Nature photographers often have the pleasure of witnessing unique and very special moments in nature, such as the lights of the first and last hours of the day, the silence only broken by the singing of the birds or the feeling of solitude in the Immensity of the landscape. Whether you are a photographer or a nature lover, I have created a list of those moments that for me would be especially remarkable and which I highly recommend experiencing.
1. Walking through a foggy forest
We all like to walk in the woods. Its trees in summer cool us with their shades and its corners hide streams, flowers, mushrooms and even if we are lucky, some animal. The beauty of the forest is innate, but when the mist penetrates it, its appearance changes radically. We lose the sensation of depth and the atmosphere is wrapped in mystery, the light is dim and the trees blur with distance.
2. Observing the center of the Milky Way
The stars have been captivating humanity since the beginning of time, when man, through different beliefs and legends, tried to explain so much beauty. Today it is much more difficult to enjoy the spectacularity of the night sky than then because of light pollution, but if we seek a remote location away from towns and cities on a moonless night, we can witness the large number of stars that form Our galaxy, the Milky Way. In our latitude, we can have a good view of its center during the summer months at dusk, near the constellation of the Scorpion.
3. Experiment with changing tides on the coast
The coast landscape is very curious and changing. Tides rise and fall because of the motions of the Moon, hiding or showing parts of the landscape within the waters. In our country (Spain) this effect is perfectly perceived on the coasts of the Atlantic Ocean and perhaps the most well-known are those of Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque Country, where rocky formations appear in the form of caves, fins, and the curious Flysch. When visiting a place of these characteristics you have to be aware of the tides in order to know not only what the beach will look like, but also if we will have problems to access or leave.
4. Watch the landscape dye white
The idea of cold does not please everyone, but the sensation of walking on a snowy landscape is difficult to describe. The forest and mountains, which recently had its greens, its ochres and the colors of the flowers that grew in its meadows, have suddenly become a monochrome landscape where there is only black and white. This kind of landscape is a challenge for the nature photographer but at the same time helps to work with the contrasts. It is as if suddenly the landscape would have discolored.
5. To witness the aurora borealis
Perhaps one of the most spectacular shows I have had the pleasure of witnessing. Even though it is not within the reach of anyone, traveling to a Nordic country to see this kind of event is really worth it and every day the price of the flights makes it more accessible. Near the Arctic Circle on winter nights and if solar activity propitiates it, the skies turn green, purple and reddish while the Northern Lights dance with slender movements. In Sweden it was believed that these lights were caused by the reflection of the movement of the wings when some swans tried to fly too far north and were frozen in flight.
* Click here if you are interested in this experience (sorry, only in spanish)
6. Listen to the bellowing of the deer
From middle of September to middle of October, the zeal season of the deer takes place. During the first and last hours of the day, the forest is filled with the sound emitted by the deer when looking for pairing. The silence of the night, breaks with a powerful sound that resonates throughout the valley. To experience this moment is very exciting and with a little luck, we will not only be able to hear the deers but to see them.
7. Delighting in the colors of autumn
Autumn is one of nature photographers favorite seasons. The forest is dressed in fire colors. A color festival for sight where oranges, ochres, reds and yellows create a carpet that covers the entire landscape. However, this is a very concrete moment that does not last all autumn. If we go to the chosen place too soon we will not yet see the color in its maximum splendor, whereas if we arrive a little late, we will find that all the leaves of the trees have already fallen.
8. Camping under the stars
It is not the most comfortable hotel. It does not have mini bar or room service. Forget about the sauna or the spa, gourmet dinner or this kind of things. Even so, this hotel is not five, but a million stars (at least!).
For arriving this different kind of “hotel” you will need to have a good backpack to carry not only our food and clothes, but also the tent and the sleeping bag. You must be prepared and bring warm clothes, find a flat ground and running water nearby. Then you can only wait for the night and enjoy the spectacle that heaven has for you.
9. Cross your gaze with wildlife
It is a moment, a special moment in which your eyes meet those of another living being, wild and pure, who does not fear the presence of man because he does not know it. He has never seen him before and sees him as another animal with which to cohabit. This kind of experience is quite strange, since wild animals usually fears man because he knows what danger it represents. Rarely, we can find ourselves in areas with no hunting tradition where animals have seen few people and they have never been attacked. In such places, a wild animal can even pass near us without even paying attention, as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
10. Seeing sunrise or sunset from the top of a mountain
Sunrises and sunsets are beautiful, especially when there are some clouds in the sky, since these are stained with warm and pleasant colors. If we also like trekking and mountain climbing, it is an unforgettable experience to see the event from the top of a mountain, since the sun, being low on the horizon, will project the shadow of the mountain over the rest of the landscape. This is even more noticeable if the shape of the mountain is pointed or triangular. It must be known that in order to make a sunrise from the top, it’s needed to camp near the top or to ascend during the night, under the light of the Moon and the stars, adding even more beauty to this moment.
Now it’s up to you. What are your favorite nature moments? Have you ever been spectator of those that you have read in this entrance? I hope that if you do not, you will find inspiration in these lines and begin to enjoy the beauty that we have at our disposal.