Styles and techniques in Nature Photography!

There are various styles and techniques in which one can take pictures in the wild and after a few years each photographer develops his own style, preference of subjects, way of capturing, processing and portraying moments captured and that’s what makes their work unique.

Most of the wildlife images can be classified into the following types:-

o Environment Portraits – the subject is a miniscule part of the frame

o Frame filling Body Portraits – Only the subject is in the frame

o Full Body Portraits – The face of the subject covers the frame.

Traditionally photographers would normally stick and focus on clicking sharp natural history moments in the wild but these days a select few photographers are not afraid to try out new and different techniques of making images. They play with light and shutter speeds to try and create frames which are shot in the non traditional way and are unique in their portrayal. This category is referred to as Creative nature Photography.

In the end its everyone’s personal choice on how to showcase their work, as it is art. Nothing is right or wrong or good or bad. Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder!

Some popular techniques currently being used are:-

o Backlit - where the subject is against the sun.

o Panning – capture a moving subject with slow shutter speed

o Macro – close ups of micro creature and insects

o Night – using artificial light to click at night

o Trap – using hidden cameras, remotes and sensors to capture wildlife

o Buggy – use of remote mounted DSLR cameras on a buggy to click

The knowledge gathering process is endless and one learns something new on every trip, the goal should be to keep experimenting and developing your unique style.

India has over 7,00,000 sq kms under forest cover with 155 wildlife parks and 515 wildlife sanctuaries with around 2000 species of birds and around 500 mammals. It is home to 5 Big cats, 10 medium size cats and many small cats, more than any country in the world. So go out and explore, with or without cameras!

Using this platform to share some of my work, do give it a thumbs up if you like it, Cheers!!

#photographytips #Naturephotography