Over the past three decades, I have examined thousands of nature images produced by my students other photographers, and myself. All of the really outstanding images I see exhibit three characteristics… excellent technique, a photogenic subject and a wonderful situation. – Digital Nature Photography – John Gerlach

When I recently read the above statement, I realized that all photos (good or bad) incorporate these three elements, technique, subject and situation.

It seems simple when stated…a good technique + a photogenic subject + wonderful situation = stunning photograph. But if simple, consider hundreds of thousands of amateur and professional photographers are taking thousands of shots and still only produce a fairly limited number of nature photos considered stunning.

Let’s consider these elements in more detail.

I put together the diagram below to illustrate how many variables are available within each of the three key elements. (It’s meant to illustrate the complexity of these three elements, not to be a complete and accurate index, so please view with an open mind.)

[ click thumbnail below for full image ]

Humm…not so simple. There’s an almost unlimited number of variables that can go into any shot. There’s no wonder that almost every shot is unique and why thousands of people can take photos of basically the same thing and each of them be different.

– For me, this is part of the beauty of the art of photography. –

Don’t be discouraged or overwhelmed by this complexity because there’s also many different combinations that will produce an outstanding photo. With experience you’ll shorten the list of combinations down to those you know work well together and produce effects that you like. Then you’ll just have to find the best ones for the particular circumstance.

This relates to a recent discussion by Paul Lester I read on working the shot.

The premise is that if you find a subject that calls your attention for some reason, make sure that you give it your attention. My implementation of it is that I don’t just shoot one or two shots and then move on. I work the shot. Try it from every conceivable angle that I can think of, even if I think it is silly.

You may vary the technique while keeping a selected subject and a stable situation, as Paul describes or if your subject allows, you may vary the situation perhaps by returning at different times of the day or year as described by Paul Butzi. You may even use a combination of methods.

In simple terms, working the shot is varying one or more of the three elements: technique; subject; or situation, in an effort to produce a “better” photo.

The best method is the one that works for you and you don’t have to worry that there’s only one way to take good nature photographs, there’s many…that’s the nature of nature photography.