The Human Connection

We all look for ways that we connect with nature. For me, it was always on the back of a horse, even as a young child. I was raised in Gordon, Nebraska on a ranch where either one of my parents had me and my sister in the saddle with them herding cattle. Since then my sister and I would always go and visit our grandparents every summer connecting with horses and connecting with nature. Our love for connection and with nature grew as we were allowed to go horseback riding for hours in the Nebraska Sandhills. I remember this one year we rode all day until sunset. We sat on our horses and just connected with where we were at, watching a rainbow of colors dance across the western slopes of the Sandhills. That was the last time we rode together as kids.

Since then, I have tried to go horseback riding as much as I could, not only because of the personal connection I had with my sister, but also because of my love for nature. When we feel a connection for the things we love we tend to bring out the beauty of it. Nature photography has a beauty that can't be paralleled, especially when we add the human connection with it and the feeling that it gives us; love, peace, tranquility, and remembrance.

Always try to add that human connection, that human touch to your photos. Not just for scale. It will connect with your audience more. When you connect the human element into your photography, people will buy into the photographer as well as the nature photography that you're selling.

Location, location, location. It's the number one principle for nature photography. We're always seeking out the most scenic locations. The best spots are usually the most remote to reach them.

Nature photographers are drawn to dramatic landscapes, yet we seldom include people in those images. Adding a human element that connects with the nature around them. Plus it also gives us a sense of scale and invites the viewer into an emotional connection with the picture.

The key to capturing people or adventure sports in general, is to anticipate the action. Sometimes I've found myself asking, and I am sure that you will to: where on the trail will the person be at the Apex of a turn? Where on the ridge will the light be the most dramatic? What makes this route so fun? What sort of an emotion am I trying to convey? Whenever possible, try to do a 360 degree walk around of the area that you're shooting, as this can present different options for interesting angles or lighting.

Our photography instincts work well by using a wide angle lens and a small aperture to increase the depth of field. Another instinct is to use off the camera flash triggered by radio remotes to freeze the action while using a longer shutter speed to capture the scene.

One of the best things about nature photography and adding the human element to it is that there are always multiple solutions to different problems that may arise. Your creativity comes from experimentation. Move around. Don't let yourself get locked into a single vantage point. Don't be afraid of combining different photographic techniques to solve a problem.

When all else fails, grab a 400 to a 600 mm lens or heck go for the 800 mm. Find a great vantage point, zoom in on people in a nature setting. Start shooting away at people in nature doing candid shots. When they don't know you're there you're going to get awesome smiles and people connecting with nature.