Animal Photography Tips - National Geographic's Great Nature ProjectThe Outlaw Mom® Blog

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Great Nature Project + Animal Photography Tips

September 28, 2013 in All Posts, First Grade, First Grade Science, Kindergarten, Kindergarten Science, Preschool, Preschool Science, Toddler Activities, Toddler Science

How would you like to enjoy this weekend’s sunshine, get the family outside and up close with nature, and help set a Guinness World Records title? You’re in luck: National Geographic’s Great Nature Project is going strong today and tomorrow and just by uploading your photo of a plant or animal to Instagram, Flickr, or Twitter, and tagging it #GreatNature (and #Animal, if you snapped one), you can!

One of the most exciting things about being a National Geographic Kids Insider is getting access to fabulous resources and being able to share them with you. Recently, we were invited to participate in a discussion with Kelley Miller, photo editor for National Geographic and given permission to share some of her best tips and photos with you!

Here are some of her animal photography Pro Tips:

Be observant.

The greatest shot isn’t always the one you’re looking for, but something else that comes into view.

Be patient.
Practice your timing.
Include the animal in its habitat.

Kelley Miller/National Geographic Kids

Pursue personality.
Make the animal stand out using a simple background.

I love this tip for craft and food photography as well.

Go for motion.
Get closer to the action.

This one is harder for me when we’re taking photos slugs, snails, and worms, but I’ve been putting on a brave face in front of the kids so they don’t think these slimy creatures are gross just because of my own silly notions.

Look for details.
Pay attention to graphic elements.
Make eye contact and smile.

Kelley Miller/National Geographic Kids

Works for photographing kids, too!

Give a sense of scale.
Try different angles.
Kelley Miller/National Geographic Kids

Help us get to 100,000 photos!

All you have to do to participate in The Great Nature Project and help National Geographic set a Guinness World Records Title is:

Get outside.
Snap a Photo.
Upload it to Instagram, Flickr, or Twitter.
Tag it #GreatNature and if you snapped an animal, tag it #Animal.

Read more about how to enter your photo into the Great Nature Project or watch the video below:

Have a great weekend!

Parents and friends: for more ideas, activities, and inspiration for #RaisingThinkingKids, click on an icon below to join us on Facebook, Pinterest, Google+ and Twitter.

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Chrissy – who has written 426 posts on The Outlaw Mom® Blog - Creative Living in a Conventional World.