sthaye3's photostream

I have always enjoyed taking photographs of nature and landscapes. Not only does the act of taking a photograph capture the scene for later reflection, but it also compels me to take a deeper look at what is around me. I can witness nature at it’s finest just by taking the time to study what is interesting to me when I capture it’s image.

I also enjoy the technical challenges of photography. There are many pieces that must fall into place for a successful photograph. Some are technical necessities, but many are creative choices. Learning the many facets of photography is very challenging and immensely rewarding. As I grow as a photographer, I hope to be able to create images that bring a viewer into that world that I was able to enjoy. I wish to entice them to share a love of the natural world with me.

As I approach a subject, I try to find the element in the scene that stands out to me. It could be a tree, or a contrasting color, or something static in a moving and flowing environment. I try to compose my image around that object in such a way that I can create a dramatic photo. I was told once that photography was making the usual unusual and making the unusual usual. I try to present a perspective that might make a subject more prominent or try to set a vibrant color against a contrasting color or a muted color to add high impact to the photo. There are endless variations to any given subject.

My current work is an extension of my past work. I try to develop my skills and my awareness of nature to allow me to capture the best images I can. I study the masters and always try to incorporate new skills in my work. I believe I will never have learned enough and will always push myself to a higher level.

I believe that to excel in nature photography not only necessitates the study of photography, but also of nature. The more I understand of the world we live in, the more successfully I can share its wonder. Everything in the natural world has a uniqueness and understanding what those characteristics are in a landscape, plant, or animal will allow me to create a photograph that will demonstrate what is special to all who view my art.