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Hints for Taking Nature Photos at Wolf Road Prairie by Todd Bannor Photography is a wonderful hobby and with a little practice, you will be able to produce spectacular photographs. The most important thing you can do to insure that you get nice sharp photos, is to use a sturdy tripod and a cable or remote release. Using a tripod not only lets you use slow shutter speeds and still get sharp pictures, it also makes you slow down and study the scene through the viewfinder. Here are some things to ask yourself as you are taking pictures: Is the composition simple? Are there few distractions? Is everything I want in focus? Is the horizon straight if it’s included? Are those pesky office towers in the picture? Slowing down and taking your time is one of the keys to taking great pictures. If you are taking pictures of flowers on a sunny day, turn the camera’s flash on. Most point and shoots have a way to do this. The flash will help fill in the shadows and give you better pictures. The best days to take flower pictures are actually bright but overcast days. The overcast softens the light and cuts down on harsh contrast. The colors of the flowers will be more intense if you avoid shooting on sunny days. If you are using a point and shoot camera, use fast 400 or 800 speed print film. The lenses in these cameras don’t have large apertures (the opening that lets the light through) so you need to use more sensitive film. With a good camera and a little practice, you should be able to take wonderful photographs of the plants and animals you find here.