This is a marvellous time
for photography. Never before has there been such
a variety of cameras, lenses and films, nor of
such high quality. For amateur nature
photographers there has never been so much spare
time in which to indulge their hobby. It is
easier, too, for amateur and professional alike
to reach remote and beautiful locations quickly
and cheaply. For a nature photographer it is
certainly a great time to be alive. This book is aimed at
helping you to discover the fascinating world of
nature photography, or, if you are already
familiar with it, to show you new routes,
locations and field techniques, for a more
satisfying and comfortable experience. Written
from a subjective point of view. It is based on
my forty years of experience as a nature
photographer. Consequently, you won't find
generalised statements about equipment and
techniques. Instead I will tell you, for example,
which tripod suits me best, and why this is so.
Of course there are plenty of other perfectly
good tripods, but I feel this approach will be
helpful to you when it comes to the selection of
your own equipment. My choices are the result of
long experience, and they are certainly work for
me!
Although I hope
you will be hepled by this book, there will no
doubt be opinions you will disagree with. But I
believe it is better to be positive about what
works for me than to make vague suggestions as to
what might (or might not) work for you.
However, the best
advice I can give you does not relate to the
technical aspects of the equipment, it is that
you should learn as much as possible about your
subject matter: the animals, the plants, the
whole environment. To know the characteristics of
your subjects, whether animal behaviour or
favoured plant locations will allow you to make
the most of your time in the field.
But there is also
a wider aspect.
A knowledge of
flora and fauna not only makes you a better
nature photographer: it is good news for the
whole world of nature. Such knowlegde encourages
people to treat all life forms with respect. It
leads to a deeper appreciation of life itself.
You find you are making a special effort not to
disturb animals, trample or uproot plants, or
manipulate settings in the interest of
composition. Indeed, conservation of wildlife and
plants has become the policy of all developed and
developing countries, and in most of them there
are strict laws forbidding the disturbance of
rare or endangered species.
Always treat
Nature with the respect she deserves. Life in
nature depends on a delicate balance between the
needs of animals and plants and their
environment. In most countries the law is
specific: you may not disturb any wildlife or
damage any sites of plant life that are on the
endangered list in the process of photographing
or filming them, or conducting similar
activities. This doesn't mean that photography of
endangered species is forbidden, merely that you
mustn't disturb them in the process.
Such restrictions
can make nature photography difficult: we can't
always get the picture we want. It may, for
example, be difficult to photograph a sea eagle
or an owl in their isolated nests without
disturbing them. A blue tit or a robin is another
matter. Such birds even seek out human company.
The trouble is that it is often difficult to say
what the limitations are with each individual
species. There are also situations which confuse
the issue, for example if you cannot get a
photograph of a comperatively common species
without disturbing another species.
Nature
photographers in general consider themselves to
be environmental conservationists, and to stick
to the rules. Those who disturb their subjects
quickly get a bad name among the photographic
fraternity. Remember, some species may be common
in some areas but rare in others. The bee-eater
is a rare visitor to northern Europe but is
common in southern Spain; in Scotland ospreys
nests are even protected by patrols, but in
Florida they ate abundant and almost tame. The
golden rule is: treat all animal and plant life
as you yourself would wish to be treated.
Nature photography
has a purpose beyond simple documentation. It is
also a form of artistic expression. It combines
factual recording with creative art, and thus
helps to reconcile our technically-based society
with the natural world. Nature photography is
like hunting with a camera, striving to get the
best possible shot of a particular animal or
plant or landscape. It can also be an aesthetic
experience - an opportunity for self-realisation
that is not otherwise available to us in the
modern world. Indeed, nature photography can
serve as a refuge from the stresses of daily
routine, as well as being a personally rewarding
activity.
But just what is
'nature photography'?
Well it can be
different things to different people. For myself,
it is the opportunity to express my feelings
about the natural world, through photography. It
is these feelings that compel me to go out and
capture their representation in pictures -
partly, I admit, in order to share them with
others. Photography can become more than just a
sublimation of the hunting instinct, or a search
for the perfect composition. It can share with
others the deeper and more meaningful concepts of
nature.
Such visionary
objectives in nature photography place our medium
on the same level as fine arts such as painting,
music and literature. We express our images of
the natural world through our photograpy. Nature
photography thus becomes art. Such a level of
expression is not easily attained, nor can every
photographer expect to attain it. You don't have
to try to make every Picture a work of art. But
you need to be familiar with the basic aesthetic
elements, as well as the technicalities of your
equipment.
Images of nature
appeal directly to your instincts. But sometimes
I ask myself whether our photographs do reflect
reality. Or are we just taking a carefully chosen
slice of time in order to confirm our
expectations of the natural world? Are we
photographing nature in lieu of experiencing it?
or, on the other hand, do we experience nature
more intensely through photography, and would we
experience it at all without photography? Is
everything in nature without interest unless it
can be photographed?
We live in an
artificial world. Perhaps nature photography is a
link to a more authentic existence, bringing us
close to life in the natural settings that were
once ours. Cetainly, from my own experience
nature photography can teach us plenty about
life.
I would be very
happy if I could help you on your way to the
world of nature photography through this book.
There are pitfalls on the journey, but there are
also summits of achievement. The farther you go,
the clearer those summits become. They are the
true rewards of nature photography. I wish you a
long and pleasant journey into this fascinating
world, and a triumphant entry in your logbook
when you reach your first summit.
In Deutschland
zu haben für
DM 49,93 bei www.amazon.de
In USA: www.barnesandnoble.com
The Art
of Wildlife Photography
Fritz
Pölking
Retail Price: $ 29.95
BN price: $ 20.96 You Save: $ 8.99 (30%)
Available to ship in 2 - 3 days
Format: Hardcover, 96pp
ISBN: 0863433227
Publisher: Fisher Books
Pub. Date: March 1998
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