Nature photography requires 90% patience, 8% luck and 2% skill

10 years 1 month ago #351961 by Tim Kelley
I've been spending more time, looking for those shots that count and have come to the conclusion that good nature photography is all about patience and luck.   I would say skill is the low one on this requirement list.  When I'm out taking landscape photos, I can at least listen to my music as a way to pass time.  With nature, I need to hear what is going on too.  So you really become aware of how slow time gets.  How do you hard core nature photographers do this with out going completely mad?  :silly:


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10 years 1 month ago #351983 by Zeberk
Isn't this the truth!


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10 years 1 month ago #352003 by effron
It helps to be mostly "mad" to begin with. I don't agree with the skill ratio though. I'd put the skill requirement much higher.....;)

Why so serious?
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10 years 4 weeks ago #352041 by Jennifer Krueger
Skill should be at least 5% :lol:


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10 years 4 weeks ago #352063 by boriqua latina
i dont sweat it, just go with the flow ! I dont believe in luck either...


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10 years 3 weeks ago #352269 by Joves

effron wrote: It helps to be mostly "mad" to begin with. I don't agree with the skill ratio though. I'd put the skill requirement much higher.....;)

:rofl: :agree:
Granted it takes a good amount of patience, but I think about 50%. The other 50 is skill at 48. Luck only comes into play for a money shot, but you can get some close to wow shots without it. When shooting nature/wild life the skill comes in scouting out areas to be able to have chance to shoot. Also knowing an animals behavior is another skill you need. Then there is knowing how to hide, and move if need be to get in closer, or to a better vantage point, without being seen. All of this is a set of skills most people today do not possess. Also I see patience as a whole skill set on its own, I know I was not born with it, being part Irish, but it is something I have developed. 
As far af time going by slowly. I like to watch things change with the light shifting. I also like to watch what is going on around me with the common birds mostly doing their thing as I wait for my intended target. I also at times work on ideas in my head while I am in the quite time. It really depends on your mindset as to how well you will do with nature photography, because not everyone has what it takes to do it, like any other subject you shoot.


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10 years 3 weeks ago #352447 by TedReichner
I would go with 70% patience, 20% skill, 5% equipment (long lens), 5% luck 


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10 years 3 weeks ago #352683 by Adam Nagle
I think you took the words from my mouth Ted


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10 years 3 weeks ago #352813 by Alex
"The right place at the right time", the term started somewhere.  I do think patience plays a large role, however I do believe that skill should be much higher.  Honestly I think patience is a close cousin to "luck" in this example.  So they blend together.

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10 years 3 weeks ago #353237 by StephanieW
I tend to not have the patience to wait on something for a long time. I don't go into nature looking for a specific shot. I just take pictures of what I encounter. But I don't claim to be a nature photographer lol. At all. Landscapes and architecture for me.


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10 years 3 weeks ago #353489 by effron
I believe it was Ben Hogan that was accused by Sam Snead following a sudden death loss as  "The luckiest SOB I've ever seen". Hogan's response was,  "yup, the more I practice, the luckier I get".
Fortune favors the prepared, and I don't see a lot of luck in photography, or much else for that matter.....:unsure:

Why so serious?
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