Prefer High Contrast in Your Nature Photos

Saturday 29 March 2025, 14:07 by Nando Harmsen | 2,405 views | 0 comments

This article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.

Many photographers always want everything to fit within the dynamic range. That is understandable, because blown-out highlights and blocked-up shadows are not always desirable. But that does not mean everything has to be in the midtones. It is usually better to choose high contrast.

High contrast creates a big difference between the light areas and the dark areas in a photo. Look for it, because it makes the photo more exciting. You can achieve this with backlighting or in daylight. Play with light and dark and use it.

There is a lot of light and shadow in the middle of the day. Look for it and you can take beautiful photos. You do not need to make every detail visible in the dark woodland as well.
In a studio, it is often used deliberately, but in nature photos it is usually avoided. That is a shame, because using light and dark also gives a photo more dimension and depth.

A heron backlit by the sun. This creates a beautiful rim light. The high contrast makes the photo exciting. Brightening it takes away the tension.
High contrast does not mean that your photo must also contain blown-out highlights or blocked-up shadows. If the situation does produce these, exposure bracketing is recommended. As long as your subject allows it. But make sure you keep contrast in your HDR photo. Do not 'brighten everything'.

An HDR edit made from an exposure bracket. The lack of contrast makes the photo dull and flat. It is also unrealistic, because the woodland would not be lit like this at all.
Is there no clear light source, such as under an evenly overcast sky? Then it is impossible to use light and shadow in the photo. The photos have low contrast. That is not wrong, it just produces a very different kind of photo. In that case, it is wrong to increase the contrast during post-processing.

A layer of cloud or mist works like a softbox. The light is even and the same everywhere.
If there is a clear light source, such as the sun, make use of light and shadow. Do not add light during post-processing where there is none. That looks unnatural. Make sure there is contrast, and your photo will look much better.

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