How you ventured into nature photography?

I'm very keen to know, how you ventured into nature photography, became first serious about it and then passionate.
For me, it started as pastime activity and like a true love affair, I realized it much later, when I was deep into it.
I'll be looking forward to your side of the story...
Jagdeep Rajput

I can answer that for me :

1) I got into it because I took a safari vacation to South Africa, and was hoping to get some pictures good enough to hang. I hadn't owned a camera prior to the trip and got a Canon S2 IS.

2) I got more serious when I realized that there were types of pictures and things I wanted to do with the camera that my camera was limiting. I also have always been very interested in the technical aspects, being and computer engineer with some BG in image processing.

3) I don't think I am passionate about it. I'm not someone who's out shooting at every free moment, and I enjoy my time at the computer processing images as much as I do taking them.

I bought a DSLR (a Nikon D40) four years ago when my daughter was born. I quickly found it was quite a bit of fun to play with, and that led to a bit of photo editing and just thinking generally about photography. Before long I started reading about nature photography (I've always enjoyed hiking, backpacking, and other outdoor pursuits) and ventured out with the camera on a backpacking trip almost three years ago. Eventually, I stumbled on this site, bought a Canon 5D, and decided a couple years ago to make this into a real hobby.

This site has been tremendously influential and helpful in my progress. Not as helpful as actually getting out in the field, but that is quite challenging with work and family committments (my goal is one day a month in the field). So in the long periods between trips into the field, this site to keep me actively thinking and perhaps growing a bit as a photographer.

For me it was a trip to the Galapagos Islands in 2002. I'd dabbled in photography all my life. But the Galapagos inspired me. Partly it was the company - we travelled with three professional nature photographers - but mostly it was the critters.

The catalyst for me was a dragonfly on my finger in July 2010 and the fact that I took a picture of it with a Canon S5 and could see the dragonfly's face so clearly.

What led up to that is that my work situation changed in 2001 and I became self-employed and then, at the age of 54, started gardening for the first time in my life, and got a digital camera to take pictures of my flowers and gardens.

In 1994 I accompanied my son to Arctic Sweden, along with a Nikon 6006 he had sold me because he was upgrading. Way up there you have, basically, mountains and water to photograph--spectacular. That was the beginning for me. It was after I went digital in 2005 that I became completely obsessed with it. By that time my subject matter had broadened as I came to realize you didn't need to be Galen Rowell and hang off mountain ledges to take nature photos (Galen was my first and greatest inspiration). I now also enjoy photographing historical architecture and some street photography but nature and scenics are my first love.

1) Pre 2000: old film camera that I would take on vacations, and always ended up with more nature shots than anything else

2) 2000:bought first digital camera for honeymoon; tinkered a bit with nature photography and then with baby daughter photography :)

3) 2005:got divorced; bought better P&S a couple months later and started spending lots of time outside with it; this also led to an interest in birding because I wanted to know what the birds were I was photographing

4) 2007:bought first DSLR because I was tired of limitations of P&S

5) 2008: got remarried but have a very supportive wife who lets me go out when possible

I don't get as much time out as I would like, between family and work commitments, but still get some time. The time spent improving my photo skills in nature is also allowing me to get better than average action shots of my daughters, both at play and in sports. Nature photography has greatly increased my appreciation for the outdoors, and I'm trying to pass it on to my girls.

Interesting topic, Jagdeep. For as long as I can remember I have been fascinated with cameras. I remember when I was about 10 yrs old wanting to go to Palo Duro Canyon near my home and photograph a local iconic rock formation known as the lighthouse. Growing up I also spent time in Colorado visiting family and developed an interest in the Rocky Mountain landscape.

Fast forward a few years and I was introduced to the photography of David Muench through some coffee table books that featured the Rocky Mountain region. This was my first real introduction to fine-art nature photography. Soon after I purchased a point and shoot film camera.

Fast forward a few more years while I was finishing up my degree. It was at that point that I found NPN and finally had the money to buy a DSLR. Although I don't have as much time as I would like for photography I still enjoy shooting every chance I get.

A lifetime of cameras and nature didn't meld for me until I was in graduate school. My research required backpacking into a wilderness area for extended periods and I had to document the work, so along came a camera. And of course.....

I have been drawn to the natural world for my whole life. I have been "shooting" for over 40 years. My first SLR was the Olympys OM1. Two years ago I entered the world of the DSLR. Through it all nature photography was always my favorite subject.

I've been a photographer since I was 15 (highly questionable sometimes) and was doing some stringing with a tiny wire service. I became a Navy Hospital corpsman and in 1954 minaged to get into the USN Medical/Scientific Photography School. Since virtually all of my photography was 15 feet away or closer, I developed and interest in nature photography. After the service, I graduated from Brooks Inst. and have worked in photography going all the way back to my teen years. For the last 21 years I have been a full time professor of photography where in recent years I teach Fundamentals, Photo History, CU-Macro, and Landscape. I have been a photographer for money since 1947, every thing from still, cine, digital, astro, writing, lecturing, and consulting primarily in industry and post secondary education.

Lynn

I was a pretty avid painter (acrylics mostly) in my teens and early twenties, and one of my favorite subjects was landscapes. But i had problems with patience, cause i was a slow painter and made lots of mistakes I brought a point and shoot with me on all my hikes/climbs, and it occurred to me over time that i was planning my trips to get good photos. I never cared much for film cause i didnt really like the darkroom chemicals and i didnt like the lack of control sending my film out to be processed. So when digital came out it solved all my problems--no messy time consuming protocol or clean-up. I got my first DSLR about 8 years ago and havent looked back.

I came in to photography almost four years ago after a major health set back. I credit Mike Moats for my journey into the nature realm of flowers and macro. While I was on the road to getting my life back to normal I came across a site about Mike and his wonderful book Tiny Landscapes, I was hooked . I drank up everything I could about finding abstract beauty in nature, it truly helped get me out of bed each day and I found a passion that would take over my life. I am very grateful to Mike for this .It has been a bit of a long road these passed four years with a few setbacks and a few surgery but my camera is always there to get me back out of bed and in the game.I know I have told you many times before Mike but I 'll say it again ! Thank You , because yet again I am piecing back my life and health and because of your wonderful images I have my camera waiting for me !