What Nature Taught Me About Photography—and Life

If there is one thing I have learned over the many years of photographing nature, it’s that she waits for no one. One of the biggest lessons in nature photography is being out in nature at the right place and the right time.

All the planning in the world can’t predict what nature may have in store. This unpredictability can be both a gift and a challenge. I have found that photography can be looked at as more of a teacher than a hobby or profession, but like any art form, it has its own lessons to impart. The three main things nature photography has taught me are patience, persistence, and the idea of letting go of perfection.

While I am an advocate that any conditions are good conditions for photography, one can’t be disappointed if the weather and nature do not comply with what you’ve envisioned when setting out on a new adventure. This is where these lessons have been hard taught and how they have shaped my approach to nature photography—and, in some ways, my life.

It will always amaze me that the simple act of heading out with my camera to photograph the natural world has taught me that the best things in life and photography require time, effort, and a willingness to embrace the unexpected.

The Art of Waiting: Patience in Nature Photography

Patience is a virtue, as they say.

We have all been there: standing at a viewpoint overlooking something amazing, only to find the clouds are too heavy, the fog is too dense, the mist is too thick, and the rain is too relentless. But then, just as you are debating whether to pack up and go home, there is a burst of absolute magic! This can happen in the blink of an eye and last for the briefest of moments—and therein lies the first lesson: patience.

One of the greatest lessons in patience I learned from photography was a couple of years ago. I got my hands on a star tracker, the iOptron SkyGuider Pro, to be exact. It was graciously gifted to me by a good friend. Astrophotography has always been a huge passion of mine, but even more so was deep-sky astrophotography.

If you know anything about shooting images like this, you’ll know that using a star tracker takes a bit of time to set up the camera and tracker rig. Then, you have to polar align the tracker, which can be a tricky process, followed by framing whatever it is you are capturing (in my case, the Orion Nebula). After all that, you start to run your test shots.

It is here that your patience starts to be tested. Each test shot can take anywhere from one to three minutes, so making micro-adjustments to your composition is a slow and deliberate process. Once everything is set up, it’s time to capture the actual frames. This can range from 10 images to however long the night stays dark. In my example, I let the camera run for around three hours.

Then comes the processing of the image: stacking, stretching, correcting, and so on. All of these steps require a significant commitment and, of course, patience. You are forced to slow down and think about every step in the process. This can relate to any form of nature photography, and the lesson you learn from this is the appreciation of the process. When you see the results appear on your screen, it makes it all worthwhile.

As Ansel Adams once said, “You don’t take a photograph, you make it.” This idea resonates deeply with me, as it underscores the importance of patience and intention in both photography and life.

But patience alone isn’t enough. Sometimes, you need to pair it with persistence to truly succeed.

Persistence: When the Shot Doesn’t Come Easy

I recall a time when I was overlooking a vista along the west coast of Portugal, waiting… and waiting… and waiting some more. Not only did the heavy clouds move in and grow thicker, but a storm decided to follow. While I was initially disappointed by the soon-to-be lack of any sunset light, I was determined to make something work and come away with an image.

It rained a fair bit, but still, I stood on the sketchy cliffside. Then, I saw a flash of lightning, and as if struck by said lightning, I thought, “Yes, let’s try to get this classic shot but with lightning!” And so it began.

For me, the best way I could think of doing this was to set up a time-lapse and let it run its course. As one sequence ended, I started another. Sometimes, the repetitive things can yield the best results. I persisted in the rain as it came and went, and as the light faded into darkness, I spent what felt like an eternity going through all the images. In the end, only one had captured a bolt.

Persistence is such an important part of nature photography: hiking for miles carrying your full camera bag for a shot that may not happen, dealing with ever-changing weather conditions that test your physical and mental resolve, and, if you’re able, returning to a location multiple times to do the same hike over and over with your gear. It’s a real test of one’s persistence.

The same, of course, can be said about life too. Whether you are looking to get a job in a particular field or sector, you must persist in learning new skills (which gets harder as you get older). Sticking to a project or goal you’ve set for yourself, overcoming the challenges that creep up, and seeing it all through can lead to wonderful new opportunities, new ways of seeing nature, and ultimately, the realization that persistence is a major stepping stone to success.

Yet, even with patience and persistence, nature photography has taught me that not every effort leads to a perfect result—and that’s okay.

Embracing Imperfection and Letting Go

I’m not even sure where to start with this lesson because, like you, I’ve faced it countless times: being out in nature with the intention of photographing a particular scene, only for nothing to seem to go right at all. This can lead to frustration, disappointment, and ultimately make you want to just go home.

But, as we’ve been exploring above, there is much we can learn from looking at something that was supposed to be one thing but ends up being something else entirely.

Just recently, I set out on a journey to photograph the always-enchanting Glendalough lakes at sunrise. Now, take a moment and Google “Sunrise photography Glendalough”… I’ll wait… Okay, you’re back, and I’m sure your mind has been blown away by the images you’ve just seen. Lots of extremely talented Irish photographers have gone to this spot and captured some incredible conditions. But when I turned up on my fateful morning, I got none of that.

Surface wind on the lake meant no reflections, and heavy clouds to the east meant no light filling the valley with its golden hues. Instead of packing up and heading home—which I was very tempted to do—I waited. Having learned all the lessons mentioned above over the years, I decided to take control of the conditions I had and start shooting. And you know what? I am delighted I did because the clouds broke just enough for me to create an image of Glendalough that I am super happy with.

These unexpected results made the whole experience even more wonderful, and I was so thrilled to have simply been there taking pictures. Letting go of the notion that I will always go out and photograph something “perfect” has freed me in ways I didn’t expect.

For years, I held myself back, thinking, “Ah, the clouds are too dark,” or “There aren’t enough clouds in the sky.” I would tell myself anything to avoid potentially being disappointed when I should have simply gone out and enjoyed all that nature has to offer.

Overall, I think learning this lesson has made me more resilient and creative in how I approach things in life, and I am so grateful for that. What we may see as setbacks can lead to magical new opportunities and new perspectives on how we see and approach things.

Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence. – Vince Lombardi

With all that being said, I’ve found that nature photography isn’t just about capturing images—it’s about connecting with the world around us.

The Connection Between Nature and Mindfulness

As a bonus lesson—because I like you—we cannot overlook the connection between nature and mindfulness.

There is simply nothing better than being out in nature, in all its forms. And if you can manage to create something while doing so, all the more power to you. Feeling the warm glow of the sun as it sets while overlooking something beautiful triggers wonderful feelings of awareness and serenity. On the other hand, standing at the same scene in lashing rain and driving wind heightens your awareness (and self-preservation) in a different but equally profound way.

Nature can spark such beautiful creative endeavors. The sounds, smells, and sights around you only serve to make the experience feel so much more than just an outing with the camera.

For me, this lesson has absolutely spilled over into my own life, allowing me to develop a calmer outlook. I would highly encourage anyone who has made it this far to use nature as a way to practice mindfulness. Being outside is also a tremendous stress reliever, and, of course, getting your steps in is a big part of leading a healthier lifestyle.

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. – Lao Tzu

As I look back on my adventures and journeys so far, I realize that nature photography has given me more than just beautiful images—it’s given me a new perspective on life.

Nature photography has taught me so much about patience, persistence, and letting go of seeking perfection—but I’d love to hear from you! What lessons has photography taught you about life? Have you ever had a moment in nature where everything seemed to go wrong, only to turn into something unexpectedly beautiful? Or perhaps a time when patience and persistence paid off in ways you didn’t expect?

Share your stories, tips, or favorite nature photography experiences in the comments below. 

Cheers.