I am an amateur photographer rather a hobbyist. Nature and her elements are my subjects. To the photographic populace, I call myself a nature and wildlife photographer. The subjects vary from landscape to seascape, forests to flowers, birds to bees, waterfalls to volcanoes and anything that can be purely related to nature. On more introspection, I realise that I am first a nature lover and then a nature photographer.
Photography is an exciting thing to do and when it is about taking photographs of nature, it becomes even more thrilling and stimulating. But what is it about nature photography that is so alluring? Is it about capturing the sheer grandeur and beauty of the natural world that provoke awe in the viewer? Is it the way it juxtaposes us as humans against the sublimity of nature,? Is it the micro against the macro? Or is it simply a method of escapism, a way of creating beautiful images that can take us to places unknown and unexpected?
There’s something overwhelming about the natural world, something that evokes great feelings of serenity and pleasure. A valley of flowers, a sunset sky with explosion of colours, verdant hillside with a waterfall, a winding riverine. These are the images that spring to our mind when we think about nature. At the same time an endless desert, a stormy sky or a gushing wild river invoke humility for nature. ’If you truly love Nature, you will find beauty everywhere’ said Vincent Van Gogh, the world famous painter. But in reality, nature is more beautiful that you can imagine. She has truly so much to offer and capturing those with a camera is an amazing feeling. Nature photography has always been one of the the most challenging as well as exhilarating form of photography. Taking photographs of nature is probably the best way to explore the unknown. It allows us to see the nature like never before. We start to notice the little things which are often overlooked. Exploring new things enhance the horizon of our thinking and it has a direct impact on our personality and thinking. It broadens our mind and allow us to take things in a different and positive way.
Who hasn’t had the experience of just having to stop and look at a beautiful scene?Taking photographs of nature is like documenting the mother nature all around you. It is like telling the story of the nature with the camera lens. The dynamic splendour of the nature is always hard to express in words, so we often try to capture it with photographs. Romantic poets write about this feeling in their poetry and similarly a nature photographer brings in the same effect more realistically through his camera shot. Nature can show you her facets beyond your imagination. It always adds new dimensions to your creative power. This makes us more innovative with our ideas and thoughts. Nature photography opens up new visions in our mind and adds extraordinary senses to appreciate ordinary things.
The world is filled with numerous natural elements. If you consider the seasons, you can identify the changes in nature. They are the signs of the Creator. Have you ever wondered how the nights are in the jungle or the desert? If the answer is negative, you need to explore the answers. They are filled with thrills and charms. The sky comes closer to photographer. The bright starry nights, the tranquility and the sounds of nocturnal elements are so much fun and arousing. This is indeed a great moment of life to spend nights in the wilderness for photography. Your bag of experience will be filled with some of the most amazing moments of your life.
The fun of nature photography is if you miss the chance of getting the shot at the right time, there would be no second chances to frame them. The moment of natural beauty does not stay for a long time. At the same time, when you are getting the images of seasons and if you fail, you need to wait for the next season. Unending patience becomes the second nature of a nature photographer. For instance, you want to get the image of some frogs on a water body. You have to wait for long hours to get them in the right place. However, it never gets boring. Whether it be wildlife or landscape photography you are interested in, there is always a new angle you can introduce to your photos. Nature is ever-changing and for landscape photography, the weather is never exactly the same – clouds make unique formations and the way sun rays cast over the scene in front of you are always very special. If you take photos of wildlife, then you will be capturing moments that will never be repeated. Take the example of two birds fighting on a branch; you will never get a photo of the exact same birds, with the exact same body and wing positions, in exactly the same backdrop. You have an opportunity to record something truly unique.
Nature heals and nature photography is extremely therapeutic if you can reap enjoyment from it. If you have had a stressful week, heading out to be alone with your camera and the natural world can be a great way to wind down and forget any troubles. Whether appreciating a dramatic, serene landscape or the glint in a swooping eagle’s eye, your photos are the reflections of nature to the viewers. People connect with nature photography effortlessly and nature photos transport the viewer into your shoes, allowing them to imagine the scene as if they were there with you. Providing this window into the natural world to those who may not be able to access it themselves is a great thing to do.
Today the city lives have become extremely busy, fast, tiring and hectic where people tend to get lost in it. The high amounts of pollution, distortion of natural environment and toxics that we are exposed to in our city lives are hampering our physical health. A few days out in the nature thus provides us with an opportunity to rejuvenate. Nature photography brings individuals close to the nature and away to the high toxicity of the cities, thus restoring to an extent the physical health. Nature photography is as much a physical exercise as it is the exercise for the soul. Nature photography teaches the body how to deal with different weather situations, different terrains and all the activity that one does keeps them fit.
Author Richard Louv in his famous book ‘Last Child In The Woods’ indicated about ‘nature-deficit disorder’ which is the loss of connection of humans to their natural environment. Staying close to nature improves physical, mental and spiritual well-being. It makes us feel alive from the inside. We can enjoy the positive effects of connecting to the environment at all levels of individual well-being. It has been scientifically proved that, being close to nature relaxes our mind and body. A nature photograph spends most of the time staring at the nature and praising the beauty of it. It helps in relaxing the mind and keep it clam. A stroll through the woods, brings different perspective each time you traverse. It keeps our mind relaxed and stress free. Nature photography has a salubrious impact on our body and mind in a positive way. A lot of people like to go out for camping trips and hiking to relieve the tension of their busy lives. The rejuvenating effects of nature photography are similar to the effects of just being out in the nature.
The outdoor aspect of nature photography makes the photographer interact very closely with vast natural splendour. It is scientifically proven that such frequent exposure with natural lights and colours reduce the chances of developing eyesight problems like hypermetropia and myopia. Studies have also related nature’s connection to blood pressure and hypertension. A Forest Bathing research team in Japan also suggested that frequent walks or trips into the wilderness help patients in fighting terminal diseases. Nature helps in emotional regulation and improves memory functions. Nature walks benefit people suffering from depression. “A walk in nature walks the soul back home” said Mary Davis, the famous nature activist. A day out in the sunshine can suffice us with vitamin D, a nutrient we don’t get from food as much we need it. The environment is a natural purifier. Spending some hours outdoors helps in releasing the toxins from our body and leave us all fresh and rejuvenated. Recent investigations revealed that being outdoor reduces stress by lowering the stress hormone cortisol. Walk in nature and similar outdoor activities build attention and focus. There are scientific indications regarding strong environmental connections to be related to better performance, heightened concentration and reduced chances of developing Attention Deficit Disorder.
Environmental psychologists have argued that there is a value component added to the human-nature relationship. By staying close to nature, we feel more grateful and appreciative of what it has to offer to us. Seeing the wonders of the world outside automatically fosters within us the urge to protect it. Breathing in nature gives us wholesome sensory awareness. When we spend time outdoors, we are more mindful of what we see, what we hear, what we smell and what we feel.
A fascinating story of the role of nature in shaping human behaviour was mentioned in Marco Polo’s diary. It said that in 1272 when Polo was traveling through the different parts of Western Asia, he noted that the people of Kerman province of Iran were polite, humble, and well-behaved, while the people in Persia, which was in the neighbourhood, were cruel, unkind, and threatening. When exploring the reason for this stark behavioural difference, the people said that it was the ‘soil’ that was responsible for it. And as the story goes, when the King ordered soil from Isfahan in Persia and kept it in his banquet hall, his men started to shower each other with curse words and assaulted their folks.
Nature has a deep-rooted meaning in psychology that encompasses the core components of our existence, including our genes. Climate crisis and global warming are international concerns today and some climate activist argue that the impact of climate change is so vast and unimaginable that we often choose not to respond to it. Nevertheless, the effect of climate change on human psychology and mental health is well-established now. Studies show that climate change over the years has had a dramatic impact on the way we think, behave, decide, and execute plans. Environmental changes affect the way we communicate with each other, the way we perceive emotions and the way we reciprocate to the same.
It may not be completely wrong to say that nature photography equates meditation and inculcates a stroke of spirituality. Being out in the nature looking at the miraculously beautiful surroundings and the wonder of the nature is bound to shake some level of spirituality even in the non- believers of it. Also there is nothing like the environment to gain inspiration in our lives. Nature photography can evoke feelings of the sublime, i.e. a sense of wonder with a little bit of terror when confronted with the grandiosity of the natural world. Just a walk in the woods or a stroll by the beach on a sunny morning can awaken the innermost feelings of happiness and peace. Each encounter with the natural environment takes us deeper into exploring the truth behind our existence and what a happier world would look like. Furthermore, research also indicated that since humans are genetically conditioned to stay in close coexistence with nature, an absence of nature-human connection creates a sense of loneliness and unhappiness within us. It is this feeling of gloom that is the reason for societal disruptions and human immorality today and while we may seek for answers outside, the real solution lies in the nature-human relationship. Just by being outdoors and using all our senses to appreciate nature, we can be more mindful of the present, gain emotional resilience and combat stress with more vitality. We become naturally immune to anxiety, emotional ups and downs thereby feel more lively and energetic than before. Spending time in nature awakens our senses and provides clarity. A strong human-nature relationship means emotional balance, more focus, solution-oriented thinking, and an overall resilient approach to life.
Nature photography helps to raise the profile of our planet and the environment. It allows people to experience things they may not see themselves and therefore encourages them to care about its preservation. You can, in a small way, help to raise awareness of the natural world and work to promote its conservation.
Our affinity toward nature is genetic and deep-rooted in evolution. For example, have you ever wondered why most people prefer to book accommodations that have a great view from the balcony or the terrace? Why patients who get a natural view from their hospital bed recover sooner than others? Or why does it happen that when stress takes a toll on our mind, we crave for time to figure out things amidst nature? Frank Lloyd Wright, the famous American architect and writer had said, “Study Nature, love Nature, stay close to Nature. It will never fail you.” Nature photography is therefore an inherent instinct to get attracted towards nature and in bargain make you do all these and much more.
Nature is everywhere – you don’t need to look far to find a beautiful scene or a bird that is willing to come to a bird feeder. You don’t have to book a studio and a model to take photos; just go outside and start clicking that shutter. Even for those who live in cities, there is wildlife everywhere – you may just not know it yet. At night, deer and foxes come into suburban areas and make for interesting photographs. Right from the night sky, the rains and clouds to insects, ants, spiders, bugs, bees and birds – all form part of your subject for nature photography. Venture out little into the surrounding villages and you will find endless photographic opportunities.
The life of a nature photographer is filled with thrills as the sense of perception and appreciation of prospective are always different than the other ordinary people. It is difficult to gauge the benefits we can derive from being close to nature. Be that on the mind, body or the soul, it leaves a lasting positive impression on every single aspect of our existence.
