Nature Genre

Oliver, 2023

Recap

A photographic genre is a style or category of photography that focus on specific subjects or themes.

There are a wide variety of subgenres of nature photography that can include:

landscape
macro
astrophotography
storm photography
animal photography

Definition

Nature photography is a wide range of photography taken outdoors and devoted to showcasing natural elements such as landscapes, wildlife, plants, and close-ups of natural scenes and textures. Nature photography generally emphasises the aesthetic value of the photo more than other photography genres, such as photojournalism and documentary photography.

Kearton, C (1892) 'The Keartons: inventing nature photography – in pictures' URL

History

Wildlife photography began in the mid-19th century, with one of the earliest known photos taken by British photographer Cherry Kearton in 1892. Kearton and his brother Richard captured the first photograph of a bird’s nest with eggs and later produced the first-ever nature photography book, "British Birds’ Nests: How, Where and When to Find and Identify Them." Their pioneering work and adventurous safaris in Africa helped make wildlife photography popular.

In the early 20th century, George Shiras III, a US Representative and photographer, brought new techniques to wildlife photography. He used camera traps and flash photography to capture images of animals at night, earning the title "the father of wildlife photography" by National Geographic. Shiras believed that wildlife photography was crucial for showing the beauty of the natural world and highlighting the need for conservation. His ground-breaking photo of three deer at night was the first wildlife image featured in National Geographic in July 1906. Later, photographers like Peter Beard and Art Wolfe used their work to raise awareness about protecting endangered species and their habitats.

Wender, J (2015) 'Meet Grandfather Flash, the Pioneer of Wildlife Photography' URL

Techniques

There are many techniques that can be used to capture high quality photographs of nature and the ones you use will depend on which subgenre of nature you are aiming to capture. Some possible techniques you may use are below:

Rule of Thirds - Creating interesting compositions
Leading Lines: Guiding viewers eyes to main subject through natural lines e.g. rivers, paths, or branches
High Dynamic Range (HDR) - Combining multiple exposures for balanced and detailed photograph.
Aperture Control - Deliberate choices to isolate the subject with shallow depth or include more detail with deep depth
Manual Focus - Controlling which parts of the image are in focus and adapting to challenging natural light
Using Natural Light - Considering use of backlighting to highlight textures or silhouettes or diffusion of light on overcast days for softer textures
Tripod Use - Ensures stability and sharpness, especially in low-light conditions or when using long exposure times.

Long Exposure: Capture motion in nature, such as flowing water, clouds, or star trails, creating a smooth and ethereal effect.
Macro Photography - Uses a macro lens to capture detailed close-up images of small subjects like insects, flowers, or textures in nature.
Wide-Angle Lens - Captures expansive landscapes and provides a sense of scale, depth, and perspective.
Telephoto Lens - Use this for close up shots of distance wildlife / animals without disturbing them
Golden Hour Shooting - Use the final hour before the sun sets to capture soft, warm lighting that enhance mood in nature photos

Example 1: Danielle Thompson

Thompson, D. (1965) 'Untitled #33' from Tears of Ecstasy, Stills Gallery, Sydney

Danielle Thompson is a contemporary Australian artist and photographer known for her evocative landscape images. Born in Perth and currently based near Launceston, Tasmania, Thompson's work explores the interplay between emotional states and natural environments, often using abstract techniques to create dreamy, atmospheric photographs.

Below, the AIMMEE framework is used to explore her work.

Audience
Danielle Thompson aims to reach an audience of people knowledgeable about art through regular gallery exhibitions. She sees her role as being in ongoing dialogue with her audience, sharpening the emotional power of her images to resonate and stand out. Inspired by artists like Joel Meyerowitz, William Eggleston, Nan Goldin, Bill Henson, and Charles Blackman, Thompson has developed an understanding of which images appeal to her personal aesthetic, curators, and collectors, and produces emotionally evocative photographs with them in mind.

Intention
Thompson's intention is to showcase her imagination, knowledge, and skills to create art. She aims to communicate her strong emotional responses to landscapes and her interactions with people, using abstract works to evoke moods and feelings rather than represent reality. Her aim is to create images that are dreamy and atmospheric, transporting the viewer to a faraway place.

Make
Thompson captures her images using a Rolleiflex twin lens camera, with no filters or digital editing. She uses long exposure times without a tripod, creating slight blurring from camera movement. She subverts photographic conventions by creating out-of-focus, grainy, and gritty images, photographing into the light, and using lens flare. Each shot is designed around the horizon, referencing traditional landscape painting.

Thompson, D. (1965) 'Untitled #20' from Tears of Ecstasy, Stills Gallery, Sydney

Thompson, D. (1965) 'Untitled #31' from Tears of Ecstasy, Stills Gallery, Sydney

Method
Thompson's method involves photographing landscapes that trigger strong emotional responses to colour. For instance, she uses tungsten light (old style lightbulbs) to illuminate sand, creating an orange hue when photographed with daylight film using long exposure. This method transforms suburban beaches into exotic landscapes. Her work often quotes the Romantic tradition of landscape painting, using soft focus, empty land, and colour to evoke emotional states.

Edit
Thompson's editing process is minimal, as she creates her images inside the camera without digital manipulation. The slight blurring and color effects are achieved during the capture process through her chosen techniques, such as long exposures and intentional camera movement. This approach maintains the authenticity and emotional impact of her photographs.

Evaluate
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Example 2: Ansel Adams

Ansel Adams was a renowned American photographer and environmentalist best known for his stunning black-and-white landscape photographs of the American West. Born in 1902 in San Francisco, Adams developed a lifelong passion for nature and used his photography to promote the conservation of wilderness areas, particularly through his iconic images of national parks like Yosemite.

Below, the AIMMEE framework is used to explore his work.

Wiki (2024) 'Ansel Adams' URL

Audience
Ansel Adams reached a wide audience that included nature enthusiasts, environmentalists, art lovers, and the general public through his breathtaking landscape photography. His images were published in books, magazines, and exhibited in galleries, making them accessible to both professionals and laypeople. His work resonated with those who appreciated the beauty of nature and the importance of conservation.

Intention
Adams' intention was to capture the beauty of the American wilderness, particularly the national parks. He aimed to evoke an emotional response from viewers, to create a greater appreciation for nature and the need for its preservation. Through his work, Adams sought to advocate for environmental conservation and inspire others to protect the natural world.

Make
Adams used large-format cameras to capture the incredible detail and vastness of the landscapes he photographed. He planned his shots in extreme detail, often searching and waiting for the perfect light and weather conditions. His images were known for their sharp focus, dramatic contrasts, and careful composition, which highlighted the grandeur of the natural scenes he depicted.

Method
Adams employed the Zone System, a technique he developed to control exposure and ensure the desired tonal range in his photographs. This method allowed him to achieve a high level of detail and contrast, creating images with a broad range of tones from deep blacks to bright whites. He spent significant time in the darkroom, where he skilfully manipulated his prints to bring out the best in each photograph. He used high apertures to produce the contrast and sharp focus he was known for.

Wiki (2024) 'Ansel Adams' URL

Edit
Adams' editing process was integral to his method. He used darkroom editing techniques, such as dodging and burning to adjust the exposure of specific areas within a print so that his final images would show advanced tonal range and accurately represent depth in the images and showcase his appreciation of the natural world.

Evaluate
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Class Activity

Make your own copy of the table provided and complete it.

Nature Photography Activity

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