Loving the Land and Why Some People Can’t See the Forest for the Trees

Today I write this post for many reasons including some very personal ones. While Pro Nature Photographer focuses on photographers and their images, techniques, the business, and pretty much anything related to outdoor photography, today I cant help but reflect on our connection to the land and about loss and a recent personal one for me.

My photography career has taken many turns and I always worked hard to make sure it was all an adventure. With a studio in the big city and another in a smaller city, I had 20 very busy years. Photography assignments paid for my true love: outdoor and adventure photography. But as the ‘photo economy’ began to change with the advent of digital technology and a slowing economy, my wife and I decided to make a big move. We closed the studios and bought a log cabin on 5 acres in the Central Oregon Mountains. Moving forward I was going to focus on shooting location assignments and outdoor stock photography and if I needed an indoor studio I would rent one. That was in 2002.

We moved onto the property in the fall and got busy decorating the log cabin, preparing for winter, collecting firewood, and settling in. I had not lived in the mountains since I was a small kid but it felt like a return long overdue. I had always wanted to be Jeremiah Johnson, the mountain man that Robert Redford played in the movie. My wife, a city girl, told me when she agreed to the move that she would ‘give it five years.’ We stayed 10! … Continue Reading

Great Interview With Conservation Photographer Chris Jordan

Chris Jordan is on a mission and an important one at that. He has been documenting the Albatross birds on the Pacific Island of Midway and the impact of trash that washes ashore daily, on the wildlife. The pictures are sad, even shocking. I first heard of the interview on Chase Jarvis’s blog and read the interview on the Center for Ecoliteracy’s website. It is worth a read.

(C)Chris Jordan and Center for Ecoliteracy

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How to Photograph When the Light Sucks

Can the light really suck? Is there such a thing as bad light? What makes light suck: midday sun or dark overcast skies?

It was said by someone that ‘there is no such thing as bad light, only light used improperly’.

For outdoor photographers, light is often not what we want in the moment. It can be over cast when we want sun or a cloudless sky when we want softer light.

There is no perfect light that works for every situation and for every subject, but no matter the light conditions, none of this light should be considered bad.  Instead, poor light should be looked at as an opportunity to find subjects that work in the light of the moment. … Continue Reading

14 Great Fall Color Locations in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains

Its fall right now and one of the most vibrant locations in the Western U.S. is Colorado and the San Juan Mountains region.

While there are many great locations to photograph during fall color display, the San Juan’s and many parts of Colorado are exceptional and popular with photographers.

If you are thinking of heading out there you better get going because those colors traditionally peak at the end of September.

And if you do head out there, here are 10 spots you will want to photograph.

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Here’s Some Tips For Fall Foliage Photography

It’s that time of year again when the leaves change in many parts of the world and North America and photographers are preparing to head out and shoot. In the Northern climes they already are.

While the web is full of great tutorials on fall color photography containing the usual and important tips like good composition, good light, and pay attention to your Histogram, I thought I would compile a few thoughts on tips I and many others use in their fall color landscape photography. … Continue Reading

Shooting for the Markets: Humans Impact on Nature

Outdoor and nature photographers are attracted to the beauty that Mother Nature provides! They seek to capture the great light, natural splendor, and breathtaking natural events. The goal is to create images that make viewers say “wow.”

But for those in the business of licensing images, it is even more important to create images that photo buyers need and will license and these are not always “wow” images.

While the market for breathtaking images is large there is also a market for images that show the less ‘pretty’ aspects of nature and the outdoors. And in particular, humans impact on nature.

These subjects are often overlooked as photographers strive to create only beautiful images that elicit warm responses from viewers. Yet, images that show mans impact on nature have a market for sure. … Continue Reading

Jacob Lucas’s Awesome Night Shot of Palouse Falls

Recently I saw this cool shot online and contacted the photographer; Jacob Lucas and asked him where the falls were and how he created a uniquely different approach to photographing a waterfall at night.  Here he describes how he did it:

“This waterfall is located in the Eastern part of Washington state in the USA. The region of the state is called Palouse, which is a large area of rural and agricultural land, but also home to Palouse Falls State Park, where this exists.

I knew that I wanted to photograph the falls at dusk and if the clouds cooperated (i.e. decided to take leave for the weekend) try to photograph the stars and the night sky, too. I left Seattle around 5pm which was a little too late for sunset by the time I got there, so I made do with the clear night sky knowing I could return the following night for sunset. I’m glad a did, because the night sky was covered by cloud on the next day. Regarding specifically how I would photograph the falls, I didn’t exactly know how before I got there. … Continue Reading

Learning How to See The Light

Light is the very essence of photography! It can be magical, is often unpredictable, and the right light is crucial to successful photography.

Light has an important role for every photographic subject. It tells the story of the scene before our cameras by emphasizing the shapes and colors of our subject. It can set the mood for a scene and provide us information about ambient conditions.

Dark cloudy skies at the coast often create dark, muddy light that might suggest colder temperatures and threatening weather. Clear blue skies and harsh light in the desert might suggest the opposite: hot! … Continue Reading

Photographing the Coral Pink Sand Dunes by Cheyenne Rouse

By Cheyenne L Rouse

For me just the name of this Utah treasure conjures up visions of Lawrence of Arabia standing on top of a majestic red dune with his flowing Arabian tunic gently blowing in the wind. As the name implies, the sand dunes are a deep coral color that turn a fiery red at sunrise and sunset. The extremely fine sand is ground up Navajo Sandstone that has been windblown and shifted over the centuries. The Vermilion Cliffs to the south and the White Cliffs to the north, contrasted by blue skies, juniper and pinion trees frame the dunes. The dunes are spread over a relatively small area, which makes it much easier to explore them. So just imagine a 40-foot tall fiery coral sand dune, I know I was filled with anticipation to explore this park and create beautiful photos. This park was established in 1963 and has only gained popularity in the last 10 years or so. … Continue Reading

The Exceptional Portfolio of Landscape Photographer Scott Reither

I have had photography as my primary life’s focus for over a decade. Early on, my focus turned to landscape photography. I had always had a spirited relationship with nature and the outdoors and now was beginning to find that I could communicate some of these feelings to others with the use of the camera, and through my photographs. The endless study had begun.

I started building a collection of gallery worthy images, and in 2006, I began my professional career as an artist. This path is not for everyone, and if you are curious or in question whether it is for you, then it likely is not. There is no room for questioning, or for doubt. You become a professional artist for only one reason – because you can not fathom doing anything else with your life. That’s it. For me, this was clear. It’s an up-and-down path and can be very challenging, but it is also extremely rewarding.

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