People Love A Good Mystery & Joy In Discovery
How you can create better photographic nature photographs that will stir buyers of photographs to desire your work. It’s a simple thought. Sometimes it is overlooked by photographers and, of course, not!
Few human beings will ever look a Bengal tiger so firmly in the eyes. Today, I am sharing a powerful tip about wildlife and landscape photography. It’s an easy tip. As easy as staring into the eyes of soul seeker tiger!
It’s not a general surprise that most people love a good mystery or a sense of wonder. I was initially going to title this blog post “Finding exciting pictures in the details.” But then the thought occurred to me, “Why not make it a little mysterious, exciting… Generate some curiosity!” Yes, people love a good mystery. They also enjoy the moment of discovery, and that is what this post is all about. Undoubtedly, the desire for exploration is what drives the current trends in travel. I hear this time and again from the students/clients at my workshops and private tours. They want to see for her or his self, to discover, to experience firsthand what it’s like in a place that is foreign to them. Especially everyone wants to know what Africa is like or any other country/place on the globe! It is exciting! Right? 😀
As nature photographers, reaching out and using this ‘need’ for discovery can elevate our work, as well as make it far more interesting to viewers of our animal photographs.
The tusks of the elephant are beautiful, especially to see them up close. Unfortunately, it is this most appealing aspect of the elephant that is causing it so much harm. Poachers kill them- just for their tusks to collect dust as statues and other items! Explore more of our art nature photographs.
Keep this in mind
There is also Beauty in the Details! Obviously, there are many different ways one can photograph an elephant. But, few have captured a photograph that details the elephant like the one above. You see. Details present discovery for a viewer. Discovery creates excitement in our minds. Indeed, a viewer will linger on a photograph that presents details. Think back to the lead photograph of the tiger. This photograph allows you to ‘study’ what a tiger’s eyes and face look like. As well as what they look like- up close! Can you imagine looking at a tiger through your lens and being that close? In a recent survey, 3 out of 4 adults who love to travel, stated that they love traveling to discover something new about his or her self. Or about the location that they were visiting. Surprisingly 75 percent said this.
Discovery can send a powerful message
I have been working on a series of photographs of the elephant. I am apprehensive about them. Elephants are on the endangered list and may soon face extinction unless something is done to help them. What a terrible loss that would be for the world. Only because of all greedy people wanting their tusks and their feet. Using photographs, like the one above, I’m able to tap into a wide audience. Everybody enjoys a mystery and a sense of discovery. The photograph causes them to linger, and then explore the details of the photograph. I catch them long enough to tell a story, which hopefully pushes them to act on behalf of the elephant. Your wildlife photography can also be a powerful tool for change!
Hikers work their way across glacial ice in Svalbard, Norway. These were students from Longyearbyen University. What was their discovery?
A Detail Nature Photograph Doesn’t Necessarily Mean A Close-up Photograph
It’s important to understand that a detail-photograph doesn’t necessarily mean a close-up photograph. Using the details also means composing in a manner that creates eye movement across the photograph. When a viewer’s mind does not achieve an immediate answer as to what they are supposed to see, the need for discovery kicks in. They will begin to scan for an answer. When they discover that detail, their mind solves the mystery, and a delighted ‘ah-hah’ moment occurs. It’s a moment like this that allows me to tell a story about the worldwide loss of glacial ice: a huge problem that we should all find concerning!
This detailed picture reveals something about the life of this lioness. Did you catch it?
The lioness displays a wound from battle. It tells us something about her life. If this photograph was created too wide, the wound becomes too insignificant to be part of a story. If this photograph was created too tight, for example, just the eye, then the story of the wound is missing. In all your photography efforts- keep an eye on details- whether they are close up or a small fragment of a much larger composition. It is your eye for detail that will help you tell the story that you want to tell! You are interested in coming to Africa or anywhere else on the globe, experiencing these animals and places through your lens. Please get in touch with me.
My last post was about photographs, which make you cry and smile. To find out more about myself, explore my about page. Nearly all my nature images are without people, some travel photographs have people on the photos.
Discover the next post about the importance of the environment in wildlife photography. As well our Landscape Photography is interesting especially the seascapes.