Nature and Wildlife Photography Tips Center

Top photographers share advice on everything from getting a sharper photo to photographing wildlife through a window

One of the best ways to truly see the nature and wildlife that surrounds us is through the lens of a camera. Distant raptors, tiny insects, quiet landscapes: All that nature has to offer takes on a new meaning when viewed as a potential photograph.

Whether you've been toting your camera on hikes for years, love to photograph the birds at your backyard feeder or are just getting started, we have photo tips that will inspire you to get outside, camera in hand!

Keep checking back! We'll be adding many more tips over time.

Sharpness and Camera Movement

There's nothing more frustrating to a nature photographer than capturing a once-in-a-lifetime subject with a fuzzy, unsharp image. Photographer and blogger Rob Sheppard shares his tricks for bringing focus to your photos with Five Tips for Getting a Sharper Image and tips for Getting Sharp Pictures Like the Pros.

Composition and Quality

Pro photographer Rob Sheppard points out some basic techniques to keep in mind, including how to situate a subject within your frame and when to use your flash, which will help enhance all of your nature photos. Check out Three Simple Steps to Better Composition in Your Photos and Making Better Nature Photos.

Backyard Wildlife

What's easier than photographing nature in your own backyard? Photographing birds and other wildlife from inside your house! George H. Harrison gives tips and tricks on capturing natural-looking photographs in How to Photograph Nature Through a Window.

Flowers

Ever taken a photograph of a perfect bloom, then realized the image was...underwhelming? Rob Sheppard offers Six Tips for Photographing Flowers that will help ensure your flower photos are as gorgeous as their subjects.

Insects

The secret to getting great photos of butterflies, bees and other bugs: Get close! Rob Sheppard tells you how in his Tips for Photographing Insects. 

Wet Weather

Learn tricks for keeping your camera dry and how to work with the rain to produce interesting nature photos in Rob Sheppard's tips on Photographing When It's Wet.

Winter

Don't use cold weather as an excuse to stop getting outside with your camera! Read our 10 Tips for Winter Photography, then put on your gloves and get shooting.

Movement

In the air, in the water and on the ground, wild animals are often on the move. Photographer Daniel Cox tells us how he brings life and motion to wildlife photos in How to Make Your Still Images Move.

Small Animals

In photography, as in life, bigger isn't always better. Rob Sheppard tells how (and why) we should be photographing the small creatures that surround us in Seven Tips for Photographing Small Animals.

Night

Whether you're camping under the stars or simply going for a moonlit walk, remember to bring along your camera and follow these tips for Photography at Night.

Kids

So you're outside with your kids, itching to use your camera. Why not get your children involved? Here are 11 Kids' Photo Tips to get your little ones started with nature photography.

 From Our Photo Contest Winners

The story behind the cover: 2009 Photo Contest winner Bernie Friel describes the incredibly complicated set-up he used to make his winning image in How I Made the Cover of National Wildlife Magazine.

2009 Photo Contest winner Robert Strickland tells us how he transformed his Florida backyard into a haven for wildlife photography in How I Turned My Backyard into a Photozone.

See the amazing photos and
enter your own in the 2013 
National Wildlife Photo Contest!