Getting the Big Picture
Outdoor photography and nature photography are subjects that are as big as the outdoors itself! It includes landscape photography in its purest form — scenic shots in which people, animals, and manmade structures don't appear — as well as pictures featuring a combination of landscape and other elements. It also includes other types of photography where the outdoors plays a role — such as seascape photography.
Anyone can take pictures of scenery, but it takes some practice and artistry to turn three-dimensional images into two-dimensional ones and do it well. It also takes some skill to render the sweep and scale of these often bigger-than-life subjects on tiny frames of film or memory cards.
Eliot Porter was a master at capturing the splendor of nature on film. If you're in search of inspiration for your own work, or just want to see how a master worked with his surroundings, study any of the books that feature his work. A classic is
If you love nature and are a beginner at shooting landscapes, nature, and wildlife, a trip to your public library or local bookstore will help provide inspiration and will eventually yield results in your own shooting style. Look at photo publications and books to trigger ideas you can use in your own shoots.
