Photographing Parks with Perspective

National parks are great places for shooting nature. Even if one keeps going back to the nearest most accessible national park, there are hundreds of photos that can be produced from the same place. The photographer just has to know how to apply different perspectives with the same scenery.

Parks will always draw photographers, and it is best to avoid the cliché by simply shooting at stunning objects as they meet the eye. Find a creative angle at shooting. For example, look for repetitive or symmetrical patterns among lines of trees, flowerbeds, or even street lamps.

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Another technique for composition is to find contrasting colors. A lone parked red bike with dozens of trees with dark green foliage behind it is an example of great color contrast. In winter, black and white photography looks great on nature as dark subjects interrupt the white in the vastness of snow.

Image source: loadedlandscapes.com

The key technique is to select only a few subjects that give an interesting story, instead of shooting at the wealth of things that can be photographed at the park and end up having repetitive and ordinary pictures anyone else could take.

Hi, I'm Keith W. Springer from New York. Although I've retired as an event photographer, I've never given up my passion and I continue to develop my craft in the outdoors. Connect with me on Facebook here.

Branch out! Industry goes to comedy wildlife photography

Who says that photography can’t be fun?

There is tremendous pressure placed on photographers to achieve that perfect shot. Images and dreams of worldwide fame and countless accolades fill the heads of hundreds of individuals. The task is made even more unbearable by the fact that technology makes it easier. Anyone with a smart phone can now take a beautiful photo; definition and clarity are no longer issues. This has driven competition to the extreme.

Image Source: theverge.com

While competition is healthy to a certain degree, many photographers are seeing a change in how this hobby is viewed. There is a lack of focus on what photography truly means.

What writers do with words, photographers do with pictures. It is an act of telling a story. What differentiates photography from other hobbies is that it is limited in chances. That is, photographers have only one chance to tell a story. It is that one shot. This compels people to perfection but it should never be forgotten that perfection is not something that is achieved immediately. It is a process that takes years of practice. Furthermore, the definition of what is "perfect" in art is a misnomer.

That is why many experts in the industry are pushing for a lighter, more fun mood in photography. Individuals are asked to remove themselves from the competitive world and immerse themselves in photography itself. This stance has created several competitions, such as the comedy wildlife photography contest. Photographers are asked to hone their skills in nature photography and show the funnier side of the animal world.

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These genres are slowly gaining traction; viewers are appreciating the easy feel of the pictures. That being said, this is still a relatively small market. It is hoped that this will grow in popularity.

Being retired does not mean I’ve given up on what I love. I am Keith W Springer and I am a photographer. Learn more by liking this Facebook page.