10 Nature Photography Lessons: Yosemite

[Guest]

Summer vacations can often result in a few gigabytes of boring nature photography. Make your photos sing with our nature photography tips.

10 Nature Photography Lessons: Yosemite : Read more

 

[omnimodis78]

Great guide - but a bit imbalanced. You admit that most of us just rely on the good old P-mode, and yet you then show us 5 shot HDR, and 50mm fixed lenses... Come on. How about this guide for entry-level SLRs and their users. You know, 18-55mm lens, three-exposure HDR, etc. It would have been a lot more relevant and way more practical. Now, it was just a good read, but nothing I can use.

 

[Tomsguiderachel]

[citation][nom]omnimodis78[/nom]Great guide - but a bit imbalanced. You admit that most of us just rely on the good old P-mode, and yet you then show us 5 shot HDR, and 50mm fixed lenses... Come on. How about this guide for entry-level SLRs and their users. You know, 18-55mm lens, three-exposure HDR, etc. It would have been a lot more relevant and way more practical. Now, it was just a good read, but nothing I can use.[/citation]
Thanks for this comment--a very good idea. For now you can check out this article: http/www.tomsguide.com/us/signal-cfl-hdr,review-1342-11.html but we will keep your idea in mind.

 

[Guest]

Not enough double rainbows. Otherwise, the article was full on.

 

[williamvw]

[citation][nom]omnimodis78[/nom]Great guide - but a bit imbalanced. You admit that most of us just rely on the good old P-mode, and yet you then show us 5 shot HDR, and 50mm fixed lenses... Come on. How about this guide for entry-level SLRs and their users. You know, 18-55mm lens, three-exposure HDR, etc. It would have been a lot more relevant and way more practical. Now, it was just a good read, but nothing I can use.[/citation]
You raise a very valid point, and in retrospect, I should have addressed this. Yes, it's great to shoot with $1,000+ camera bodies and fixed lenses and such (I sure couldn't resist), but most of the techniques I discuss here can be done on a sub-$200 point-and-shoot. If your camera has aperture control, you can shoot a three-exposure HDR as easily as a five- or seven-shot HDR. Check out RAW mode on Wikipedia and you'll see a list of camera models that support the feature, SLR and P&S alike. Rule of Thirds? Texture? These are all elementary concepts that can and should be used on any camera. I once had a photography instructor in college who described how he took one of his all-time best shots with a $10 disposable camera and a pocket magnifying lens. The art is in the mind, not the gear.

 

[jimkiler]

Yosemite is a beautiful place and I cannot wait to go back with a camera again. It is so beautiful, not knowing anything a person should still get beautiful pictures.

 

[Guest]

OK, nice article for beginners. If only you were not that biased and favoring Canon. Not that I'm hater or something. Through the years I've been using almost any system that comes to mind: Nikon, Canon, Pentax, Minolta and even Olympus OM. In the end, I returned to Nikon once again, after more then 15 years. In the meantime I've always had a P&S camera with me, be it a Lumix, or a Pentax or a Canon. Out of these, I cant support your opinion that canon's are the best, too. And as a final sentence, don't forget that the body itself is not that relevant, what really does matter is the lens in front, and the "human device" behind it.

 

[williamvw]

[citation][nom]Evgeni Metodiev[/nom]OK, nice article for beginners. If only you were not that biased and favoring Canon. . . .In the meantime I've always had a P&S camera with me, be it a Lumix, or a Pentax or a Canon. Out of these, I cant support your opinion that canon's are the best, too.[/citation]
Did I say Canon was the best? Canon was very generous in making this opportunity available to Tom's Guide, and given a choice between appreciating nature photography and wanting to snap socialista photos like Ashton Kutcher, well...I'll probably gravitate to nature appreciation. But that's just me. I've shot those other brands and liked them all, Nikon in particular. But when you agree to attend a fancy steak dinner, you don't sit at the table and make a big stink about being a vegetarian. Canon made an excellent gesture in enabling this (hopefully) educational article, and I wasn't going to insult them by talking up their competition. That discussion can wait for a more appropriate review setting.

 

[Guest]

To me hdr looks awfull. Just because your camera can do it doesn't mean that you should use it. I would use gradual nd filter for more eye pleasing effect and less of photoshopping. Filters before the lens are the way to go.

 

[warezme]

[citation][nom]omnimodis78[/nom]Great guide - but a bit imbalanced. You admit that most of us just rely on the good old P-mode, and yet you then show us 5 shot HDR, and 50mm fixed lenses... Come on. How about this guide for entry-level SLRs and their users. You know, 18-55mm lens, three-exposure HDR, etc. It would have been a lot more relevant and way more practical. Now, it was just a good read, but nothing I can use.[/citation]Funny I was thinking the opposite, to me the Canon T2i is entry level? If he had access to $15,000 in camera equipment I hope it was in good L lenses because that camera is low budget. I would have thought he would have used a 5DMKII or 1DMKIV, some full frame sensor models, if you are shooting Canon. 7D isn't bad but still a crop sensor camera and for grand vista's some wide angle lenses would have been a better fit.

 

[rocket_sauce]

I enjoyed this guide a lot. I am, by all measure, a beginner. I didn't realize the filters uses before this and could get anyone to explain it without using comparison photos. Comparing the photos and seeing things from a different perspective (even within the photos) helped. I would have liked to see that dudes final shot as compared to yours though. Thanks.

 

[omnimodis78]

[citation][nom]warezme[/nom]Funny I was thinking the opposite, to me the Canon T2i is entry level? If he had access to $15,000 in camera equipment I hope it was in good L lenses because that camera is low budget. I would have thought he would have used a 5DMKII or 1DMKIV, some full frame sensor models, if you are shooting Canon. 7D isn't bad but still a crop sensor camera and for grand vista's some wide angle lenses would have been a better fit.[/citation]
Well, firstly, great comments all around! A pleasure to participate in a dialouge! I guess "entry level" is relative to what we can afford. I started off with a Nikon D40, which is, I think, by all definition, an entry-level SLR. Now I use a Canon XSi. I 'upgraded' to the Canon for very specific reasons, though I'm sure for some this wouldn't really be much of an upgrade. Anyways, I wasn't suggesting we settle for the lowest common denominator, but a guide taking into account mainstream cameras and basic knowledge of photography would be more accessible across the board. Say, show the final picture and than have a 'how to get this effect' with an entry level SLR and then also with a more advanced system, so depending on the reader, it's relevant and useable regardless of their gear or experience level. Though I must repeat that I enjoyed this guide!

 

[zodiacfml]

Nice guide with good actual sample pics!
It could been simpler excluding HDR and use of filters.

Regarding the Nikon d40, it is a nice cam. Low noise, lightweight, small dimensions, and best of all 1/500 shutter speed for sync flash!

 

[maydaynomore]

Great pics, great guide. Thanks for that. I must admit that I feel the same way about HDR as some of the other people here. You didn't over do it like some pics i've seen, but you can still tell its HDR. Filters look better to me (personal opinion).

 

[Guest]

I have comparable shots with no real photographic or photoshop expertise using a lowly Sony a350 with a few good sigma lenses.

Not the best tutorial but a helpful what to look for guide!

Filters are the way forward though, more experience I get the less CS5 work I am needing to do!

 

[igot1forya]

I read the headline as, "10 Nature Pornography Lessons" and did a double-take! lol