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Photographing Nature
Welcome to the Photographing Nature section of my blog, where I share inspiration, techniques, and tips to help you connect with nature through your lens. Whether you’re wandering through a forest, sitting by a quiet lake, or observing wildlife in motion, nature photography offers endless opportunities to explore beauty, light, and life in its rawest form.
Whether you're just starting with a smartphone or shooting with professional gear, you'll find ideas designed to improve your photography.
Late summer. Now is the time for photographing butterflies if you've only a phone camera – Simple Photography Tips - video”
This blog is my first attempt at a video where I share a few thoughts on how you can get really stunning butterfly pictures here in the Uk.
Earlier in the year, I spoke of the need for long lens or long and macro.
This was based on the 'flittiness' of these beauties in the height of summer when they have much more energy due to the heat and sun,
As summer comes to the end, there is a late hatch, in this case, of Red Admirals Vanessa atalanta.
Michael Blyth
1 min read
Simple Photography Tips - Finding Inspiration Through Photography and Words - Maybe allow unexpected pressure to bring beauty
When you've got used to looking, and allowing your eyes to see, you notice things that others would never see.
Walking our dog one morning. After a night of sporadic rain, leaves had fallen, and traffic had passed, leaving a pressure mark, painted with mud. The tyre had left a stone from within it's tread , the shadow of which leaves it's own creativity
Michael Blyth
2 min read
“Waiting with Herons: A Photographer’s Opportunity to Slowing Down – Simple Photography Tips”
The geese had already left, there were a few mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) still snoozing, a handful of teal (Anas crecca) feeding, and a solitary grey heron (Ardea cinerea) slowly wading through the middle of the pond.
I had one of my Nikon Camera's, fitted in case you're interested with a 70-200mm f2.8 and 1.7 teleconverter.
If you have one of the latest iphones or similar, you could still make a good effort, as you will understand in a bit.
Michael Blyth
6 min read
Six months anniversary of simple photography tips
Today marks six months of my Simple Photography Tips - twice a week, with the "motto ut aspias, done videas" - that you may look until...
Michael Blyth
1 min read
Simple Photography Tips - Finding Inspiration Through Photography and Words - semper in faecibus
Anyway, this stripey monster with the goggly eyes was heading over this rather substantial piece of cow-dung (FYI it was a Dexter), and I couldn't resist getting my knees dirty to share a portrait with you.
Michael Blyth
1 min read
seascape photography tips: How to use your i-phone to create emotive seascape photographs
Yes, sometimes my mantra of 'look until you see' is necessarily tempered by the desirability of not missing the moment - and experience with reading the signs helps. Grab the moment, and re-shoot if it gets better.
So two things I want to chat about, the first is the one addressed already, the need for character to produce emotive coastal images. The other is what lens to use with your iphone, other phone camera, or camera.
Michael Blyth
3 min read
Simple Photography Tips - Finding Inspiration Through Photography and Words - swans landing together
Doing things together isn’t only about striving forward; it’s also about arriving, resting, and being present with one another. Just as these swans settle gracefully onto the water, we too find strength and comfort in shared moments of calm. Whether it’s winding down after a busy day, walking in nature, or simply sitting quietly with someone we care about, togetherness softens the landing.
Michael Blyth
1 min read
Using a teleconverter on your camera – with Simple Photography Tips on Wildlife bird photography
We are all very aware of the environmental nego's around replacing our old toys, for a new one's, whether it's a car, boat, or latest phone. In my case it was the temptation of a new lens. Did I need to? Not really.
I did think it would be worth spending a little bit of time, for your sake as well as mine, seeing if there was much of an improvement to be made, without the material waste.
Michael Blyth
5 min read
Simple Photography Tips - Finding Inspiration Through Photography and Words
Whether you're a fellow photographer, a creative soul, or just someone who enjoys a quiet moment of inspiration, I hope these 'images with words' bring you something valuable.
Michael Blyth
1 min read
The joyfulness that comes with adding colour to your life – Simple Photography Tips
In reality, although the higher the IQ the better the response to greytone, it is colour that we were created to see, and it is colour that can be a huge blessing in many ways.
The effects of bright colour on the brain, and thereby the rest of that body of yours, are considerable,
Michael Blyth
4 min read
Simple Photography Tips - Finding Inspiration Through Photography and Amusing Words
As my photography mentoring gets busier, it feels like the right time to simplify. Last week I started a new weekly series—sharing one of my photographs along with a few thoughtful words of encouragement, laughter or straightforward sass.
Michael Blyth
1 min read
Simple Photography Tips - Finding Inspiration Through Photography and Simple Words
These aren't simple photography tips as such, but more like life inspiration through photography—a mix of visual with meaningful reflections, with lighthearted quotes
Michael Blyth
1 min read
Exploring Sunflower Photos – with Simple Photography Tips
With the summer holidays in full swing, it’s the perfect time for families to get outdoors and enjoy some creative fun together. If you’re looking for things to do with young people—or just want a relaxing, activity for yourself—why not go on a photography adventure?
One beautiful and accessible subject this season is the sunflower. While entire fields can create breathtaking landscape photos, but don’t overlook the detail in a single bloom.
Michael Blyth
3 min read
Simple Photography Tips - Finding Inspiration Through Photography and Simple Words
As my photography mentoring gets busier, it feels like the right time to simplify. I’m starting a new weekly series—sharing one of my photographs along with a few thoughtful words of encouragement.
These aren't simple photography tips as such, but more like life inspiration through photography—a mix of visual with meaningful reflections.
Michael Blyth
1 min read
Simple Photography Tips - how to get your exposure right for Sunset photographs
A late evening preamble by the lake to the side of this wart, is an enjoyable experience, and we partook.
Aware of the difficulty with exposure in these conditions, where the eye/brain is so clever, but a camera is not, I took a short series of photos to help you sort your images, and to inspire you to experiment.
Michael Blyth
3 min read
Simple Photography Tips - How to photograph Toads
There was I wandering alongside one of the leats in the Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen, an amazing place of grown-over sand-dunes which are used as a huge water purification system to supply Amsterdam, when I saw a toad.
Michael Blyth
2 min read
Simple Photography Tips - just sit and see what you notice
The scene, although not particularly photogenic as a whole, was one of fascination. The water in the canal next to us, was mostly sunlit, and over the period of time we sat imbibing, the angle of the sun on the water, changed, and with it the reflections, and clarity of the water, and what and how we saw.
Michael Blyth
5 min read
Simple Photography Tips - how to photograph Butterflies
In that fantastic time of year known as summer, we are blessed to see the wonder of the few remaining butterflies. Yes, miserably, in most parts of the world, our pre-occupation with pesticides and monoculture, along with climate change, means there has been a staggering decline in both numbers and species.
For those of us lucky enough to still see these beauties, and whom have the desire to try taking pictures of them, here are a few tips.
Michael Blyth
3 min read
Simple Photography Tips - beach photography, and improve your mental health!
In this case an early sunny summers' morning, and a shuffle along the beach. Why a shuffle? It's the best way to notice things, especially small things. Crouch down if you can, and you'll see a whole bunch more. Even better, crawl if it's sandy.
The whole business of looking until you see is really highlighted when looking at a beach, there are truly so many things that grab your attention, that it's really easy to miss the small stuff.
Michael Blyth
5 min read
Simple Photography Tips - Depth of field problems
If you're using a phone camera then you're sort of stuck with aperture, there being relatively little difference between the lenses. The is no simple photography tip that will change that, nor a complicated photography tip for that matter!
With a DSLR or similar, and depending on your lens choice, you can stick the thing on f22, or whatever is your smallest aperture, and have much more of the flower up large and in focus, along with the background scene also in focus.
Michael Blyth
2 min read
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