In every trip we make, we end up with an incredible amount of photos and most of them do not even show what we really witnessed at that particular moment. But what you need to realise is that creative nature photography is not just about seeing something nice, pointing your camera at it, and shooting. There are a few simple rules that once followed, would improve you nature photographs significantly.



Of course being creative is key. But there are a few things that if you pay attention to, they would make a whole lot of difference in your images. For example, centered photos should be avoided. They are boring to look at. A best way to do it is divide mentally the image seen in the viewfinder into thirds, in both vertical and horizontal directions. Then, place your main element in one of those thirds. Do not forget that making your nature scene simple will highlight your subject.

Another good tip is to always frame your photos. It will make your picture look interesting if you have foreground objects framing it. The foreground is generally the first thing noticed in a creative photograph, so take your time adjusting it. As you know, there is a lot to landscape photography, and foreground is a main issue. When setting it, always look for distractions, because even though your brain filters everything that is secondary in your image, your camera won't do it. So, be very careful about that.

Although we are talking about creative nature photography, it is worth pointing out that when photographing portraits, it is a good trick to use the widest aperture to set the background in a soft focus, which will definitely draw the viewer's eyes to your subject.

When in nature, we cannot expect wildlife to be up close and still. Wild animals are not going to pose for you. So, what you can do is use long lenses and be prepared at all time to get the best shots. Camera supports also help, they minimize camera movement, which will give you sharper photos and avoid blur (especially with slow shutter speeds - low-light situations). In these cases, the landscape can make a great frame to your picture, but do not overdue it.

Last, we have to consider color and light. Nature photography relies heavily on colors and light. Try to keep in mind that bright colors are generally seen first, as foreground. In addition, warm colors tend to be seen as in front of cool colors. Also, we commonly perceive light areas first. So take your time to choose what time of the day you want to shoot your landscape photo. Sunsets and sunrises are great, and midday light can be quite sharp.

By following these few tips, you will notice a perceptible improvement in your creative landscape photography skills. You will get better reactions to your images even from yourself, once you come back home and find out that your photos are not dull at all!