Why? (nature photography)

I photograph nature because I feel that when done right, it is the best tool for getting people to take notice of the natural world around them, and hopefully it will show various audiences just how important the natural world is, and how important it is that we protect that world. Plus its the best job anyone could ever have!!!!

When walk through the bush (which is what we call Nature here in Australia), whether in the national park near my home or deep in the Outback, I feel a connection with Nature. When I take the time to stop and really look at what I am walking through, I see the beauty of the Goddess in all Her forms. Beauty that in our busy lives we too often ignore or cover in concrete because we are too busy to see or care.

 

Photography forces me to stop and look.

 

I also do a lot of astrophotographs because they show the power and beauty of the Universe on a scale that we can not comprehend. It is one of Her faces that few will even see, not because it is hard to see, but because they never think to look for it.

 

If others could see the beauty I see in Her, perhaps there would be a little less concrete. Photography is the way I hope to share my vision with others. My skills are nowhere near adequate to match my aspirations but I am learning and all things come in their own time.

 

I may not be very good, but I try. I think that pleases Her.

 

Apologies for getting all mystical on you.

 

Cheers

Dave

because of its overwhelming beauty, because i want people to see and feel what i do, i don't ever want any of it to be forgotten. and maybe one day my work your work and the next persons will not be in vein, and will add up to a little more then what we antisipate. i don't entent on waiting for someone to save the rain forrest or the oceans or mother nature, it needs to be seen now before all we realy have left is pictures. so why you ask, because it woun't be here forever and i entend to change that

Nature is full of patterns that interdigitate and play off of each other. I once found a puddle on a Baltic island with duckweed that had been blown into a banded pattern by the wind; 10 meters away was a nearly identical banded pattern frozen into gneiss a billion or so years earlier. With the photos from that day, I can re-live the discovery and share it with others. Natural stuff (unlike most human-made stuff) has patterns within patterns within patterns . . . so I often focus on the little stuff when taking pictures. I like grandeur too, but it doesn't seem to fit on a flat photo very well. A good picture of something little shows the extraordinary in the commonplace.

I think the biggest reason is the same as those that hunt. Nature photographers all love nature and it is just something to do when your in the woods. In a way we are hunters too, even though we don't kill our subjects, we get a rush when we get the purfect picture of some rare bird or other animal. We seek to be a little closer to nature in a way that no hunter could. Instead of trying to change nature we try to blend in.

It's in the details.

 

I've been an avid bird watcher for over ten years, but it wasn't until I started to attempt to photograph birds that I realized that my 'lifelist' approach to bird watching simply wasn't cutting it. By spending the better part of a day trying to get that perfect shot of a particular bird, I was able to learn much more about its habits and habitats than I would have by just viewing it for a few seconds and moving on.

 

I then realized that the more time I spent focusing (literally and figuratively) on any natural subject, the more I was able to appreciate the details of its existence. This is rewarding enough to rationalize the time and money; the fact that I get to keep an image of the experience is icing on the cake as far as I'm concerned.

well the answer I feel is very simple. Nature always attracts me and relaxes me. so if i sometimes see something that I find really beautiful to my eyes I just want to keep that view with me so that i can always have it with me and can see it whenever I like. What can be best and easy way to do this but to photograph that beautiful scene and keep with me.

I came to nature photgraphy after starting birding in my 30s. Frequently on field trips there were others carrying photographic gear and I started to get interested in what sort of results could be achieved. I started to photograph more than birds when I discovered how much commitment bird photography needs and I simply don't have the time to be that dedicated. Now I photograph for several reasons - to identify specimens I don't recognise (and thats most things not bird-related) - to get better shots of a species I have already photographed, so once the record shot is in the can I go for something better, and finally because I like the aesthetic result of maybe 1 or 2 shots on each roll (though sometimes I ditch the lot). It has given me a new wider interest and its an antidote to the world of finance. I just love it. I don't know now whether I am a birder who photographs or a photographer who birds!

I think for me it's because I am inspired by the artistry of nature (the fascinating juxtaposition of shapes, lines and colors). I find this so thrilling that I can't help but want to take those materials and create my own artistry with them. I basically choose some interesting subset from the wealth of material nature presents me (through cropping, burning, dodging, and other ways of focusing attention) to enable me to show others the fascinating things I have seen.

 

Some people say "Wow! Did you see that great pass Troy Aikman made last Sunday?" With the same kind of feeling I'll say "Wow! Look at that beautiful crack in the side of that mountain! Isn't it neat that those rock climbers actually get to touch it up close?" (Check out the photo I'm talking about at www.willwoodard.com/garden.html)<div></div>

Bob, you are so boring man, get a life!

Just found this question from the dawn of time. I guess I'm not a very observant photographer. Why nature photography? Because I'm a good photographer but I have no ambition to be recognized as the best there ever was. I don't want to return to it as a profession and be continually disappointed and disillusioned. I need to create something and I need for whatever I create to be good as opposed to being acceptable. With photography, I can accomplish this. If I could reach the same level of satisfaction with my singing voice (not a pretty thought!) I could carry less weight where I go. Why nature instead of portraiture, documentary photography, nudes, "fine" art, forensic photography, pornography, etc. There's more subject matter in nature than in any other area of the game. Hell, I like it.

Oh, I'm late few years here; this thread is older than my first

contact with photo.net site... Anyway, here's my (late) contribution:

 

LOOK who's talking... Bob?! That Bob? :) Ha! OK, what's this? A test

for the rest of us? I think that you know the answer very well and

you don't really need a explanation for what are you doing...

 

My answer? (OK, I'm entered the game:) Well, the next words doesn't

belongs to me, but it fits perfectly: "BECAUSE IT IS THERE". And

it's exciting also... What else do you want to do? To look all day

long to your calendar or watch zounds of stupid TV shows? If you

don't like photography anymore, you are 100% free to find another

thing that you like. BTW: Do you asked yourself how many years from

your life you'll spend at work? How many years you'll "stole" from

being toghether with your growing kid? And I'm NOT sure that the

$$$$$$ is a universal excuse...

 

So: Happy shooting and live you life!

 

PS: And if you are sick by the 136th image of a Canada Goose, then

is time to shoot the 124th photo of a Bald Eagle or something,

that's for sure! ;)

Wow!! I can't believe I'm commenting on a ridiculous question posted about 5 years ago almost exactly. I suppose I want to put my two cents in.

 

Let's see, why to shoot nature? I can't imagine a more wonderful thing to capture and cherish for years to come than something that was created to perfection beyond our ability. I go outside every day and realize one more thing that makes me happy that I'm outside. I feel so lucky to be able to take pleasure in the majesty of nature. I had a lot more to say, but since the comment right before mine was posted about a year ago, and because I feel like anything I add would be like beating a dead horse. So, Bob, have fun with whatever makes you happy. I'll be glad to be the guy making those calenders for you. I suppose that's why I'm doing it. So other people can see nature the same way I do.

I work in people photography in magazines and advertisements 5 days a week. In these settings I get to control the aspects and terms of the shoot, but when I am in nature in whatever means of talking I dont. I have to shoot on nature's terms and according to what is available in the setting.

We all love to see natural nature.....photography of it helps us to take it back with us and share it with others<div></div>

"If you wanted pictures (and probably better pictures) you could buy a book or a calendar!"

 

Nope. If you want something done right, do it yourself.

Because it's enjoyable. Just because you're looking through a lense 2% of the time doesn't mean your missing all the beauty.

 

Besides... you never know when you're going to run into one of those Sasquatch (AKA Bigfoot).

I am currently developing a program for beginners on Nature Photography, so I decided to visit this dsicussion forum to have something to show my group...to show them that there are many reasons this is such a worthwhile hobby. I spent 1 1/2 hours reading every comment until now, and I realize that I don't have anything to say that hasn't already been said. So I thank all the contributors for their personal reponses. As an environmental studies student, I find nature photography to be a rewarding way to practice environmental conservation...by having a collection without collecting...by becoming knowledgeable about the natural world by identifying the subjects of my photos...and by instilling this appreciation for nature into others by sharing my work.

Doing it for some 20 odd years. Spent a dozen of years at university with just three letters to show for. Now I teach biology in college. It makes quite a difference whether I use the image from the textbook, or whether I use my own, where I know exactly where, how, and why it was taken. Particularly those out the backdoor shots, from the local environment (Southern California) will show that what I teach is actually going on right out there. It makes the material much more relevant.

 

Then, there is the post-production challenge of identifying those organims. I still have a few where I just go: hmmmm, not the first clue. Forget about birds and mammals, who cares? I get excited by some fungus, or that coat hanger in the creek, that suddenly started to move: my first Nematomorpha!

 

Lately, I've also started to think about looking at nature in a different way, particularly in terms of wavelengths. Took a bunch of color IR - visible light comparisons. Just started to build a UV-LED flashlight to see nectar guides on plants. Professionally, I work on the evolution of marine snails, so that has nothing to do with my day-to-day work. I like to tinker with my equipment as well, so there is the other in-door challenge, all for the pursuit of an unusual image.

 

Taking non-traditional nature photos, and leaving birds and mammals by the wayside, has opened a number of publication oportunities. There are truckloads of bird and mammal pictures out there, but how many worms??? Agreed, it's a specialized market, but slowly some of my photos pay the expenses. Some examples are posted under http://www.vetigastropoda.com/SNAP

 

Then there is what many posters mentioned, the hunting, getting away from the daily grind, etc. apply. I hope I'm getting better, too. I find myself throwing away older images as I file the new ones. When will I throw my current "best" work?

What an odd question!

Why do people who love cars spend thousands of dollar on them?

Why do people who love boats spend thousands of dollars on them?

Why do people buy diamonds, stereos, big screen TVs, houses,etc, etc, etc?

 

Answer to all, it brings them satisfaction!

 

Now in many cases, these satisfactions are just ephemeral. In the case of nature photography, the first step into it leads to a long road of new learning, new achievements, new understandings. It is also a way to look at the world that surrounds us a bit closer. Too often we get so involved with the daily life, the rat race, that we forget to see what's around us that makes life so wonderful.

 

Each his choice, each his passions, I love nature photography because it's my passion, because it constantly reminds me that I live and that I belong to a wonderful world.

 

Why not just look and forg the picture? Here too, many different people will have different answers but I think that one common point will be that they like to share what they have seen, because it's beautiful, because it connects us.

 

Nature pictures also help the cause of preservation of the nature.

 

Just my thoughts, many years afters the otiginal post

Nature photography helps me understand that I am just a mere speck in a much larger purpose. I hang my photographs on my wall to ensure that I am humble. If we all were to disappear tomorrow, life on this planet would still go on. That thought alone will have me "dragging" my gear everywhere. There is not enough film in the world to document eveything that happens to the natural world in just one day. I stand in awe of the mountains and rivers before me... They will not miss me when I am gone and I have done little to affect them but with their presence alone they make me realize just how insignificant we are. In terms of the calander... Photographers rarely see the same thing so I know that I want to experience it for myself.

"Because it's there."

There is nothing more beautiful and inspiring to me than going somewhere I have never been before and taking a picture as a memory. The feeling I get just Reminiscing about an experience I had while looking at a picture that I took makes me feel really happy. The thought that someone can look back at a picture I took and think, "Wow, I would love to go there and experience what he did", makes me feel really good. Furthermore, I tend to remember natural features more than landmarks or monuments because of their beauty. I can distinctly remember what the waterfalls look like at Yellowstone and Yosemite, the site and smell and temperature of the Appalachian Trail in March, and the sight of a grizzly bear cub and its mother at the Northeastern end of Yellowstone.

 

I shoot because I want to remember. I want to experience these feelings of peace and joy, at times when I cannot be there. When I'm having a bad day at work, I can open an image I shot of Rocky Mountain National Park or the Everglades, and feel better. Me, personally, my greatest joy is spending time in nature and bringing home photographs as souvenirs. I don't like to take pictures of people, I don't like to shoot buildings or skylines, I really only like to shoot landscapes and animals. Nothing is more soothing to me than to go out somewhere hiking or even driving and be able to capture something in nature and bring it home.