Spring is a time of new beginnings as nature slowly awakens. As the temperature rises, seeds and bulbs that have been buried for months appear as flecks of green shoots and buds, while in the animal kingdom, courtship gets underway, and old partnerships and rivalries are resumed.
For me, this is the best time of year to be out with a camera; a chance to reflect and refresh, to rekindle old projects or begin new ones, and to remedy mistakes or build upon successes. It can be demanding, too, as the days and the foliage get longer; we can spend hours walking, stalking, or just waiting.
Spring has all the ingredients needed for dramatic, engaging, commercial, and even award-winning images. Courtship displays, territorial disputes, sibling rivalries, nest building, parenting. predation, tenderness, aggression, birth and death... it's all here, and with forethought and persistence, this can be the most rewarding season for a wildlife photographer.
Rising early is essential if you want to catch the best of a spring day - to glimpse a barn owl as it ghosts over a meadow, or watch the sunrise through cobwebs laced with dew, or stand alone in woodland with just the sound of a dawn chorus and the fresh scent of a new day these moments are the essence of spring, and in these feature we'll show you how to capture them.
PART 1 START EARLY
Plan ahead, and get up before sunrise to make the most of nature's calendar
Many of my spring projects are conceived over the winter when I find myself looking forward to warmer days. By planning ahead, I hope to take advantage of the conditions and maximise opportunities. As part of the process, I make a detailed list of shots.
with notes on the subject, location, light, backgrounds, time of day, composition, aperture, shutter speed and white balance. I also consider safety, ethics, access and consent.
Follow nature's calendar
この記事は Photography week の April 18, 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、8,500 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は Photography week の April 18, 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、8,500 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
POLAROID I-2
With full manual controls and a huge price tag, is this instant camera worth the big bucks?
HOW TO...GO MONO WITH PROFILES
James Paterson shows you how to create brilliant black-and-white images with ease using Profiles
UNDERSTAND COLOUR THEORY
Adam Waring takes you back to art class with a primer in colour theory
MEET THE YOUNGSTER WITH A EYE FOR A WINNING PHOTO
Jamie Smart won a top contest aged just eight, and she's only just getting started
FAMILY BUSINESS
Pro portrait photographer Catherine O'Donnell passes on her top tips and techniques for capturing sponateous and engaging family photos in the studio
TTARTISAN'S MONSTER ZOOM IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR DSLR
Affordable 500mm f/6.3 is released in Canon EF and Nikon F mounts
SONY FE 24-50MM F2.8 G
A compact standard zoom with compromises
HOW TO...BOOST RAW PORTRAITS
James Paterson shows you how to use the Develop Persona in Affinity Photo to enhance portraits
INFRARED ON A BUDGET
Mike Harris shows you how to shoot infrared images without investing in a costly camera conversion
THE ONLY WAY IS UP FOR THESE AERIAL PHOTO ACES
SkyPixel contest showcases stunning stills and video captured using drones