Nature makes a marvellous photography subject, so here are a few ideas for going out and capturing the natural world with your camera.
Spirit of Endurance
A famous photographer, Harold Cazneaux, once took a photograph of a huge old gum tree in Australia, that had battled on and survived through fires, drought, the coming of white man and no doubt much more.
He called it “The Spirit of Endurance.”
It won the photographic competition he entered it in and brought him much acclaim.
If you ever get
a chance, you can still visit this magnificent gum tree, with a display
containing a copy of his photograph and some information. It is
located in the Flinders Ranges, just outside of Wilpena SA.
It is your task to make a display of photographs showing things in nature which display “The Spirit of Endurance”. Things that have survived against odds… things that are fighting for survival.
This could be photos of plants that are growing in amazing places… where you wouldn’t think they could grow… or at incredible angles out of cliffs etc.
Maybe photos of insects or animals surviving in harsh or polluted environments.
Perhaps photos of very elderly people, or people who have survived through immense trauma or difficulties.
Photograph whatever you can think of to fit the theme.
When you have your photos selected and printed, create your “The Spirit of Endurance” display.
It may be in a scrapbook, a collage of photos on a poster or several individually framed pictures.
You could even display the photos on your computer, using a program such as PowerPoint.
It is your task to make a display of photographs showing things in nature which display “The Spirit of Endurance”. Things that have survived against odds… things that are fighting for survival.
This could be photos of plants that are growing in amazing places… where you wouldn’t think they could grow… or at incredible angles out of cliffs etc.
Maybe photos of insects or animals surviving in harsh or polluted environments.
Perhaps photos of very elderly people, or people who have survived through immense trauma or difficulties.
Photograph whatever you can think of to fit the theme.
When you have your photos selected and printed, create your “The Spirit of Endurance” display.
It may be in a scrapbook, a collage of photos on a poster or several individually framed pictures.
You could even display the photos on your computer, using a program such as PowerPoint.
Label each picture with its location and how it gives you the impression of having “The Spirit of Endurance.”
Infinite Diversity
Within one type of thing, there is incredible variety!
Choose a theme to delve into, and take photos to represent the amazing diversity within the theme.
Your theme should relate to nature... for example, don’t choose cars.
Your theme should ideally be one thing, or collective things that make up a particular theme.
Some suggestions:
Choose a theme to delve into, and take photos to represent the amazing diversity within the theme.
Your theme should relate to nature... for example, don’t choose cars.
Your theme should ideally be one thing, or collective things that make up a particular theme.
Some suggestions:
• Trees• Rocks
• Wetlands or Rivers
• Mountains
• Flowers
• Leaves
• Creature homes
• Webs
• Clouds
• Sunsets
• Moon scenes
• Cats or another specific animal
You can choose to work on more than one theme if you like.
After you have printed your chosen photos, display them.
You may choose to make a poster type collage of pictures, or individually framed photos. Or maybe a display folder or scrapbook.
You could even use a display on your computer, using a program such as PowerPoint.
Label your photos, including location, and some comments on the diversity you have found.
Hidden Beauty
Things of great beauty can be hidden where they are not immediately obvious. Just like a pearl in an oyster, you can find amazing things under, inside or otherwise obscured from immediate view.
Your task is to take photos of some of the hidden beauties and wonders you can find.
- Photos of things growing in hidden spots, inside logs, in rock crevices etc.
- Things growing inside something, like a sprout inside its seed.
- Or a butterfly in its chrysalis… Don’t open! Just the outer view is fine.
Though if you can also get it emerging later, great! - Photograph things under something… like a beautiful beetle or tiny skink.
Take care when looking under things… Spiders or even snakes could live there! - Photos of a fascinating or very pretty rock, hidden under a coating of soil, or crystals hidden on the inside of a plain looking rock.
- Photos of underground wonders, such as caves.
Once you have printed your chosen photos, create your display.
This might be a scrapbook, poster type collage of photos, or maybe individually framed pictures.
You could even use a display on your computer, using a program such as Microsoft PowerPoint.
Label your photos with location and any relative details.
Sunrise, Sunset
Sunrises and sunsets are magical!
Make a series of sunrise photos, and a series of sunset photos.
Do it each day, if possible, for several days, from the same location.
Display your photos, with information including:
- Whether it is a sunrise or sunset photo
- Time each photo was taken
- Location of photo
- Weather conditions
Record your thoughts on the differences in appearance between sunrises and sunsets. Which do you like best? Why?
What effect does the weather have on sunrises and sunsets?
You could also do a photographic record of sunrises and sunsets as above, but using a different location for each.
Natures Magic: A Different Light
Many good photographs use light as an important feature.
Your task is to take a selection of photos of nature, enhanced by light.
You may like to choose one scene and photograph it at different times of day to show the changing light, or on days where the light is different because of sun, clouds, mist etc.You may like to do a series of sunset or sunrise photos.
You might choose to photograph reflection off water.
Or the sun glinting off water or other shiny surfaces.
This can also be made interesting by the use of a photographic star filter, if you have one.
This can also be made interesting by the use of a photographic star filter, if you have one.
You may like to do a series of photographs of different coloured light reflecting off the clouds.
Or maybe photos using moonlight.
Or the light from stars “star trails” with time lapse photography.
The possibilities are many.
Once you have printed out your chosen photos, make up your display.
Maybe a scrapbook, a poster type collage of photos, or individually framed photos.
You could even use a display your photos on your computer, using a program such as PowerPoint.
Label your photos with the location, relevant facts such as time of day, weather conditions etc., and what the “feel” of the photo is to you.
Or the light from stars “star trails” with time lapse photography.
The possibilities are many.
Once you have printed out your chosen photos, make up your display.
Maybe a scrapbook, a poster type collage of photos, or individually framed photos.
You could even use a display your photos on your computer, using a program such as PowerPoint.
Label your photos with the location, relevant facts such as time of day, weather conditions etc., and what the “feel” of the photo is to you.
Colours of the Earth
When looking at the Earth you may just think that it is brown… or green if covered with vegetation… but there is actually an immense variety of hues if you look for them.
Your task is to take photos showing this great variation.
Find areas where there are different soil colours, or the vegetation gives a different coloured impression.
You might find colours varying from white sand, pebbles, red earth, yellowish earth, brown or almost black earth, and all kinds in between. Take photos showing this variety.
When looking at the Earth you may just think that it is brown… or green if covered with vegetation… but there is actually an immense variety of hues if you look for them.
Your task is to take photos showing this great variation.
Find areas where there are different soil colours, or the vegetation gives a different coloured impression.
You might find colours varying from white sand, pebbles, red earth, yellowish earth, brown or almost black earth, and all kinds in between. Take photos showing this variety.
Plants may give a pale or dark green impression, silvery or white, or blue or olive green and many other shades.
A very mossy area, or bright orange lichen, will colour an area.
If there’s a mass of flowers or coloured leaves they will dominate the scene. Photograph this amazing kaleidoscope of colour!Once you have chosen and printed your photos, create your display.
It may be in a scrapbook, a collage of photos on a poster or several individually framed pictures.
You could even display your photos on your computer, using a program such as PowerPoint.
Label your photos with location, the predominate colouring shown and any other details you would like to include.
An idea to add something a bit extra to your display, is to collect a sample of each coloured soil, and to display these with the photos, or even create a frame by gluing the soil onto a card border for each photo.
You could take leaf samples
from the vegetation areas (if allowed) and press these, or microwave dry
them (this often retains colour better) and use these in your photo
display too.
An idea to add something a bit extra to your display, is to collect a sample of each coloured soil, and to display these with the photos, or even create a frame by gluing the soil onto a card border for each photo.
You could take leaf samples
from the vegetation areas (if allowed) and press these, or microwave dry
them (this often retains colour better) and use these in your photo
display too.Colour My World
The world around us is made up of a myriad of different colours and hues, some of them obvious and in-your-face, others more subtle or almost unnoticed amongst stronger colours.
Choose a colour and create a photographic display to represent it. Get out and about with your camera! Try to get all kinds of variations of the colour, both in different shades and different intensities and textures.
Here's a few simple suggestions to get you started:
GREEN
Leaves, Lichen, Moss, Water, Hills, Enviro Bags, Tree Frogs, Lorikeet
BLUE
Water, Sky, Blue Loo Toilet Cleaner, Budgie, Azurite, Ford Logo, Eyes
RED
Fire Engine, Post Box, Car, Robin, Hibiscus, Holden Blimp, Rose, Traffic Light
YELLOW
Sunflower, Duckling, Custard, A Lemon, A Crayon, Daisies, Cheese
WHITE
Clouds, Shell, Rabbit, Lily, Snow, Rice, Flour, Cottage Cheese
BLACK
Night Sky, Cat, Desk Chair, Licorice, Leather, Paint, T-shirt, Beetle
Be creative and imaginative... use something a bit different, something unexpected.
Make a collage poster, or a PowerPoint presentation, or whatever you feel is the best way to display your work.
You could then try the process again with a different colour. This could even develop into an ongoing project to cover as many colours as possible. Don't be afraid to add photographs to each display if you find something that fits in nicely, at a later stage.
Sunflower, Duckling, Custard, A Lemon, A Crayon, Daisies, Cheese
WHITE
Clouds, Shell, Rabbit, Lily, Snow, Rice, Flour, Cottage Cheese
BLACK
Night Sky, Cat, Desk Chair, Licorice, Leather, Paint, T-shirt, Beetle
Be creative and imaginative... use something a bit different, something unexpected.
Make a collage poster, or a PowerPoint presentation, or whatever you feel is the best way to display your work.
You could then try the process again with a different colour. This could even develop into an ongoing project to cover as many colours as possible. Don't be afraid to add photographs to each display if you find something that fits in nicely, at a later stage.
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