One of my favorite shots of a location showing off its relationship with the environment it is in.
I enjoy being in nature. It recharges the soul walking through the woods or along the coast. Looking at scenes that are untouched or that are in balance gives me a sense of inner peace. While looking at these scenes alone is magnificent, there is a second part of what I love about nature. Capturing nature’s beauty through my lens is a passion of mine. This takes elevating the viewing experience to the next level.
Now, when it comes to being present in the outdoors, it is important to look. Look at the foliage, trees, rocks, etc… Taking it all in at once is wonderful! You don’t have to look for anything in particular, it is more about the total experience of the great outdoors.
Going a step beyond just looking is observing. You take note of certain things that are interesting in the landscape. Observing things in nature narrows your focus in a little more every passing moment. For example: The water cascading down a waterfall onto a log. You might even start to get a little creative and let the mind wander!
Having been here many times I have learned to see the timing and composition.
Actually seeing is a whole new level of being present in nature. You can see things complimenting one another. Making sense of the landscape is simple at this point and it all tells a story. This is where the best landscape photography comes from. When seeing a place it almost becomes a whole new world that you are composing a masterpiece about from behind the camera. It not only speaks to you, but to others also!
It isn’t easy getting to this point at a location. I usually have to make return journeys before I can really see what made that spot so special to me in the first place. The experience chasing and the inevitable journey in nature is part of what makes landscape photography so special to me.
P.S. It is also a great excuse to go out time and again!