In this article, I share my opinion on what motivates nature photographers, perhaps from a perspective not often considered.
Fire Sky Sunrise Reflection in Michigan’s Eastern Upper Peninsula
I have always deeply enjoyed nature and the outdoors, but there was a moment when I realized I could share my experiences in nature through photography. It was a defining moment of my life. I remember how I felt excitement, yet a deep calmness at the same time. I knew I found an additional strong sense of purpose, aligned with something that brought me tremendous satisfaction. I knew I could share that. And I felt power.
But an important aspect of what was happening wasn’t fully apparent until many years later, when I realized that what I was going through was the result of deepening my connection with nature. I was learning bird songs and seasonal plumages, migration patterns, preferred habitats and specific tree types associated with certain birds, the effects of weather patterns on birds, etc.
Here is one example: on a rainy spring and summer the grasses and seed-bearing small plants produce a bounty of seeds, and that provides an abundance of food to voles; so, the voles take advantage maximally and produce very many young; the abundance of voles eventually attracts an abundance of vole predators, including many types of owls, hawks and falcons, such as Kestrels. So, targeting those predator birds for photographic opportunities after a rainy season is highly likely to yield many great images.
Male American Kestrel Turning
Male Hooded Merganser in Fall Color Waters
At one time, our connection with nature was intrinsic to our survival. Our ancestors had a direct connection with nature, and the freedom to fully interact with all of the resources needed for their survival. And they developed and passed along what they had learned from nature, and the ability to learn from nature, from generation to generation.
Pictured Rocks Wave Circle
Sunset Ice Embers in Michigan’s Eastern Upper Peninsula
Today, specialization has disconnected many of us from interacting with nature for our resources. And technology and computers can make it seem as if everything is understood and all questions are already answered, so we are less inclined to go out and interact with nature and discover what it has to offer.
Male Spruce Grouse Displaying
Male Scarlet Tanager
Nature photography does not offer us resources but is one of the most accessible ways to really connect with nature, and this process is still intrinsic to the core of our existence. Our peace of mind and sanity once depended on this connection because if were disconnected for too long, we wouldn’t have survived.
Think about that…
Deep inside us, our drive to connect with nature will always be there. Its importance cannot be dismissed. It once defined what it meant to be free to determine our fate.
Snowy Fall Color Reflection
Furthermore, I believe we are genetically programmed to derive satisfaction from connecting with nature – be it with all of our senses or just one.
The sharing of nature photography may involve only one sense – sight, but the process of acquiring images almost always involves more senses – for bird photography, especially hearing.
Male Northern Harrier Drops Vole to Juvenile
When photographing nature you eventually experience moments of awe – when you witness nature’s beauty, power, or mysteries on display. When you capture those moments, you are creating. Framing, exposure, depth of field, shutter speed, cropping – they are all creative tools used to present your interpretation of your experience or, as I prefer, to present what nature has offered with as much fidelity as possible. Especially when capturing high speed action photography of moments that occur too quick for the naked eye.
Pied-billed Grebe Adult Meeting Chick
Snowy Owl Snowy Perch
Ordinarily, we do not have the mindset of creating. Yet the act of creating changes our emotional state and makes us feel more alive. It gives us a tremendous influx of positive energy.
And that gives us more power. The power to leave a passive mindset behind us. The power to supersede a negative emotional state.
That is the power I felt upon realizing I would commit to capturing and sharing my experiences in nature through photography.