Nature photography is an awesomely fun occupation, but it is also very challenging in many ways. It is definitely not always easy to get great photos of plants and animals in their native environments. There can be difficulties with proper lighting, backgrounds, subject movement, and sometimes just finding the subject! Also, there are lots of people already out there doing nature photography which has it’s pros and cons, but in my opinion for the most part it is a pro.

In the pros department, this gives us the opportunity to study what others are doing and see what we like and what we don’t. Most photographers out there are very willing to share their process with others, and many experts teach classes and workshops on a regular basis. And, of course, there are always blogs! Many, many artists and photographers blog about all sorts of things from how they did something (camera settings, lighting, lenses, etc.) to the best places to go to shoot a specific subject. And most of the people out there blogging are also sending out newsletters, which also often contain very educational content.

Studying the work of others can also help us in our own creative process. We should never just copy someone else’s work, but by studying the work of others, we can get ideas to try out ourselves. For example, I recently read a blog post about how to use paint clouds to enhance still life photos. And while still lifes are not really what I generally do, I want to try to process with some of my plant and flower photographs. It will require changing some of the techniques presented in the blog, but I would never even have thought of it had I not read that post! Studying the work of others is also often just inspirational. When I see a beautiful photo of just about any outdoor subject it makes me want to get out there myself and find new and interesting subjects to take pictures of!

The fact that there are plenty of nature photographers out there also means that there are plenty of groups to join. I belong to several groups, and as I have stated before, they have been great! The groups are a great place for learning. They allow you to share your own work and get constructive comments from other group members (remember, these are people in your own field, not just friends and family). I have never had anyone in any of my groups be mean or unpleasant, but I have had people give me new ideas or hints to help me improve my work. Groups also allow you to see the work of others and gain the benefits addressed above. Some groups may also be helpful in gaining followers and sales, too, if that is part of your goal.

So in conclusion, we shouldn’t see other nature photographers as our competitors so much as our collaborators. By collaborating, we can learn, we can share, we can gain inspiration, and above all, we can develop friendships. I have met several people in my groups that I talk to regularly, and even though we have never met in person (hopefully one day we will!) I consider them friends and/or mentors. So, if you aren’t out there working with others, seriously consider it. There are so many worthwhile benefits! If you are, let us know what groups or individuals you are working with or following that you would recommend to others.