Nature Photography Tip: Observing Your Environment

Nature photography isn’t about simply capturing beautiful scenery… it’s about training yourself to truly see before you even pick up the camera. Rather than having a quick glance for your favourite things, it’s about taking in the environment around you and noticing how the light filters through the landscape, highlighting all sorts of potential subjects – not just the ones that you might already be interested in.

The greatest nature photographers have more than just luck. Most have trained their eyes in anticipation of capturing moments before they even happen. There is an understanding about how the light shapes the scene, how textures interact, and how colours within the environment shift throughout the day.

This kind of vision requires patience.

So the next time that you’re out and about with your camera, take a deep breath and try to remove yourself from the mindset that you need to go home with a picture. Clear your mind of anything related to camera settings. Rather than taking a photo straight away, immerse yourself in the landscape around you. Pause and observe.

Where does your eye naturally wander? Which small details catch your attention?

Once you start truly looking, you’ll discover compositions everywhere.

Mastering photography isn’t about settings or equipment… it’s about perception. As you truly learn to see, your photos will go beyond simple documentation and transform into art. That’s when your photography will start to come alive.

What do you look for when you’re out in nature, exploring the environment for potential scenes to photograph? What is most important to you? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.