The Rules Still Apply
I have noticed by spending a lot of time in photography circles that there are 3 basic types of nature photographers. There are those who know everything there is about the engineering side of the camera. They can figure focal lengths in their head and talk in millimeters. It always seems to me like these are missing the "fun" of photography.
Then there are those who truly take amazing photographs. The exposure is spot on; the composition is effective. However, they have no idea what they took a photo of. You can always spot these types of photographers by their photo titles - "bee", "bird", etc. - or lack thereof.
The last type is the person who uses photography as a tool to study the subject matter. These are in direct opposition to the previous type. Their photos aren't so good, but they can give you all the scientific details about what type of bee or bird is in the picture, if it's a male or female, the age of the creature, and how rare the population is.
Man has a tendency to get in a rut. We all do it. We take a particular path, decide we like it, and camp out there. The engineer photographer can't seem to forget about his lens and just admire the scene. The visual photographer doesn't take the time to care about what they are photographing. The subject photographer won't get his mind off of the subject and learn to compose a better picture.
The truth is the rules of photography are still in effect no matter what type of photographer you are. You will still need the proper focal length, the right aperture, and the correct ISO for each scene. The rules of composition are still needed to give proper visual appeal to the viewer. And every photographer should know a little bit about what they are photographing. Show others you care about your subject matter.
It has been said many times how boring the world would be if we were all alike. I believe the world of photography needs pieces of all three types of photographers. People should see your personality, your style, when they view your work. But the end goal, no matter how you go about it, should always be to create a pleasing photograph.
Then there are those who truly take amazing photographs. The exposure is spot on; the composition is effective. However, they have no idea what they took a photo of. You can always spot these types of photographers by their photo titles - "bee", "bird", etc. - or lack thereof.
The last type is the person who uses photography as a tool to study the subject matter. These are in direct opposition to the previous type. Their photos aren't so good, but they can give you all the scientific details about what type of bee or bird is in the picture, if it's a male or female, the age of the creature, and how rare the population is.
Mourning Dove
Man has a tendency to get in a rut. We all do it. We take a particular path, decide we like it, and camp out there. The engineer photographer can't seem to forget about his lens and just admire the scene. The visual photographer doesn't take the time to care about what they are photographing. The subject photographer won't get his mind off of the subject and learn to compose a better picture.
The truth is the rules of photography are still in effect no matter what type of photographer you are. You will still need the proper focal length, the right aperture, and the correct ISO for each scene. The rules of composition are still needed to give proper visual appeal to the viewer. And every photographer should know a little bit about what they are photographing. Show others you care about your subject matter.
Primrose Willow
It has been said many times how boring the world would be if we were all alike. I believe the world of photography needs pieces of all three types of photographers. People should see your personality, your style, when they view your work. But the end goal, no matter how you go about it, should always be to create a pleasing photograph.
Eastern Amberwing Dragonfly
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Florida, USA
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