Creating High Concept Photographs

Hi I'm Ian Plant, managing editor of outdoor photography guide. And I'm coming to you right now from the jungle of Sumatra in Indonesia. I'm here photographing species of the rainforest. In particular, I'm looking to photograph the critically endangered, Sumatran orangutan. When I'm photographing wildlife I'm always trying to capture unique or interesting behaviors, but I'm looking to move past making a mere documentary record of the animal species I'm photographing. Instead, I want to create what I like to call high concept photographs. And what I'm trying to do there is to inject a little bit of my personal vision as an artist onto my subject. So I don't wanna just photograph what my subject gives me. Instead, I want to get creative with the use of composition, natural light, and perspective. I want to find something that's unique and compelling. So, I'll often try focal lengths that photographers won't use typically with wildlife. Telephoto lenses are great for zooming in and capturing intimate details of your subject and capturing those unique behaviors. But I like to go wider when I can, especially when the wildlife is comfortable being around people, and can let you get a little bit closer. Here in the rainforest, a lot of the species will pass right overhead sometimes. They'll come right down to the trail where I'm walking. So I've got the opportunity to try my wide angle lenses to get unique and compelling perspectives. One of the lenses I'm working with the most today is my 15 millimeter fisheye, which will render the scene in a very unique and artistic way. So no matter what you're photographing it's important to bring your creative vision as an artist to the forefront. So try to use composition, perspective, and light creatively to make high concept photographs.