If there is one thing that I have learned in many years of taking photographs of nature, then it is that she wait for someone. The biggest lesson in nature photography is getting out in nature at the right place and at the right time.
Not all plans in the world can guess what can happen to nature. This unexpectedness can be both a gift and a challenge. I have found that photography can be seen as more teachers than a hobby or profession, but like any art form, it has its own lessons to provide it. Three main things Nature Photography has taught me that there is an idea of ​​letting patience, perseverance and perfection.
While I am a lawyer that any situation is a good condition for photography, no one can be disappointed if the weather and nature do not comply with what you have imagined while set to a new adventure. This is the place where these lessons have been taught hard and how they shaped my vision for nature photography – and, in some ways, my life.
This will always amaze me that the simple task of getting out with my camera for the natural world picture has taught me that the best things in life and photography require time, effort and desire to embrace unpredictable.
The Art of Waiting: Patience in Nature Photography
Patience is a quality, as they say.
We are all there: standing on an approach and some are looking amazing, only very heavy to find the clouds, the fog is very dense, the fog is very thick, and the rain is very tireless. But then, as you are arguing what to pack and go home, there is a burst of full magic! This can occur in an eye nap and may be final for a brief information of moments – and it has the first text: patience.
The greatest lesson in the patience I learned from photography was a few years ago. I got my hand on a star tracker, Ioptron Skyguider ProTo be accurate It was gifted me politely to me by a good friend. Astrophotography has always been a major passion for me, but even more deep-sky was astrophotography.
If you know anything about such shooting images, you will know that it takes a little time to set the camera and tracker rig using a star tracker. Then, you have to align the tracker, which can be a difficult process, after that whatever you are capturing (in my case, Orion Nebula). After all, you start running your test shots.
It is here that your patience starts testing. Each test shot can be carried anywhere from one to three minutes, so doing micro-work for your composition is a slow and deliberate process. Once everything is set, it is time to catch the real frame. It can remain dark at night from 10 images to a long time. In my example, I allowed the camera to run for about three hours.
Then the image processing comes: stacking, stretching, right, and so on. All these stages require a significant commitment and, of course, patience. You are forced to slow down and think about every step in this process. This nature can be related to any form of photography, and the lesson you learn from this is appreciated by the process. When you see that the results appear on your screen, it makes all meaningful.
As the Ansle Adams once said, “You don’t take a picture, you make it.” This idea echoes deeply with me, as it outlines the importance of patience and intentions in both photography and life.
But patience alone is not enough. Sometimes, you need to pair it with firmness to be really successful.
Persema: When the shot is not easy
I remember a time when I was looking at a Vista along the west coast of Portugal, waiting … and waiting… and waiting for something else. Not only the heavy clouds went in and became obese, but also decided to follow a storm. While I was initially disappointed with any sunset light lack, I was firm to do some work and come away with an image.
It rained a proper rain, but still, I stood on the sketch cliffuside. Then, I saw a flash of electricity, and as if Lightning was told, I thought, “Yes, let’s try to get this classic shot but with electricity!” And so it started.
For me, the best way I could think of doing this that installing a time-lapse and let it run your course. As soon as a sequence ended, I started another. Sometimes, repetitive things can give the best results. I remained in the rain because it came and gone, and as the light faded in the dark, I spent as if going through all images like an eternity. Finally, only one captured a bolt.
Persema is an important part of nature photography: hiking to move your full camera bag for a shot for miles, which sometimes deal with the changing weather conditions, which tests your physical and mental resolutions, and, if you are capable, are returning to one place several times to increase the same increase with your gear. This is the real test of someone’s perseverance.
The same, of course, life can also be said. Whether you want to get a job in a particular field or field, you should remain in learning new skills (which you become tough as you grow up). Sticking to a project or goal, which you have determined for yourself, to overcome the challenges that creep, and all this amazing new opportunities, new ways to see nature, and eventually, it can realize that firmness is a major step for success.
Nevertheless, with patience and perseverance, nature photography has taught me that every effort does not give an ideal result – and that is fine.
Hug and let the imperfection
I am also not sure where to start with this lesson, because like you, I have faced it countless times: being out in nature with the intention of taking a picture of a particular scene, nothing to do is nothing to do. This can cause disappointment, disappointment, and eventually you just want to go home.
But, as we are looking for above, there is a lot that we can learn from looking at something that was one thing, but being completely something else ends.
Recently, I always tried to take a picture of unannounced Glandalo Lakes in Sunrise. Now, a moment and Google “Sunrise Photography Glendalough” … I’ll wait … Okay, you’ve come back, and I’m sure your brain has been blown from images that you have just seen. Many of the highly talented Irish photographers have gone to this place and have captured some incredible situations. But when I earlier morning, I did not find any of it.
The surface air on the lake did not mean any reflection, and in the east heavy clouds meant that there was no light filling the valley with its golden color. Instead of packing and going home – which I used to woo a lot to do – I was waiting. After learning all the above mentioned lessons in the last few years, I decided to control the terms that I had and start shooting. And do you know what? I am glad that I did because the clouds broke me that I can create an image of Glandalo that I am Super Happy.
These unexpected results made the entire experience even more luxurious, and I was very excited that they were just taking pictures there. Let the notion go that I will always go out and take a picture of some “perfect”, freeing me from ways I did not expect.
For years, I caught myself back, thinking, “Ah, clouds are very dark,” or “there are not enough clouds in the sky.” I will tell myself anything that avoid being potentially disappointed when I just should have gone out and enjoyed all that nature is to introduce nature.
Overall, I feel that learning this lesson has made me more flexible and creative how I see things in life, and I am very grateful for it. What we can see can give rise to magical new opportunities and new perspectives in the form of failures how we see and how to attach.
Completeness is not attainable, but if we pursue perfection, we can catch excellence. – Vince Lombardi
It is said that with everyone, I have found that nature photography is not only about capturing images – it is about connecting with the world around us.
Relationship between nature and mindfulness
As a bonus lesson – because I like you – we cannot ignore the relationship between nature and mindfulness.
There is nothing better than being out in nature, in all its forms. And if you can manage to make something while doing this, then more power for you. Feeling the warm glow of the sun because it is set while looking at something beautiful, triggering amazing feelings of awareness and peace. On the other hand, your awareness (and self-protection) is increased in a different but equally deep manner by standing in the same scene in standing in the rain and running the air.
Nature can spark such beautiful creative efforts. The sounds, smells and spaces around you work to make the experience feel much more than an outing with the camera only.
For me, this lesson has spread completely in my own life, allowing me to develop a quiet approach. I will encourage anyone who has removed it to use nature to use nature. Being out is also a tremendous stress reliever, and of course, achieving your steps is a major part of leading a healthy lifestyle.
Nature does not hurry, yet everything is complete. – Lao Tzu
As I see my exploits and travels till now, I realize that nature’s photography has given me more than just beautiful images – it has given me a new view on life.
Nature photography has taught me a lot about demanding patience, perseverance, and perfection – but I would like to hear from you! What lesson has photography taught you about life? Did you ever have a moment in nature where everything seemed wrong, only unexpectedly beautiful has turned into something? Or perhaps a time when patience and perseverance paid you in ways you did not expect?
Share your stories, tips, or favorite nature photography experiences in the comments below.
to encourage.
