area The best (and most rewarding) way to identify wildflowers is to get - [How to get this photo from the Mojave Desert](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-get-this-photo-from-the-mojave-desert/) - This photo was taken at Joshua Tree National Park, which is in the Mojave Desert of the Southwestern United States. I think the photo is unique for a couple reasons: Color saturation (those rocks look brown most of the time) It's a single exposure (I didn't capture the moon in a separate exposure) And, here - [What is a natural photograph?](https://photonaturalist.com/what-is-a-natural-photograph/) - Sometimes as nature photographers, our minds focus too much on getting a good photograph, instead of just enjoying nature and being there to capture some of the light we come across. It's important to keep nature natural, and I'll tell you a story to help illustrate what I mean. It's about the ethics of attracting - [How to get this photo - Oregon Coast](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-get-this-photo-oregon-coast/) - This photo is from the Oregon coast, at a state park about an hour north of Bandon. Oregon has some really hard sand, so there's always a thin layer of ocean water residing on top of it. This creates some really amazing reflections of the sunset, as pictured in this photo. The blue you see - [How to get sharper flower photographs](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-get-sharper-flower-photographs/) - This weekend I read an article by Wendy L. Turner in Nature Photographer Magazine, and learned a new tip on how to get sharper flower photographs: position your camera so the sensor is parallel to the most important plane of the flower. When photographing flowers, you will most likely use a telephoto or macro lens - [Photo Essay - Wintering Raptors in Indiana](https://photonaturalist.com/photo-essay-wintering-raptors-in-indiana/) - A chill in the breeze, a beautiful prairie grassland, a retreating bank of dark clouds and a loneliness that's hard to describe. Winter in the Dakotas? No, Indiana. Specifically southwestern Indiana where re-claimed surface mines are in abundance. And with them an array of wintering raptors that live virtually unnoticed. Nestled between the small towns - [How to isolate your subject from the background](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-isolate-your-subject-from-the-background/) - Isolating your subject can create a powerful image, but have you ever found yourself wondering how to keep your subject sharp while blurring the background? There are two simple keys to achieving this effect: Get close to your subject, while maximizing the distance between your subject and the background Use a large aperture (smaller f-number) - [How snow can help you get better bird photos](https://photonaturalist.com/how-snow-can-help-you-get-better-bird-photos/) - Photography is all about light and the use of it. Photographing birds in winter brings a special kind of lighting not available during the rest of the year--reflective snow cover. Fresh fallen snow and bright sunlight offer both spectacular results as well as tricky exposure decisions. Bird photography presents many challenges with the various plumages - [The unbaited Northern Hawk Owl](https://photonaturalist.com/the-unbaited-northern-hawk-owl/) - In a previous article, Vic Berardi discussed the ethics of baiting owls in order to get a good photograph. He explained how it's important to keep nature natural, and how it's possible to get great photos without baiting wild animals. It just takes patience, and knowledge. Well, the photo above by Mike McDowell is proof - [Tips for photographing shorebirds](https://photonaturalist.com/tips-for-photographing-shorebirds/) - Shorebirds can be both very rewarding and very challenging to photograph. To start with, their environment is often muddy, sandy, salty, or a combination of all three. Add to that, shorebirds are usually very timid and you rarely have much cover to hide behind, making for a very challenging subject. But when you get home - [How to get this photo of Lake Tahoe](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-get-this-photo-of-lake-tahoe/) - The photo above was taken at Sand Harbor, Lake Tahoe (Nevada). This area is known for those large rounded rocks that seem to have just been thrown onto the lake. It's a wonderful place to watch the sunset because you'll see some beautiful reflections on the the torquise water of Lake Tahoe. There were three - [How to get a perfect exposure of an albino Red-tailed Hawk in flight](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-get-a-perfect-exposure-of-an-albino-red-tailed-hawk-in-flight/) - This photo of a nearly all white albino Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) was taken in northern Illinois this past weekend, at midday. This plumage variation of Red-tailed Hawks, although not necessarily rare in occurrence, is somewhat rare in opportunities to photograph. When I first saw the bird, it was perched in a tree directly above - [How metadata can help you identify and organize your photos](https://photonaturalist.com/how-metadata-can-help-you-identify-and-organize-your-photos/) - Photo metadata, simply put, is a set of data that describes various aspects of your photo (i.e. where it was taken, settings used, etc). Photos without metadata are like the thousands of items at an antique market, whose origin and history you can only guess at. Using metadata is like adding a card next to - [Guide to storing and backing up your photos (Part 1 of 2)](https://photonaturalist.com/guide-to-storing-and-backing-up-your-photos-part-1-of-2/) - Like toasters, cars and space shuttles, hard disks are mechanical devices that will eventually fail. Unlike most other devices, you cannot perform a service on a hard drive to prevent future failures. That means that all your images are sitting on a device that is like a ticking time bomb. The big question is: "What - [Guide to storing and backing up your photos (Part 2 of 2)](https://photonaturalist.com/guide-to-storing-and-backing-up-your-photos-part-2-of-2/) - In part one of this article, Matthew Fletcher explained the different connection types for external hard drives, and compared three strategies for backing up your photos. In part two of this guide, Matthew explains a few backup options in detail, and provides a few specific recommendations: DVDs One popular method of backing up images is - [How to fix underexposed areas of your wildflower photos (using Photoshop)](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-fix-underexposed-areas-of-your-wildflower-photos-using-photoshop/) - In our free eBook on wildflower photography, we mentioned how a perfect exposure is critical to getting good flower photos. There are times, however, when that perfect exposure doesn't exist. We've already explained how to fix blown-out highlights, but what if your flower photo suffers from shadows or underexposed areas? You may think of taking - [Ever wonder about taking photos from a kayak? Learn a few tips in our latest podcast!](https://photonaturalist.com/ever-wonder-about-taking-photos-from-a-kayak-learn-a-few-tips-in-our-latest-podcast/) - 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 - [How to get sharp photos of birds in flight](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-get-sharp-photos-of-birds-in-flight/) - Trying to photograph birds in flight can be frustrating. It may seem like complete randomness at first, but there are actually a few techniques that will significantly increase your chances of getting a sharp photo, some of which are presented in this article. Although there are many lens choices for photographing birds, our discussion will - [11 great resources for night photography](https://photonaturalist.com/11-great-resources-for-night-photography/) - When the sun goes down, you might normally put away your camera and head home or crawl into your sleeping bag, but what about all that wonderful natural light you only find at night? From the countless stars, meteors, distant planets, to the light of the moon, the night sky offers a pretty spectacular light - [How to find subjects for your macro shots](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-find-subjects-for-your-macro-shots/) - 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 - [What mode should you shoot in?](https://photonaturalist.com/what-mode-should-you-shoot-in/) - Have 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: Program (P) When you shoot in Program (P) mode, the camera pretty - [4 ways Live Preview can help you take photos](https://photonaturalist.com/4-ways-live-preview-can-help-you-take-photos/) - 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 - [Connect with other photonaturalists on our new Facebook page!](https://photonaturalist.com/connect-with-other-photonaturalists-on-our-new-facebook-page/) - For awhile now, I've been trying to think of the best way to create an online forum for us, where you can meet other photonaturalists, and share your photos, stories, and useful links. Well, I just created a Facebook fan page that I hope will become a part of that. Why you should join our - [Sometimes the view is better from above](https://photonaturalist.com/sometimes-the-view-is-better-from-above/) - 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 - [Free software for landscape photographers](https://photonaturalist.com/free-software-for-landscape-photographers/) - For 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 - [Learn about prime lenses and taking photos in the fog in our latest podcast!](https://photonaturalist.com/learn-about-prime-lenses-and-taking-photos-in-the-fog-in-our-latest-podcast/) - In our newest podcast, Matthew Fletcher talks about prime lenses, taking photos in the fog, and things you can do "in camera" to get better color in your photos. At the end, he also goes over some interesting news stories, including the release of Canon's new 5D Mk II firmware. Thanks to all those who - [How to reduce noise for long exposures](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-reduce-noise-for-long-exposures/) - If not handled properly, noise can really degrade the quality of your photographs. Those pesky little dots can become a big distraction in an otherwise great photo. You can usually avoid noise problems by shooting at a low ISO (400 or lower for most cameras), but noise becomes a problem again when using a long - [What to do when auto exposure doesn't work](https://photonaturalist.com/what-to-do-when-auto-exposure-doesnt-work/) - If you haven't ventured into the world of manual exposure yet, then you may have noticed that auto exposure doesn't always work too well. Sometimes changing your metering mode can help, but if that fails, what do you do? Fortunately, there's another method that can help you get that perfect exposure, while still avoiding the - [Announcing our first podcast episode!](https://photonaturalist.com/announcing-our-first-podcast-episode/) - A few weeks ago, we asked you for nature photography questions, and today we're happy to announce the release of our first podcast (hosted by Matthew Fletcher), where we answer some of these questions. Thanks to all those who sent in questions, and although we don't answer them all in this first episode, we may - [Why timing is everything for landscape photography](https://photonaturalist.com/why-timing-is-everything-for-landscape-photography/) - During the day, lighting conditions are usually pretty consistent. Sure, the Sun may hide behind a cloud for a minute or two, or a storm may roll in, but on most days, you'll have pretty consistent light throughout the day (at least from the perspective of a landscape photographer). But, that all changes during the - [Look for subtle features of your subject](https://photonaturalist.com/look-for-subtle-features-of-your-subject/) - Do you ever feel like you don't really see your subject until you photograph them? Photography allows you to capture a seemingly instant moment of time, and observe it forever. In a way, the camera is almost like a time stopper. This may even be one of the reasons you originally got into photography. After - [When photographing wildlife, always keep an eye on the Sun](https://photonaturalist.com/when-photographing-wildlife-always-keep-an-eye-on-the-sun/) - There's a big problem with the photo above, of a female Rufous Hummingbird. Can you spot what it is? Okay, maybe the headline gave it away, but in case you haven't figured it out yet, the problem is that big dark shadow on the bird's breast. Why did this happen? Simple: I wasn't keeping an - [How to fix blown-out highlights in your wildflower photos (using Photoshop)](https://photonaturalist.com/how-to-fix-blown-out-highlights-in-your-wildflower-photos-using-photoshop/) - In our free eBook on wildflower photography, we explained how important it is to get a perfect exposure when photographing wildflowers. Otherwise, you'll get blown-out highlights. Well, sometimes there just isn't a perfect exposure, and no matter what shutter speed you choose, you'll either get a wildflower that is way too underexposed, or you'll get - ["Stop and take a look around once in awhile"](https://photonaturalist.com/stop-and-take-a-look-around-once-in-awhile/) - Have you ever seen the movie Ferris Bueller's Day off? One of my all time favorite quotes is at the end of this film when Ferris says, "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and take a look around once in awhile, you could miss it." Bueller wasn't a naturalist (or a photographer), but - [Dispelling the megapixel myth](https://photonaturalist.com/dispelling-the-megapixel-myth/) - There seems to be an overwhelming obsession with megapixels these days. It's always the first number reported when a new camera is released, and many people still think it indicates the quality of the camera's photographs. Well, unfortunately that's not the case. There is no direct correlation between number of megapixels and image quality. We - [5 free software applications for nature photographers](https://photonaturalist.com/5-free-software-applications-for-nature-photographers/) - Photography is an expensive hobby, isn't it? Cameras cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, and lenses cost even more. Add on filters, and all the other required accessories, and you'll quickly be staring at an empty wallet. Fortunately, you can get some relief when it comes to software. Here are five great applications for nature - [How a shower curtain and an old wire clothes hanger can get you better wildflower photos](https://photonaturalist.com/how-a-shower-curtain-and-an-old-wire-clothes-hanger-can-get-you-better-wildflower-photos/) - In a previous article, I revealed the secret to getting perfect light for your wildflower photos--shoot on an overcast day. The thick clouds act as a natural diffuser, helping to balance the light. But, what if you can't wait for an overcast day? Or worse, what if overcast days rarely occur in your area? In - [The secret to getting perfect light for your wildflower photographs](https://photonaturalist.com/the-secret-to-getting-perfect-light-for-your-wildflower-photographs/) - Wildflowers display some of the most brilliant colors found in nature. And, for good reason--they're fiercely competing with each other to attract their pollinating friends: the insects and a few species of birds. However, their brilliant colors often make them difficult to photograph. Have you ever come home with a full memory card only to - [Tips for composing waterfall photos](https://photonaturalist.com/tips-for-composing-waterfall-photos/) - Waterfalls are one of my favorite things to photograph. They're so simple, yet so beautiful. It's usually the immense contrast that attracts me to a waterfall--the color of the white water contrasting with dark rocks and green moss. Together, they create such a pleasing sight! Some of the same principles of landscape photography apply to ## Pages - [Home](https://photonaturalist.com/) - [Weekly Newsletter](https://photonaturalist.com/newsletter/) - Every week, we send out an email newsletter that includes: Summary of the weekly PhotoNaturalist post Links to great tips and tutorials from other websites Upcoming astronomical events (such as lunar eclipses, full moons, etc) Great deals on camera gear Reviews of books we've been reading View a Sample Newsletter Join us by filling out - [Subscribe](https://photonaturalist.com/subscribe/) - [eBooks](https://photonaturalist.com/ebooks/) - Save 20% if you buy more than one ebook! Just enter the discount code WILDFLOWER at checkout View Cart Nature Photography: Understanding the Camera by Steve Berardi This eBook will teach you how to use your camera to photograph the wonderful moments you observe in nature. 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You've just been sent an email that contains a confirmation link. In order to activate your subscription, check your email and click on the link in that email. You will not receive your subscription until you click that link to activate it. If you don't see that email in your - [Wildflower Photography](https://photonaturalist.com/wildflower-photography/) - Top articles on wildflower photography: 13 tips for better wildflower photography (free eBook) The secret to getting perfect light for your wildflower photos How to fix blown-out highlights How to fix underexposed areas of your wildflower photos How to get sharper wildflower photos How to get a closer focus with your lens How to identify - [Philosophy](https://photonaturalist.com/philosophy/) - Top articles on the philosophy of nature photography: Don't be a nature photographer, be a photonaturalist What is a natural photograph? Stop and take a look around once in awhile For the rest of our articles on the philosophy of nature photography, please check out our archives or use the search feature on the right. - [Photoshop Tutorials](https://photonaturalist.com/photoshop-tutorials/) - Top Photoshop tutorials: How to resize your photos (the "sharp" way) How to make your photos super sharp (without adding noise) How to fix the "gray snow problem" How metadata can help you identify and organize your photos How to fix blown-out highlights How to fix underexposed areas of your photos For the rest of - [Macro Photography](https://photonaturalist.com/macro-photography/) - Top articles on macro photography: Why you should always take lots and lots of photos 13 tips for better wildflower photography (free eBook) How to get sharper wildflower photos For the rest of our articles on macro photography, please check out our archives or use the search feature on the right. - [Wildlife Photography](https://photonaturalist.com/wildlife-photography/) - 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