A How-To Series on Nature Photography
Hello and welcome to my blog. I was recently approached by a fellow birder and asked if I would be willing to share some tips on bird photography within a local group, and this got me thinking about some better ways to utilize my website and blog. So I have decided to start a new blog series titled Shooting with Sarah that will focus on tips for bird & nature photography.
Shooting with Sarah, Part 1: Lighting
To begin this new series, I’m going to talk about the most important aspect of any photography: lighting. The word “photography” quite literally means “drawing with light”. No matter what sort of gear a photographer is using, from a smartphone camera to a professional mirrorless camera, understanding light is key to taking amazing photos.
Mastering Natural Light
There are two main categories of lighting in photography: natural and artificial. Natural light comes from the sun and is our typical ambient outdoor lighting. Conversely, artificial light refers to man-made sources such as indoor light bulbs, camera flashes, and other lighting equipment. While flashes can be helpful for nature photography, they can also be inconvenient or risk scaring wildlife. In this post, I am going to focus more on understanding natural light for successful bird & nature photos.
Harsh vs Diffused Light
Natural light can produce absolutely beautiful images, but it is also variable and changes depending on the weather or time of day. A bright, sunny day is going to provide a lot of light, but also harsh shadows. Overcast skies aren’t as bright, but naturally diffuse the sunlight to be softer and more even. Both of the images below were shot at the same location, but notice how the image on the right has much more contrast between very bright highlights and very dark shadows. The left photo, however, is much softer and we can see more detail in the highlights and shadows.
Position of the Sun
Similarly, the time of day can make a big difference. The sun’s location in the sky determines where both light and shadows fall. When the sun is low on the horizon, long shadows will be cast in the opposite direction. At midday, light will hit the top of a subject, and harsh shadows may be cast downward. In addition to the direction of light, different times of day affect the color of light as well. The hour before sunset and after sunrise is known as the “golden hour,” in which the sunlight is soft and warm.
When shooting outdoors, it’s always important to be aware of the location of the sun. If the sun is behind the subject, then they will be backlit and lose detail- sometimes even creating a silhouette effect. If the sun is behind the photographer, then the light will fall on the subject and illuminate more detail (although this can cause squinting with human portraits). Below, I have two images of Red-Winged Blackbirds from the same walk. The main difference is that the birds were on opposite sides of the trail. The bird on the left appears flatter, with less detail, because it is backlit by the sun. With the image on the right, more details are visible because I was between the sun and the bird. Both of these photos were also taken at golden hour, which cast a warm “golden” glow on the scene.
Low Light
Low light, is unfortunately a common issue for wildlife photographers. Many birds and animals like to hide in shadowy bushes and caves, or simply don’t come out during the daytime. Without enough light, cameras can struggle and create dark, grainy, or blurry images. It’s best to avoid overly dark conditions, but adjusting the camera settings for a wider aperture, high ISO, or longer shutter speed can help bring in a little more light. Below is an example of a photograph I took in low light. As a result, it is grainy, noisy, and lacking sharp details.
Sometimes it is possible to salvage an underexposed photo in post-processing, as certain softwares can brighten shadows and remove noise. Alternatively, photographers may opt for a dark and moody vibe in such images. Either way, it is still best to understand the lighting conditions and how they will affect the camera.
Conclusion
Whether shooting with a phone or professional camera, light is essential to capturing images of nature and wildlife. Being aware of the lighting conditions allows a photographer to better predict and control the outcome of each session. However, with wildlife photography I would say that finding the animals is half the fun and there is definitely nothing wrong with taking some photos even in subpar light just for the experience and practice. Look for good light and take advantage of it, but don’t be afraid to get creative and break the “rules” sometimes, too!