P#27 Q7: Expert Tips and Advice for Creating Amazing Nature Photographs

Motion in Photography

Brenda Tharp: The first exercise I would offer would be to try incorporating motion in your nature photographs. If you haven't already been playing around with the idea of having things moving in your pictures, definitely get out there and try it.

If you have a stream nearby, a rushing stream, you can go out there, get your tripod, and get the composition the way you want it. Then start playing with various shutter speeds to learn what gives you the effect you like and what resonates with you.

You start building a sort of reference library in your head for that speed of water and that relative composition. You're going to have a reference point as to what shutter speeds are going to get you close. The next time you're out in the field, it becomes a little easier. You don't have to run through 15 or 20 shutter speeds to get it right.

Definitely practice with that or go to a park and start panning on running dogs. It's a great way to practice your panning technique so that when you get to Africa and you're panning on a gazelle that's running in front of you, you've got the technique down.

You're not trying to figure it out on the spot because you only get one chance with a gazelle, whereas in the park you get a lot of people playing with their dogs and the dogs running back and forth getting the ball so it's a good way to do that.

Finding Design

Another exercise would be to really look at your compositions and give yourself an assignment to find lines, patterns, or texture in nature. Maybe take an entire month and say, "In addition to other stuff that I want to photograph too, I am going to deliberately look for patterns in nature and focus on that particular design element."

When you do that, you'll start seeing nature opening up to you. Suddenly you're going to see patterns everywhere. You're going to figure out how the best way to photograph them is for expressing the beauty of that nature photograph.

The One Thing to Remember

Audri Lanford: We've talked about so many different things today, Brenda. If there was just one thing that you'd like people to remember from today's interview, what would that one thing be?

Brenda Tharp: It's not going to relate back to any of the individual questions. It's really about the whole idea. Remember to play more -- to get out there and try things. Try all these different techniques and ask yourself, "What if?"

Whatever it is that you're interested in, just get out there and try it and play more. For most people these days, it's digital so you're not wasting a lot of film or money on things that aren't going to work out. Even if you are shooting film, you can still get out there and ask yourself that, "What if?" question and try some new techniques.

It will shake you up, it will get you outside the box, and in the process you'll probably find something that really worked and that will excite you to do more.

Learning More

Audri Lanford: Brenda, thanks so much. If people want to learn more about all of the many great things you have to offer, what is the best way for them to do that?

Brenda Tharp: The best way is really the websites at www.BrendaTharp.com or www.BrendaTharpPhotography.com. It's my life, especially the teaching schedule pages, and also the blog pages.

The teaching schedule shows you where I am, what's coming up, what tours or workshops I may be doing, and you can subscribe to my bi-monthly newsletter.

In Closing

If you want to improve your nature photography skills, there are quite a few things you can do. First, practice shutter speed. Then learn to see the design nature has to offer. Once you've got those down, just get out there and keep shooting. The more you shoot, the better your chances will be of getting that perfect nature photograph.