Through the Eyes of a Lens

-By Brandon Wikman

Sometimes the most captivating experience in the outdoors is when you visualize that perfect photograph and capture it in the silence of nature. The only sounds of man are the ones cast by the click of the shutter on your camera.

Photography has become a popular recreation and hobby. Whether it’s burning through gigabytes attempting to capture the defining aspects of your latest buck or perhaps photographing nature as is, still, quiet and peaceful.

Photography is truly, just like hunting. You put yourself in a different frame of mind by blocking out the frequent and typical aspects of life and focusing on the abstract exclusively. It is truly the wonders of wildlife, nature and tranquility that are somehow taken advantage of by the average bystander; it is to our fortune hunters see through a unique perspective.

We put our eyes in front of fine glass to magnify our outlooks on not only the outdoors but also life. We see things in a perceptual way. Whether scope or camera, our eyes are granted with sheer beauty and grace.

I urge everyone, young and old, to partake in the field of outdoor photography. Here are a few basic tips to remember in any given picture-taking experience that I’ve learned from trial and error, photography class and just having fun...

• Leading Lines - Whether it’s a strand of barbed wire or an old country road stretching across the sandy plains, find line designs that exemplify perception and give your imagination a place to follow. This fence and tire track photograph is a perfect example of the perception of leading lines. Take a moment to look at the old farmer’s fence and watch your eyes gaze across the broken country stretching as far as can see.


• Rule of Thirds - Before snapping a picture, think of your sight plane as a tic-tac-toe board. Dividing your field of view into thirds enables your focus to be offset, which gives a dramatic feeling. A perfect example is this corn stalk. Notice how it is over toward the right side of the scene, rather than being in the smack-dab center. Be aware that offsetting an object to the left or right side of the scene is pulling the viewers attention towards something different. We far too often make the center of focus the center of the picture.


• Balance - There are a few styles of balance in terms of the principles of photo art. The first is symmetrical, which is like a mirror image on both sides of the scene. This photo of the tree and I is the equivalent of symmetry; two solid objects that balance the scene. The other popular style is asymmetric balance, which is one side of the photo heavier than the other side in a creative way. Oftentimes the two focal objects compliment each other in form, weight or size making them balance in a unique way.

The art of photography is by far one of the most pleasurable and relaxing hobbies I’ve ever participated in. The creativeness and efforts put toward creating an unforgettable money shot makes the journey one for the memory bank.