Explore artistic nature photography using camera lenses

As nature photographers, everyone knows methods to get essentially the most out of our digital camera lenses. For instance, a wide-angle lens may be very efficient at capturing grand surroundings and is due to this fact a go-to lens for panorama photographers. Wildlife photographers want to make use of a telephoto lens to {photograph} their topics. You will see that many articles and books written by professionals supplying you with steering on one of the best digital camera lens to make use of. Whereas that is typically good recommendation, it does not imply it is the one manner to make use of a viewfinder for nature pictures.

Nevertheless, selecting one of the best digital camera lens for any given state of affairs is not static. A nature photographer can all the time select to make use of the viewfinder in an unconventional manner and forgo creative nature pictures. Listed below are some unconventional digital camera lens choices that can assist you take creative pictures that make them stand out from the remainder.

Photographing wildlife with a large angle lens

Wildlife pictures is all the time on level even when taking pictures with a telephoto lens. Wildlife photographers typically attempt to use telephoto lenses to create a clean background blur to take away distracting parts and draw your consideration to the topic. Nevertheless, it’s potential to take photos of wildlife with an everyday or perhaps a regular fisheye lens. Paul Marcellini, knowledgeable panorama photographer from Florida, exhibits how he makes use of completely different lenses (from a 500mm zoom to a 15mm fisheye) to {photograph} a pleasant cormorant.

Lens comparability video by skilled panorama photographer Paul Marcellini

The ensuing photos present an thought of ​​how every lens impacts the damaging area across the topic. This in flip can be utilized to create a way of place to your wildlife theme.

Create a surreal glow

Farina and I take advantage of a quite simple transformation trick regular photos for dreamy the images. Have a look at the panorama picture beneath – a gorgeous waterfall scene in New Zealand. The picture appears pure with excellent lighting and ideal colours (Photograph #1). Although it is an amazing shot, generally a photograph wants one thing further to convey out a deeper stage of creativity. That is what we do…

• 

  Picture #1: Photographing the waterfall at Purakaunui Falls, Catlins, New Zealand

• 

  Photograph #2: Impact of respiratory on digital camera lens – Purakaunui Falls, Catlins, New Zealand

We breathe on the lens. It is that simple. Coating the lens with a smooth layer of condensation diffuses the colours within the picture and reduces total distinction. Have a look at picture #2 above the place I used this method…it is like we’re staring via a frosty glass. Though easy, this method does require some experimentation to get simply the correct amount of thickening. An excessive amount of and the picture appears flat and colorless – you lose essential particulars. Somewhat thickening and smudging merely will not make a shocking impact.

Check out the panorama picture beneath from Iceland the place Farina used a variation of the identical approach. This picture was taken on a really wet day. Farina wiped her lens with a material damp from the pouring rain. Much like respiratory on a lens, the material left a slight haze of condensation creating the identical dreamy feeling.

Inventive viewfinder impact created by including moisture to the entrance parts of your lens, Iceland

Use a specialised viewfinder

Nature photographers usually use a wide range of digital camera lenses equivalent to macro lens, telephoto lens, and wide-angle lens to seize superb photos. Nevertheless, you possibly can transcend these customary digital camera lenses to create particular results or overcome challenges introduced by Mom Nature. Listed below are a few specialised digital camera lenses that we use usually for our nature pictures:

Digital camera lens tilt-shift

A tilt-shift lens is a specialised lens that enables management of the aircraft of focus and perspective of the picture. If you have not seen a lens like this earlier than, it really appears damaged while you modify the shift or tilt knobs. However don’t be concerned…that is okay. Whereas in Iceland, we created this quick video to present an outline of how we use a tilt-shift lens to seize a large scene in sharp focus – whereas utilizing a large aperture to let in as a lot gentle as potential.

Canon 24mm lens with handbook focus

We don’t suggest buying a tilt shift digital camera lens till you perceive the way it works. If you don’t plan to make use of this viewfinder regularly, we suggest that you just lease one. We rented two tilt-action digital camera lenses and used them on location in Iceland with out breaking the financial institution.

Any such lens might be significantly helpful to nature photographers in a number of methods.

• Perspective distortion correction
  When photographing tall timber, mountains, or different objects with a vertical axis, a traditional lens can create perspective distortion, because the objects seem near the highest. This could make the topic look unnatural or distorted. With a tilt-shift lens, the photographer can transfer the lens upwards, maintaining the topic traces parallel and avoiding distortion. That is particularly helpful for panorama pictures, the place giant vertical objects are widespread.
• Depth of area management
  A tilt-and-shift lens can be helpful for controlling depth of area. By tilting the lens, the main target aircraft might be shifted from horizontal to diagonal. This may end up in sharp focus throughout the picture, together with the foreground and background. In different phrases, a tilt shift lens lets you overcome DOF vs. shutter pace vs. ISO setting trade-offs by altering the aircraft of focus. Check out the landscapes beneath from Iceland. The flowers have been within the foreground, inches from the digital camera…and but they’re sharp focus. That in itself is not a lot of an accomplishment till you notice this picture was taken on a windy day.

Panorama pictures with a Canon 24mm tilt-shift lens in Hove, Iceland

• Create distinctive views
  Tilt-shift lenses can be used creatively to create distinctive views. By tilting the lens, photographers can create a miniature impact, the place the scene appears like a toy or mannequin. This may be helpful for creating a way of enjoyable or whimsy in a nature picture. Tilt-shift lenses can be used to create a selective focus impact, the place the topic is in focus whereas the encompassing space is blurred. This may be helpful for drawing consideration to a particular space of ​​a picture or to create a dreamy impact.
• Larger configuration management
  A tilt and shift lens may also present larger management over picture composition. By altering the lens, the photographer can change the place of the topic within the body with out having to maneuver the digital camera. In different phrases, it is potential to make use of a tilt-shift viewfinder to get all the things in excellent focus beneath the precise circumstances… even with a large aperture setting. That is what Jay did on this picture beneath that he took in Iceland.

Learn how to use a tilt-shift lens by Farina Patel

Lensbaby Velvet Macro Lens. Lensby Velvet Macro Lens

Lensbaby is a digital camera lens model recognized for its distinctive and artistic results. These lenses are engineered to offer a particular feel and look to photographs, emphasizing selective focus and artistic blur. Lensbaby lenses are perfect for photographers who need to experiment with artistic methods and produce photos that stand out from the group.

We usually use a macro lens to seize small particulars after we’re on location, however Lensbaby’s Velvet Macro Lens creates a smooth glow round your topic when used at a large aperture. The glow is particularly noticeable in highlights. With this digital camera lens impact, you possibly can add temper to your macro picture and add creative impact. Within the picture beneath from Iceland, Varina used a Velvet 85mm Macro Lens so as to add a glow round her topic and create a gorgeous creative bokeh with a spotlight within the background.

• 

  Inventive bokeh with the Lensbaby Velvet 85mm macro lens

• 

  Lensbaby Velvet Lens is used so as to add particular results to panorama pictures, Iceland

You may also use a couple of aperture to seize the scene after which mix them in Photoshop to get precisely the impact you need. I used a Lensbaby 56mm Velvet telephoto lens to seize this majestic scene in Hellisandur, Iceland with a wide range of completely different apertures from F8 to F2. I later mixed the pictures with F4, F2. 8, and F2 apertures utilizing Photoshop Layers & Masks to seize the ultimate picture above.

In the present day’s digital camera lenses provide you with limitless potentialities for creativity. You do not have to interrupt the financial institution making an attempt to get each single lens out to discover creativity. You possibly can all the time lease a lens while you’re out in your subsequent photographic journey. And take into consideration how artistic or uncommon you should use the digital camera lenses in your bag. Attempt one thing new that you have not completed earlier than. Use selective focus with a large angle lens. Play with movement blur. Breathe into your lens. Create summaries out of focus. and plenty of extra. This lets you add some distinctive and beautiful nature pictures to your portfolio.

Concerning the creator Jay Patel

I may begin like this – “Seeds Jay Patel He cultivated an appreciation for lovely locations early in his childhood….” However it will get boring fairly rapidly. I am going to simply sum it up and say I am a panorama and wilderness photographer who likes to seize the dramatic gentle. My pictures have been printed in numerous magazines, calendars and promoting supplies all around the world.
Persistence is a advantage…until you are chasing your goals