This post could also be titled “Different Perspectives in Nature Photography.”
During Spring Break Day Camp at Camp El Tesoro, I had a few minutes to spare while a group was on their way to RuLoHo for Arts and Crafts.
I always carry my digital camera with me, so I grabbed it and headed just off the porch. I love the colors that come out during the Springtime, so I headed to the nearest colorful plant I could see – the Redbud.
The Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) is a large shrub/small tree found in the eastern part of the country. It typically grows to 20 to 30 feet tall. It generally has a short, often twisted trunk and spreading branches. The bark is dark in color and fairly smooth. The twigs of the Redbud are slender and zigzag and nearly black.
Photo taken by Heather Pitts at Camp El Tesoro.
Most of the year, I hardly notice this plant since it blends in with the other brown plants. However, sometime in March, usually near the beginning of Spring, you can definitely tell you’re looking at a Redbud because of the flowers!
Photo taken by Heather Pitts at Camp El Tesoro.
The flowers are very bright, light to dark pink in color, and fairly short (around 1/2 an inch). The flowers show up before the green leaves, which makes the shrub that much more impressive.
Photo taken by Heather Pitts at Camp El Tesoro.
I’ve taken some of my best pictures during down times like this one – it also helps to be very patient. I was apparently standing so still, that a few butterflies flew onto the plant and I was able to get a great shot:
Butterfly on Redbud -Photo taken by Heather Pitts at Camp El Tesoro - Click for a larger picture
Tips for taking a great nature photograph:
1. Be Patient! Take your time to figure out how you want your picture to look and don’t rush it. If I had rushed, I never would have gotten a butterfly to land within 6 inches of me.
2. Always Carry Your Camera! I keep mine in my pocket for easy access – I can also go a little overboard and take 100+ pictures a day. If you don’t have your camera, you can’t take a picture.
3. Take Multiple Pictures of the Same Subject! I do this for a few reasons – on the little display screen on the back of my digital camera, sometimes the pictures look fine, but when I load them onto my computer, they’re blurry. I also like seeing the same thing from different perspectives – like this series of photos shows.
What is your favorite nature subject to photograph? Leave your response in the comment section!
