Course Overview

Our world is filled with so much beauty that it demands to be photographed. Capturing the perfect landscape or wildlife shot can be challenging, and if you don’t know how to shoot what you’re seeing, you may miss these natural wonders. In this course, National Geographic photographers Michael Melford and Tim Laman share their stories and secrets about great landscape and wildlife photography. They offer 24 visually-rich lectures that guide you in taking unforgettable photos of diverse subjects like desert cliffs, penguin colonies, dramatic waterfalls, and more. Gain ideas and approaches for capturing stunning images, whether you are perfectly positioned in nature or up-close with a curious animal.

Video Lectures

01: Landscape Photographer, Landscape Artist

Start your photographic adventure by grounding yourself in the essence of great landscape photography. Learn about the three elements and tools necessary for capturing breathtaking shots of the natural world.

02: Seeing the Way the Camera Sees

Explore the equipment found in a landscape photographer’s bag and discover the essential tools for taking stunning photographs.

03: What’s in My Bag?

Understand the technical concepts like shutter speed, depth of field, and ISO, and how they contribute to powerful landscape photos.

04: Four Kinds of Light in Landscapes

Learn about composition, light, and content in landscape photography, including compositional aspects and different types of light.

05: Landscape Color Variation and Combinations

Discover how to play with color in your photos and how people respond to different color combinations.

06: Nighttime and Daytime Skyscapes

Learn techniques for shooting the sky during the day and at night, including tips for capturing sun-blocking clouds and the aurora borealis.

07: Above- and Below-Surface Waterscapes

Explore how expert landscape photographers use water as a subject or compositional element in their photography.

08: Landscape Photography Site Research

Learn how to research locations for potential photography opportunities and uncover little-known gems.

09: Drive-By Photography: Travel Photos

Gain techniques to capture interesting travel photos from a moving vehicle, boat, or plane.

10: Computer Editing: Review and Cataloging

Learn how to catalog and organize your photos, and how to be a ruthless self-editor for digital photography.

11: Computer Editing: Development

Explore tips for working with editing software to enhance the quality of your photos, including the use of development tools.

12: Five Ideas for Successful Landscape Photos

Receive advice on finding your own style and ensuring your landscape photos are unforgettable.

13: Wildlife Photography

Embark on a journey with Mr. Laman to learn the skills of wildlife photography, starting in the rainforests of Borneo.

14: Photographing Winter Wildlife

Learn technical aspects of shooting wildlife in winter weather and hone your skills in this environment.

15: Photographing Island Wildlife

Explore photographing wildlife on the Galapagos Islands, and learn about anticipating animal behaviors and utilizing natural light.

16: Nighttime Wildlife Photography

Discover techniques for photographing nocturnal animals and refining your lighting techniques.

17: Documenting Biodiversity

Document birds and monkeys with big lenses, specialized tripods, and image stabilizers in the Amazon rainforest.

18: Photographing Life in the Sea

Learn the unique challenges of underwater wildlife photography, including tips on lighting and composition.

19: Camera Traps for Elusive Wildlife

Explore remote control photography and camera traps to capture elusive wildlife in challenging environments.

20: Antarctica: A Photographer’s Paradise

Learn the techniques for capturing stunning wildlife photos in Antarctica’s unique and vast landscapes.

21: Photography on the Road

Master photographing wildlife from a vehicle and discover new techniques for capturing images in constrained environments.

22: Orangutans: Photographing Animal Communities

Explore capturing images of orangutans, and learn why striving for improvement is vital in wildlife photography.

23: Birds of Paradise: Ultimate Photo Challenge

Embark on Mr. Laman’s project of photographing all 39 species of birds of paradise, and understand the joys of wildlife photography.

24: Getting Your Best Wildlife Photo

Synthesize previous lessons to capture some of the best wildlife photos you can ever make.