P#27: Expressive Nature Photography Show Notes -- An Interview with Brenda Tharp

Professional photographer Brenda Tharp reveals the secrets of awe-inspiring nature photography

By Audri on November 25, 2008 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments ()

Expressive nature photography shows a more interpretive aspect of the scene or subject. It includes things like visual design elements, (line, pattern, texture, etc.), selective focus, and capturing motion (including stop-action, motion blur, and panning).

Brenda Tharp offers many insights and a great deal of excellent advice during her 7 Photography Questions interview.

Show Notes for 7 Photography Questions Interview With Brenda Tharp

Topic: Expressive Nature Photography
Host: Dr. Audri G. Lanford
Guest: Brenda Tharp
Main Website: BrendaTharp.com
Locations: Novato, CA and Boone, NC

This episode of the "7 Photography Questions" Podcast is sponsored by Proud Photography and SecretsofMasterPhotographers.com.

7 Biggest Expressive Nature Photography Questions for Brenda Tharp

1. Can you explain what expressive nature photography is and why it is important? How can it improve our nature shots, and what are the most important elements that people should know about?

2. What is the single biggest mistake people make when they begin exploring the more interpretive aspects of nature subjects?

3. Can you give a summary of a few things I can do that will help me understand how to use lines, patterns or textures to improve my photographs?

4. What exactly is selective focus? How do I take a picture that has the main subject in the foreground in focus, but a blurred and unfocused background? And can you give a few tips on how to use selective focus in expressive nature photographs?

5. What is your favorite photography equipment for expressive nature photography? Can you tell us how you use the various types of ND filters in your expressive nature work.

6. How do I best capture motion to get the photograph I want? When do I stop the action, when do I pan, and when do I try to blur motion? What is the best way to do each of these?

7. Would you suggest one or two exercises our listeners can do to improve the quality of their nature photographs?

Photographer Bio

Brenda Tharp is a nationally-acclaimed photographer specializing in nature photography, the outdoors, and travel photography.

Brenda teaches online at www.BetterPhoto.com, and offline through the Maine Media Workshops, Aspen Photo Workshops, and Rocky Mountain School of Photography. She also leads international photography tours to destinations including western Ireland, Bhutan, Italy, and Croatia.

Brenda has published a book called Creative Nature and Outdoor Photography, which is now in its second printing. She has also written for Outdoor Photographer Magazine, as well as Apogee Online, www.PhotoMigrations.com, and www.TakeGreatPictures.com.

Brenda has also been published in a wide variety of national magazines dealing in travel and travel photography. Her clients include National Geographic, Michelin Travel Guides, National Park Service, The Sierra Club, and Time, Inc. Her stock photography is represented by Workbookstock, a division of Jupiter Images, and she has an archive of her pictures on file at Digital Railroad.

Artist's Websites:

BrendaTharp.com
BrendaTharpPhotography.com

Resources Mentioned During the Podcast:

Digital SLR
Lensbabies
Canon 1DS Mark III
Canon 5D
Canon lenses
Singh-Ray variable neutral density filter
Adobe Photoshop
Natural density (ND) filters
Tripod
Canon 100mm f2.8 lens