CHEROKEE SUN PHOTOGRAPHY: Why Be A Nature Photographer?

There are so many tutorials and blog posts about the nuts and bolts of photography. Articles that recommend certain equipment, showcase a particular location, or provide tips on how to achieve a particular look in your images. My blog is no different. The majority of my posts have to do with the same kinds of subject matter.

But, every once in a while, it's a good idea to step back and see the forest, not just the trees. In doing so, we can ask that all important question - why? Why am I a nature photographer? Why do I enjoy it so much?

There are a myriad of reasons that try to answer that question, but today I'll discuss just a few of the major thoughts that come to mind when trying to answer why I am a nature photographer in the first place.

Perhaps the first thought that commands attention is the peace that nature and wildlife photography brings to my soul. In daily mundane life, there is a lot going on. Appointments to meet, people to see, situations that demand immediate attention. Frankly, it eventually gets wearing, both physically and emotionally. This is so even if you enjoy what you do in your daily life.

But when you step out into nature, the world just seems to slow down to a much more pleasing pace. You can actually become more aware of what is going on around you. Even small things that you wouldn't normally notice in everyday life can seize and arrest our attention for a time. The noise of the busy world fades away and we become aware of the songs of birds, the quiet of a peaceful reserve, the softness of water lapping against the shore of a lake, and much more. Time loses its hold over us.

We become sensitive to the ever-changing light that surrounds us and how light and dark shadow create interesting contrasts in even the simplest of subjects in sight. Our imagination is fed and nurtured, and soon we see textures and symmetry that we would never have appreciated if we were not looking for them. There is much greater depth to the world when we see it with curious and caring eyes.

That leads me to another major reason why nature photography is so important to me personally - it fills me with a sense of gratitude and thankfulness for all that is around me. I didn't put those amazingly beautiful and intricate plants, animals and ecosystems in place. And yet there they are in all their glory and splendor. Great appreciation fills my heart, and it feels good, it feels right!

As I said there are many more reasons why I enjoy nature and wildlife photography so much, but this post won't begin to cover them all. It's just a beginning. I'll come back to this subject again in the future and explore it in more detail. For now, here are a few images from recent walks in nature that I remember well and highly prize: